Every veteran is entitled to free, accredited help preparing and filing a VA claim, and a surprising number never use it. Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) - along with county and state service officers and other accredited representatives - help with applications, evidence gathering, tracking, and deadlines at no charge. The VA maintains a searchable database of accredited organizations and individuals through its Office of General Counsel.
The three kinds of accredited representatives
- VSO representatives - staff or volunteers at organizations such as national and state veterans organizations, trained and accredited to represent claimants for free
- Accredited claims agents - non-attorneys who pass a VA examination; may charge fees for work after an initial decision
- Accredited attorneys - licensed lawyers accredited by the VA; may also charge fees for post-decision work
For most initial claims, a VSO representative is the right starting point because the service is free and the representative can see your claim status in VA systems once appointed. Attorneys and claims agents become relevant mainly for appeals, where fee agreements are regulated by the VA.
Where veterans start
Every case is different, and there is no obligation at any step. When veterans want to understand what their records actually support, these are the two most common starting points:
- Medical records review
A licensed physician reviews your records for a $250 flat fee and identifies which conditions the available evidence may support. The fee is refunded in full if nothing supportable is identified.
- Nexus letter
When the records support one, a licensed provider writes the medical opinion that addresses the link between your condition and your service or an already service-connected disability.
How to appoint a representative
You appoint a VSO by signing VA Form 21-22, which authorizes the organization to represent you and access your records. For an attorney or claims agent, the equivalent is VA Form 21-22a. You can search the VA's accreditation database to confirm anyone offering help is actually accredited - anyone charging a fee who is not accredited is a red flag. Our records guide lists the documents worth gathering once you begin collecting evidence.
What a VSO does not provide
A VSO helps you build and file the claim, but the representative is not a medical provider and cannot write the medical evidence itself. When a claim needs a medical opinion - a nexus letter, for example - that evidence comes from qualified clinicians, and many veterans use free representation and independent medical evidence together. If you have already received a decision, reading your VA decision letter tells you what the rater found missing. If you are unsure what your records support, a paid medical records review identifies the gaps before you spend on evidence.