What to Include in a VA Buddy Letter (With PTSD Example)

If you suffer an injury or stressor during your military service, it’s only right that you should be compensated for it. When you file a claim to receive that compensation, you’re really fighting for your quality of life.

Including a VA buddy statement can make your claim incredibly persuasive and can even lead to a higher disability rating. But what exactly is a buddy statement, and what should it include? In this blog, we’ll cover all that, plus show you an example of what a finished buddy statement might look like. 

What Is a VA Buddy Letter?

A buddy statement is a kind of evidence that you can submit with your claim for disability compensation through the VA. VA buddy statements typically serve two main purposes, both of which add credibility and context to your claim.

First, buddy statements can provide a witness account of your injury or stressor. Witness accounts typically come from a fellow Veteran that you served with or was assigned to the same station you were.

Buddy statements from fellow Veterans can be exceptionally helpful for your claim, as they can help verify information that may not be accounted for in your medical records or other official documents. This was done successfully in the case of Kenneth Haselwander; he received buddy statements that verified he was injured in an attack on his camp in Vietnam, which wasn’t reflected in his medical record. These buddy statements helped Mr. Haselwander have his military records changed, making him eligible for the Purple Heart medal.

Secondly, VA buddy statements can be submitted by civilians who have first-hand knowledge of your injury or stressor, and have seen how it impacts your daily life. These can come from people like friends, family members, spouses, employers, and many other people. They can provide context on how your injuries have impacted your daily life.

For example, in a case with a survivor of military sexual trauma, buddy statements from her family illustrated how the Veteran changed and became withdrawn following the sexual assault she suffered during her service, and how that impacted her daily life and relationships.

Needless to say, buddy statements can be powerful pieces of evidence, particularly when there are gaps or incomplete periods in a Veteran’s medical records. However, for the statement to be as effective as possible, it should follow these tips:

Tips for Writing a VA Buddy Letter

To craft the most persuasive and effective VA buddy statement, be sure that your reference does the following:

Establish The Relationship

The buddy letter should establish the relationship between you and the author of the letter. This includes details such as the author’s name, their dates of service, and where the two of you served together if they are a Veteran, and details like how the author knows you and how long they’ve known you if they’re a civilian.

Additionally, it should clearly identify you. If the buddy letter comes from a Veteran you served with, they may have a nickname for you. However, they should be sure to refer to you by your legal name.

Focus On The Details

A buddy letter should focus on the details of the injury or stressor, specifically, the who, what, when, and where, and why or how of the incident. Additionally, it’s important that the buddy letter juxtaposes your health, ability, or behavior before the injury or stressor to what you experienced after it. This will highlight how it has impacted your relationships, or your ability to work and perform daily activities.

Avoid Speculation

When writing a buddy letter, your reference should stick to the facts. If they can’t remember something, that’s fine, but speculation could cast doubt on your claim and make it weaker. Avoid statements that exaggerate or diminish the severity of the injury; the purpose of a buddy statement is to provide objective information, and anything speculative can dilute the credibility of your reference and your claim.

Include a Date, Contact Information, and a Signature

To some, this information might seem so basic that it hardly warrants mentioning; however, it’s absolutely essential to include. Because these statements are being used as legal evidence, a signature is critical for certifying that the statements being made are true.

Who Should Provide Your Statements?

Determining who should provide you with a VA buddy statement is important, as having the right person write it can maximize how persuasive your claim is.

Veterans who served alongside you can provide some of the most powerful testimony, as shown in Mr. Haselwander’s case. Eyewitness accounts can verify the information that could be missing from your official records.

However, depending on what the claim is made for, some Veterans may not be able to reference their fellow service members. Some claims are made for developments that occur following your service, or for stressors that you never mentioned in your service. For example, in the case of an MST/PTSD survivor who was raped, she didn’t feel comfortable reporting it to anyone in her chain of command. In this case, buddy statements from family members were able to provide context regarding the ways she changes following the assault.

Each claim is different, so the best author for your buddy statements will depend on your specific circumstances. Consulting with a VA-accredited lawyer can help you develop a strategy for producing the most effective buddy statements.

Other VA Buddy Letter FAQs

Buddy statements can be massively beneficial to your claim. However, like with the claims process as a whole, they can be complex, and you may have other questions. Here, we’ll address some other common questions about VA buddy statements

What’s the Difference Between a Buddy Letter and a Lay Statement?

