What are VA buddy letters, and what should veterans have included in them for success?

As a veteran, you've likely heard of buddy letters before – but what about how to make them effective for your VA disability benefits claim? Writing a VA buddy letter for a friend or loved one, or asking someone to write one for you, requires a bit of instruction in order to produce an effective letter that will make a difference in your claim.

Here's what veterans (and people who love a veteran) should know about writing VA buddy letters:

What are VA buddy letters?

For starters, buddy letters (also sometimes called buddy statements) are written accounts about a veteran's experiences in the military that may have contributed to their condition, along with details about the condition itself as witnessed by the "buddy". These are a vital type of lay evidence that can be added on top of your existing medical documentation.

Similar to a personal statement, these letters can add a lot to a VA disability benefits claim – weaving in personal details and supporting anecdotes that you might not have in the rest of your medical documentation. These types of written statements, whether personal or buddy, are great for filling in any blanks for veterans who have gaps in care.

Who can write a VA buddy letter?

Buddy letters can be written by anyone who knows the veteran to an extent where they can offer a credible testimonial of the veteran's experience. This could include fellow veterans, service members who are still in the military, spouses, and other family and friends, including children.

What should veterans have included in a VA buddy letter?

Simply put, VA buddy letters need to focus on the veteran's condition or disability – including any information about applicable service events around the onset, plus what they've witnessed both long term and in the present day.

VA buddy letters can include:

• Basic information about your relationship with the veteran (emphasis on basic!).

• Details about the onset of the condition, also if there was a specific service event.

• Information about the current state of the veteran's condition, as they've witnessed.

• A signature and date at the bottom.

Regarding inclusions for VA buddy letters, it's most valuable to stick to what you have experienced firsthand and not make assumptions or report on what someone else told you. For example: "He said that he couldn't walk after spraining his ankle in a training exercise and needed his gear carried by another soldier" – if that person was not there to witness this, then it is not credible for a VA buddy letter. You would have needed to get the letter from someone who was there and witnessed it or participated in it.

On that note, it's also important to note what you can't include in your buddy letters:

• You CANNOT try to diagnose in your VA buddy letter.

• Speculation about other conditions that aren't backed up by medical docs.

• Any opinions on rating percentages or outcomes for the veteran.

• Any irrelevant personal information. Keep the focus on the veteran.

A private medical evidence provider you can trust

At MRPY, we're here to share information that helps you make an informed choice about choosing a private medical evidence provider, whether you work with us or keep researching. A strong VA disability benefits claim starts with proper documentation – and we can help. Between Nexus Letters, DBQs, chart reviews, and more, we're ready to assist you. Save time and money by working with our friendly team.

• Sign up for a chart review, and view other services here.

• Read our frequently asked questions here.