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To: Department of Veterans Affairs
VA Regional Office
VIA Certified Mail, RRR

There is only one way that is effective when communicating with your VA.

The well written letter is the most potent weapon in your arsenal.

If you are trying to communicate by telephone, email, using the VA web sites or faxing documents to your Regional Office, you're wasting your time.

Trying to find that friendly voice at your VARO...the one person who will help you...doesn't work. You must write a letter. Your letter must be simple, clear and to the point.

The letter you write must be delivered using certified mail, return receipt requested. There is no other acceptable way to deliver documents to VA. To do anything less than this will set you up to lose.

Use the templates below to write your letters. Modify them to fit your message.

Certified Mail





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Keep the letter simple and brief. Key points to remember are:

* Make your letter look like the VA letter to you, but simpler.

* Don't whine. Stick to the issues.

* Don't ever bitch and complain. You're addressing another human being here and this is business.

* Be courteous and respectful in all you write.

* State your claim clearly.

* State the reason you're writing clearly. "I want to make a claim for...", "I deserve an increase in my rating.".

* Keep it brief. One page is usually enough.

* Spell check your work. It doesn't have to be perfect but it helps if the reader can comprehend it.

Template: A letter to notify VA that you are making a claim for a disability benefit. If this is your first claim with VA you must complete and mail the VA Form 21-526. If you have an existing rating, this letter is all you need.

01/01/2012

VIA Certified Mail RRR

Department of Veterans Affairs
Your Regional Office
PO Box 12345-0987
The Big City, State ZIP

Reference: DOE, JOHN L / 000/111/9087

Dear Sir/Madame:

I applied for a disability benefit rating DATE.

I am in receipt of your letter of DATE that notifies me that your decision is to deny my request.

This letter is my Notice of Disagreement with that decision. I wish to appeal that decision using the DRO process.

Thank you for your kind consideration of my request.

Respectfully,

John Doe

ADDRESS
TELEPHONE
EMAIL

Template: A letter requesting an increase in an existing benefit.

01/01/2012

VIA Certified Mail RRR

Department of Veterans Affairs
Your Regional Office
PO Box 12345-0987
The Big City, State ZIP

Reference: DOE, JOHN L / 000/111/9087

Dear Sir/Madame:

I am currently rated for NAME CONDITION RATED at 10%.

I believe that my condition has steadily become worse since this rating was awarded. I have compared my current condition to that listed in the Schedule For Rating Disabilities and I see that it would be more appropriate that I would now be rated at 30%.

I am applying for that rating increase.

Thank you for your kind consideration of my request.

Respectfully,

John Doe

ADDRESS
TELEPHONE
EMAIL

Want more help with letters?  Check out the interactive form letters at Stateside Legal.