VA form 21-4138, also known as a Statement in Support of Claim, is a form that can play a crucial role in the VA’s assessment of your disability claim. When you fill out a Statement in Support of Claim, the VA will request some specific pieces of personal information from you.

Writing Convincing VA Statements in Support of Claim When filing a VA disability claim, former military service members can fill out the VA Form 21-4138, also known as the Statement in Support of Claim. This evidence of a material fact can be crucial to a claim and a veteran’s disability compensation.

A VA buddy letter, or lay statement, can be used to help support a veteran’s claim and provide insight into how a veteran’s condition affects their daily life.

Tips for Writing a VA Lay Statement Next, be as accurate as possible in your statement. Always be truthful in telling your story. Do not exaggerate details in an attempt to get your claim approved. At the same time, do not downplay the effect that your disability has on your daily life.

The statement should contain the buddy’s perception of what they witnessed, whether it is the incident that caused the disability or the progression of symptoms. As mentioned previously, the statement needs to be signed by the buddy on a VA 4138 form. If it is not on the VA 4138 form, the statement must be notarized.

Here are some tips for writing a buddy letter:

1. Keep it short. Remember that the person processing the claim has to read through a lot of information.
2. Include contact information.
3. Include a closing statement.
4. Use the VA Form.
5. Don’t spoon-feed the author.

If the buddy letter is written by a fellow service member, they may describe the in-service event based on their own experience. Below are some common examples of people who may write a lay statement for a veteran.