Find a VSO near you.

A Veterans Service Organization is a group recognized by the VA to represent veterans in their claims — the American Legion, VFW, Disabled American Veterans, county veteran service offices and state departments of veterans affairs among them. Their accredited representatives can prepare, present and prosecute a VA claim on your behalf.

Yes. Under 38 CFR § 14.636, no accredited representative — VSO, attorney or claims agent — may charge a fee for helping you prepare or file an initial claim for VA benefits. Attorneys and claims agents may charge for work on an appeal after an initial decision; recognized VSO representatives do not charge veterans at all.

All three can be VA-accredited. VSO representatives work for a recognized organization and never charge you. Accredited attorneys and claims agents work independently and may charge a fee once the VA has issued an initial decision on your claim. This directory lists VSO representatives — the free lane.

Bring your DD-214, any VA decision letters you have already received, private medical records for the conditions you are claiming, and a list of the conditions you want to file for. If you have a copy of your C-File or service treatment records, bring that too — it is the single most useful document in the room.

No. You can work with any accredited representative who will take you on, in any state. Many veterans use their county veteran service office because it is nearby and free; others stay with an organization they already belong to. You may only appoint one representative at a time.

You sign VA Form 21-22, Appointment of Veterans Service Organization as Claimant's Representative. The office will normally prepare it with you at your first appointment. Appointing a representative does not give up any control of your claim, and you can change representatives later.

It is built from VA's Office of General Counsel accreditation roster — the same record VA's own representative search reads — and rebuilt on a schedule. It is not operated by the VA. Representatives move between offices, so confirm an individual's current accreditation on VA.gov before you sign a VA Form 21-22.

Yes, and many veterans do. A VSO representative files and represents you; Valor helps you assemble the claim beforehand — reading your records, finding unclaimed conditions and drafting your personal statement. Using our software does not affect your right to free VSO representation.