Obtaining disability benefits through the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) often involves gathering credible evidence that directly ties an injury or illness to military service. One critical piece of evidence that many veterans find incredibly helpful is a VA buddy letter, also referred to as a ‘buddy statement’ or ‘lay evidence’.
The Importance of VA Buddy Letters
VA buddy letters function as a competent lay evidence, providing firsthand accounts of your condition, injury incidents, and how these have impacted your life. They are written by individuals with no specialized skills, and substantiate specific aspects of your disability claim.
- Corroborating events: These letters validate your account of in-service events leading to your condition.
- Comparing your past and present: These letters illustrate differences between your pre-service and post-service life.
- Confirming symptoms: The letters narrate your specific symptoms from a close observer’s point of view.
- Demonstrating limitations: They testify how your condition affects your daily life, including relationships and hobbies.
- Work limitations: The letters detail that your condition restricts your work ability, proving that you qualify for Total Disability Individual Unemployability (TDIU) benefits.
Who Should Write a VA Buddy Letter?
A VA buddy letter can be written by anyone above 18 years who has firsthand insight into your situation. Here are some options:
- Family Members and Friends: They have a comprehensive view of your everyday life and the changes that have happened over the years.
- Spouse: Being closest to you, your spouse can provide the most detailed picture of your present condition.
- Former Supervisors or Co-Workers: They can write about your daily work routine and any accommodations made due to your disability.
- Fellow Service Members: They can validate your account of the in-service incident leading to your disability.
Writing an Effective VA Buddy Letter
While there’s no strict requirement about the format of a VA buddy letter, it should contain the following essential information to increase its credibility:
- Writer’s particulars: The VA buddy letter must feature the letter writer’s name and contact information.
- Relation with the veteran: How the letter writer knows the person applying for benefits.
- Witness account: What the letter writer witnessed or is currently witnessing.
- Date and Signature: The date the letter was written and the letter writer’s signature are compulsory.
- Declaration: In case the statement isn’t written on VA Form 21-4138 (Statement in Support of Claim), it must be notarized, and should include this sentence at the end: “I certify that my statements are true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief.”
Conclusions
A VA buddy letter can potentially fill critical evidentiary gaps in a disability benefits claim by painting a clear picture of how the disability has affected your lifestyle and ability to work. Though notarization is only necessary if not written on VA Form 21-4138, it is nonetheless crucial to validate the information provided through a ‘buddy statement’. By following the given outlines and tips, any veteran can likely improve their chances of successfully claiming disability benefits from the VA.