Personal Statement (Statement in Support of Claim)

Are your military records missing evidence or context?

If so, the VA provides you with two options:

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1. Personal statements; and

2. Buddy letters.

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Personal statements are for when you yourself want to write a statement in support of your own claim. This can include:

• Pointing out where important evidence is in your records (page X of document named XX shows a diagnosis of Q);

• Tying all your evidence together, so it makes more sense;

• Explaining the progression of your symptoms over time;

• Detailing how your conditions' severity affects your life, work, social life, etc;

• Explaining the details of an event that occurred during your service.

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However, if you know someone who can attest to something you were a part of, witness to, changes in your behavior, and/or the severity of your symptoms then having them write a buddy letter can be a useful piece of evidence for your claim.

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Click HERE to learn more about buddy letters.

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Writing Tips

• Use the proper VA forms!

• The VA has THREE different forms for personal statements.

1. Statement in Support of Claim VA Form 21-4138 - Your general use form. Basically, if you want to point things out in your records, to help ensure the rater does not miss anything. Or, you want to add some context/detail to your evidence that may otherwise not be known.

2. Supporting statements for service connection for PTSD VA Form 21-0781

3. Supporting statements for service connection for PTSD that is a result of a personal trauma (such as military sexual trauma) VA Form 21-0781a

• Keep it brief and to the point, remember BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front). The rater doesn't have time to get lost in a great story about the time Pvt. Reddit sneaked his girlfriend into the barracks in his rucksack. (But the people at r/Veterans do.)

• Quantify (state numbers) when possible. Which sounds better?:

  1. My headaches are so severe I have to lay down for most of the day. These headaches occur fairly frequently; OR

  2. My headaches are so severe I have to lay down for most of the day. These headaches occur at least three times a week.

• Unless you are a licensed physician in the relevant area of medicine, you should NOT try to diagnosis yourself! Remember, stick to the facts! But if do have a buddy who does just so happen to be a licensed physician in the relevant area of medicine. Have them complete a Disability Benefit Questionnaires (DBQs) and/or an Independent Medical Opinion (IMO)/Nexus Letter and include it with your claim.

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IMPORTANT NOTES:

• If you for whatever reason do not want to use the VA form, ensure you write "I CERTIFY THAT I have completed this statement and that its information is true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief." Directly above where you sign and date the letter, in addition to providing your contact information.

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What Should be in the Letter

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It depends on the your purpose you are trying to accomplish:

• Help prove service connection:

  1. Details about the in-service event that caused the injury or illness.

  2. How you were impacted by the event. Any changes in physical/mental health?

• Help prove severity of your disability:

  1. What are your current symptoms? How do your disabilit(ies) interfere with your job, social life, things you can no longer do, etc.

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Example 1 (Tying Evidence Together)

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What follows is a summary of back condition during and after service:

Around late January, 2003 I started having back pain after I slipped on some ice and landed on my back. This event was witnessed by Sgt. Buddy and his witness statement has been recorded on the provided VA Form 21-10210 uploaded as Sgt_Buddy_Statement.pdf.

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On March 3rd, 2003 I was seen at the Fox medical center at Fort Place for back pain. I was given a diagnosis of back strain.

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On May 7th, 2004 I was seen at the Troop medical place at Camp Reddit for back pain. I was given a diagnosis of back strain again.

My back pain continued even after I separated in June 2004.

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On September 4th, 2005 I was seen at the Back Clinic Place by Dr. Spine. Dr. Spine had an MRI scan of my spine preformed and identified several bulging discs in my lower spine. Dr. Spine's report has been uploaded as SpineReport2005.pdf. In the event the VA requires additional medical evidence from Dr. Spine. I have included a completed and signed VA Form 21-4142 uploaded as Spine21-4142.pdf.

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From 2006 to now, I have received all my medical care through the State Place VAMC.

On September 1st, 2021 my primary care provider Dr. PCP completed a Back (Thoracolumbar Spine) Conditions Disability Benefits Questionnaire. It has been uploaded as BackDBQ.pdf.

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NOTE:

• The idea is to paint a picture that the rater and examiner can follow. This is especially helpful if you have a lot of records and it may be difficult to pull specific pieces of evidence out.

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Example 2 (Details of an Event)

Sometime around April 2006 while serving with the 4ABC in Iraq, my unit was conducting a convoy operation in X Province. During the operation the lead vehicle was...

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NOTE:

• In order to help the VA locate and verify your statements of an event, it is important to be as specific as possible. The more details you provide that address the "when, where, and what" the better.

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Example 3 (Headache Log)

I regularly experience severe prostrating headaches that require me to take time off of work. What follows is a headache diary from the past two months:

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October 2018