How to organize a VA buddy letter

A buddy letter gives a witness space to describe what they know. VA identifies Form 21-10210 as its Lay/Witness Statement form. Our worksheet helps with organization; it does not decide what a claim needs or replace the official form.

Start with the witness’s perspective

Write down how the witness knows the veteran and the period of contact. The veteran can explain the topic, but the witness should own the account. A sentence such as “I worked alongside them during that period” provides context when true. It does not establish what happened outside that person’s view.

Choose observations rather than conclusions

Separate things the witness saw from things someone later told them. An observation could concern an activity, a change in a routine, or a conversation the witness actually remembers. Do not turn “I saw them stop an activity” into a diagnosis or explanation of why it happened. If dates are unclear, use an approximate period and say it is approximate.

Use a simple four-part outline

1. Relationship and observation period.
2. The event or behavior personally observed.
3. A concrete everyday effect, if observed.
4. What the witness does not know or cannot recall.

Short, accurate notes are a better starting point than a dramatic account assembled from guesses. Avoid adding stock descriptions of symptoms. Ask the witness to read the finished text aloud and remove any sentence they would not be comfortable explaining in their own words.

Review before using a statement

Check whose voice the text uses, whether each fact is firsthand, and whether a copied date is correct. This website does not sign or submit a statement. Complete any official identifiers and certification directly through the VA process after reviewing the current instructions.

Open the free buddy letter worksheet. For questions about the evidence appropriate to your situation, find accredited help.