When seeking a VA disability benefits claim, VA buddy letters are statements of support and are crucial in developing Veterans’ cases. Also known as buddy statements, these letters can further attest to a combat situation or other incident that occurred in the service which may have led to a disability. They provide necessary insight and help bridge the gap of information that may be missing or skipped over in service or military records. Buddy letters can, and should, be submitted as a witness report by those who have seen or been a part of the incident that caused a service member to sustain an injury or illness.
A buddy letter is similar to a lay statement, which is when someone who has a relationship with the Veteran attests to their disability and how it has impacted his or her life. These relationships can be:
Having a direct relationship with the Veteran can aid in providing detailed firsthand accounts that can lend credibility to claims. The more a person is involved in the day-to-day activities of the Veteran, the better their lay statement can speak to specific observations and changes in behavior.
The first step of the buddy letter process is filling out the VA’s downloadable form. This form acts as a formal statement for the VA. Key things to include in VA buddy letter include:
These statements can be handwritten or typed. To be accepted, it must contain all identifying information and, most importantly, a valid author’s signature. Without a signature, a buddy letter will not be accepted or processed.
Buddy statements are a key piece in our strategy to help bring legitimacy and strength to your case. Our clients deserve to be fairly compensated for their service-connected disabilities. If you’re interested in learning more about how we can serve you, call us for a free consultation. We are proud of our Veterans; now let us help you as the largest Veterans-focused law firm in the country.
