Personal & Buddy Statement Organizer

Whose statement is this?

VA's form for a written statement supporting a claim, your own or someone else's, is VA Form 21-10210 (Lay/Witness Statement), often called a buddy statement. VA lets you submit it online or on paper.

My own statementYou describe your condition, what happened in service, and how it affects your life. About someone elseA spouse, friend, or fellow service member describes what they personally saw or know.

Before you start

Write only what you personally experienced or saw. Be specific: dates (even approximate), places, and examples.
Be honest and accurate. Don't exaggerate, guess, or repeat what someone told you as if you saw it. The form asks you to certify your statement is true.
This tool only puts your words in order under headings. It doesn't add, change, or "improve" anything, and nothing is saved or sent anywhere.

Answer what applies

Skip anything that doesn't fit. Empty answers are left out.

Your statement, organized

Next: read the form's instructions on VA.gov, then copy your text into VA Form 21-10210 online or onto the paper form, review it, and sign. An accredited VSO can review it with you for free.

Educational and organizational only. Claim Compass doesn't write statements, judge what makes one stronger, or submit anything to VA. Nothing you type here is stored; it disappears when you close the page, so copy or download it first.