The term Buddy Statement may seem informal and of little significance. However, these supporting statements, called Buddy Statements by the VA, can play a large role in developing and validating an open VA disability claim.
What is a Buddy Statement?
A Buddy Statement is a letter of support from an individual with first hand knowledge of facts surrounding the veteran’s claim. This knowledge can come in many forms and may support or develop the claim in a variety of ways.
knowledge of the injury itself
knowledge of the veteran’s behaviors and capabilities before and/or after the injury/incident
confirmation of date or location of unit or event
corroborating details of a stressful event
confirmation that a veteran was ‘engaged in combat’ in situations which are unclear
How do I obtain a Buddy Statement?
If a veteran has remained in contact with another service member, then obtaining a Buddy Statement may be as simple as asking. But, it isn’t often quite that easy. There are, however, lots of ways to locate and obtain Buddy Statements.
A Google search for veteran related sites will yield an assortment of websites dedicated to sharing veteran contact information. Search by name, service branch, location, or unit assignment. You can also try searching Facebook and LinkedIn for unit names, or names of ships. Very often, you will find that you are not alone in looking for fellow service members.
If a veteran’s claim is entirely dependent upon contact with the fellow service member, the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, Missouri, can assist with a free forwarding service.
If the person you are searching for is in active duty, you can contact the branch’s locator office, and they will offer assistance. However, in this instance, you’ll need to know some very specific details about the service member including: full name, date of birth, and social security number.
I have a Buddy Statement, now what?
You’ll want to submit your Buddy Statement in support of your open veterans disability claim. You can submit the statement either informally as a letter or via Form 21-4138 Statement in Support.
If you have questions, I would be happy to talk to you. Setting up a free veterans disability consultation is normally the best way to discuss those questions. If you would like to find out more about how a free consultation works and what you will learn, please take a look at this short article that explains it in more detail.
Travis Studdard is an attorney who focuses on representing veterans in VA disability compensation claims. He regularly writes about issues that are important to veterans and their families.
You can subscribe to his Veterans Disability channel on YouTube.
I had a great experience with Perkins Studdard Law Firm. The team was professional, responsive, and cared about my case. They explained everything clearly and kept me informed throughout the process. Excellent service and great results — I highly recommend them to anyone looking for reliable legal representation.Victor Martinez
This law firm did a great job and listened to all my concerns and had compassion for my case. They directed me through this process with graceTara Dean
The care, knowledge and professionalism shown by Jason and Tina of Perkins Studdard were beyond reproach. I was informed and updated through every phase of the process and the overall outcome was to my advantage. I highly recommend that if you ever have the need for a workman's comp or VA compensation attorney, Perkins Studdard are the ones that you need to call hands down. True concerned knowledgeable professionals.S Oz
Extremely happy, after many years of uncertainty.
Very thankful for all their support helping me get what I deserve! From the VADibujando con FJ
I cant thank the office of Perkins Studdard enough for helping me get through what I thought would be a stressful situation. Let me just say if you have any questions or doubt about what to do or if you need an attorney please give Perkins Studdard a phone call. They were able to set my mind at ease from the beginning and took a weight off my shoulders when I knew what my options were. They've assisted me every step of the way and have touched base with me through the entire process. I really can't think them enough for helping me get through a major bump in the road and I'm truly thankful for the work Mr. Perkins and everyone at Perkins Studdard put in for me. I'm urging you to give them a call if you find yourself in a similar situation. It's great to know you're in the hands of people that truly care about what's best for you and lay out and explain all of your different options with careful detail.Matt Chastain
I had an excellent experience working with Jason Perkins at Perkins & Studdard on my workers’ compensation case. Jason was professional, patient, and truly cared about helping me. He made sure I understood every step of the process and worked hard to get me a great settlement. I’m very thankful for everything he did for me. If you need a workers’ comp lawyer, I highly recommend Jason Perkins and the team at Perkins & Studdard — they really go above and beyond for their clients!Cosmic Energy
Amazing work by an amazing firm. Mr. Studdard has personally explained to me what is going on with my claim and how he will move forward on getting things done. He has always been available to speak. Jessica Hyatt is also a pleasure to work by keeping me up to date on the claim and also letting me know what is needed from me. This firm is professional, effective and definitely client friendly.Richard Moreno
I highly recommend this law firm it’s truly been a blessing to me and my family . The attorneys treated me very well very respectful they listen to me. They understood how important this was to our family. They answer all our questions they return calls to us. They explained everything in detail to us.I know that it was because of the law firm that we received a quick decision from the VA which our claim was granted.Tanya Henderson,Hawkins,Wilson
I highly recommend Jason and his staff. His professionalism and experience proved to be very valuable in helping my case. He is very knowledgeable in his field of work.Eric Bowles
Travis has an amazing team, when I hit a brick wall with my case, he immidiatly gets on board to get to the finish line. 80% to TDIU in about 3 months.
Additionally, working with Jessica has been an absolute pleasure, she is a strong part of their entire team.
I would recommend them to everyone I know!!Jesse
I understand you want your VA claim to be done as quickly as possible. But remember the ultimate goal – to win your VA disability compensation claim.
You may eventually get there on your own, but it may be after a series of decisions by the Regional Office and Board of Veterans Appeals. Sometimes claims are appealed and remanded several times, which can cause a claim to drag on for years. If you are interested in avoiding unnecessary delay in your claim and want to do everything you can to maximize your chances of success, it is probably a good idea for you to consult with an accredited veterans disability attorney.
We would be happy to talk to you. If you would like a free consultation with our Perkins Studdard veterans disability attorneys just click here or give us a call to begin the process.