There’s no difference between buddy statements and lay statements. Buddy statements are also known as supporting statements or lay evidence, but the terms are often used interchangeably.

Depending on what you read, it may appear there’s some connotation that a buddy statement comes from someone you served with, whereas a lay statement comes from a civilian with whom you have a close relationship; however, they’re all functionally the same.

Who Can Write a Buddy Statement?

Any competent and credible person over the age of 18 can write a VA buddy statement. Essentially, ‘competent and credible’ means that they must have knowledge of the issue or injury, and their statements on the matter must be accurate and without contradictory information, like conflicting dates or injuries. You can also write a statement yourself.

How Do I Submit a Buddy Statement?

Currently, VA Form 21-10210 is the primary way to submit a buddy statement, although in the past, VA buddy statements were submitted with VA Form 21-4138.

You could also use a handwritten letter or a document produced in a word processor, but the reference must sign the document and it may need to be notarized. This is because it is considered official evidence or testimony, and the reference needs to legally certify that they’re telling the truth.

To avoid the possibility of a buddy letter being disqualified or thrown out, be sure to consult with an experienced and VA-accredited lawyer before submitting a buddy letter as evidence for your claim.

VA Buddy Letter Example for PTSD

Disclaimer: This letter is an educational resource, serving only as an example of a buddy letter. The following does not constitute legal advice, establish a client-attorney relationship, nor should it be used in your claim.

[Name and contact information, such as phone number, email address, and home address]

My name is John Doe, brother of Jane Doe. Jane served in the United States Marine Corps from February, 2013, to May, 2017. Prior to service, Jane was a very entertaining person to be around. She was very talkative, funny, and incredibly friendly. She captained her high school’s soccer team and was her class valedictorian.

Jane and I exchanged letters on a bi-weekly basis for the first two and a half years of her service; however, in July of 2015 she did not write back. I sent her more letters and only received a very brief response in August. After that, her communication was incredibly sporadic for the remainder of her service. I could tell that something had changed or happened, but when I pressed her on it in our letters, she would either not respond for months at a time, or avoid the questions altogether. In December of 2016, she sent me a letter explaining that she had been raped following a 4th of July celebration in 2015. She said that the perpetrator had been her commanding officer, and that she didn’t feel comfortable telling anyone. She said she was only telling me now, as she had applied for and been granted a transfer. Despite that, she still felt paranoid wherever she went, and didn’t think she could report the incident without retaliation. She said that she no longer felt like she could trust those around her, and that she was uncomfortable and threatened both while alone and with others.

Jane was honorably discharged in May of 2017. My whole family was excited to see her, but the Jane that came home wasn’t the same person we saw ship out years before. Despite friends and family being eager to see her after she came home, she became anxious and withdrew from these social settings she once thrived in. Often, she wouldn’t leave her bedroom at our parent’s home for days at a time. She stopped taking care of her health and hygiene. Eventually my parents intervened, and things seemed to get better; she got a job at a local diner and began working, but the pressure and anxiety of being in front of strangers she didn’t know and couldn’t trust was too much for her to bear. Jane began drinking constantly. Eventually, she lost her job. My parents had to pick her up after she was fired, and she wouldn’t let them touch her or console her. Several days later, my parents checked Jane into the hospital to get her help.

In early 2020, Jane was diagnosed with PTSD. She now takes anti-anxiety medications prescribed by her psychiatrist and attends weekly therapy sessions. However, despite this, she still removes herself from situations that require even a minimal amount of socializing. She no longer keeps in touch with any of her friends, and still struggles to hold down a job due to her anxiety. Jane is only a shadow of the person I knew when she left for service years ago.

I, John Doe, certify under penalty of perjury pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1746(2) that the foregoing is true and correct.

[Signature, date]

Michael D.J Eisenberg Can Advise You On Buddy Letters

When it comes to your claim, buddy letters can be one of the most powerful forms of evidence. Done properly and effectively, they can lead to the desired outcome, but if they’re contradictory or inaccurate, they can hurt your claim. Michael D.J. Eisenberg is a VA-accredited attorney who can help you identify references, consult them on writing the most effective buddy statements in support of your claim, and ensure that your buddy letters are submitted properly. 

Note: Consultations for Veterans’ Benefits Appeals Matters are free; however, consultations for Military Records Issues and Medical/Physical Evaluation Boards are paid.