How to Write a VA Personal Statement That Supports Your Claim

If you’re filing a VA disability claim, your personal statement — also called a Statement in Support of Claim (VA Form 21-4138) — can make or break your case.

This is your chance to explain what happened in your own words. It’s not about fancy language. It’s about telling the truth clearly, directly, and in a way that helps the VA understand the link between your service and what you’re dealing with today.

We’ll show you how to do that.

🪖 What Is a VA Personal Statement?

A personal statement is a written explanation from you, the veteran, that helps support your claim for disability compensation.

It might describe:

When and where the injury or condition started
How it happened
What symptoms you’ve had since
How it affects your daily life and work

VA raters often don’t have the full story just from your medical records. Your statement fills in the gaps — and when done right, it can trigger the duty to assist, help establish service connection, or even back up a nexus letter from your doctor.

✍️ When You Need One

You should write a personal statement anytime you’re:

Filing your initial claim
Appealing a denial
Asking for an increase
Explaining a gap in records
Supporting a buddy statement or independent medical opinion

Even if the VA doesn’t require one, it’s smart to include it.

🧱 The Building Blocks: What to Include

A strong statement follows this structure:

Start with your name, branch, and dates of service
Clearly state what the claim is for
Describe the in-service event or exposure
Explain when your symptoms began
Describe how it’s affected you since service
End with a simple, strong summary

Use plain English. You’re not trying to sound like a lawyer — you’re telling your truth.

💡 Example Opening Paragraph

I am submitting this statement in support of my claim for service connection for tinnitus. I served in the U.S. Army from March 2003 to June 2007, including a deployment to Iraq from 2004–2005. During my deployment, I was regularly exposed to IED blasts and artillery fire without proper hearing protection. I began noticing ringing in my ears during this time, and the symptoms have persisted ever since.

This is simple, specific, and clear.

📌 Tips for Writing an Effective Statement

Stick to the facts — Who, what, when, where.
Use dates if you can — Approximate is better than nothing.
Be consistent with your medical records and other evidence.
Avoid exaggeration. Just be honest.
Focus on how the condition affects your daily life — physically, mentally, socially, or at work.

If you’re writing about mental health, it’s okay to be personal. Talk about sleep issues, panic attacks, anger problems, memory loss — whatever you’ve been dealing with.

🧠 Need to Explain a Gap?

If your symptoms started in service but aren’t documented until later, your personal statement becomes even more important.

Explain why there’s a gap:

You didn’t report it because you were afraid of being discharged
You were told it was “normal” and not serious
You didn’t know you could file a claim

🧾 VA Form 21-4138 vs. VA Form 21-10210

In 2021, VA started encouraging use of Form 21-10210 instead of the older 21-4138. Either can work for a personal statement, but Form 21-10210 is now preferred for new claims.

➡️ Download VA Form 21-10210 (Statement in Support of Claim)

📎 What About Buddy Statements?

A buddy statement is a statement from someone else who witnessed the event or knew you during or after service. They can be incredibly helpful, but they don’t replace your own words.

Write your statement first. Then ask a friend, spouse, or fellow veteran to back it up.

🔗 Related Help

🧭 Bottom Line

The VA isn’t just looking at your diagnosis — they want to understand the story behind your claim.

Your personal statement helps connect the dots.

Be clear. Be honest. Be specific. And if you’re not sure where to start, write like you’re explaining it to a friend — because that’s who this is really for.

Theresa "Tbird" Aldrich

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