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This tool provides estimates for educational purposes only. We are not accredited by the Department of Veterans Affairs and do not file claims, provide legal advice, or represent veterans before the VA (38 U.S.C. § 5904). For official assistance, contact a VSO, CVSO, or VA-accredited attorney.

Finding a CVSO

Based on Representation of veterans before VA is governed by 38 U.S.C. §§ 5901–5904. County VSO recognition flows from 38 U.S.C. § 5902 and 38 CFR § 14.628. This page is a free community resource. We are not VA-accredited and do not file claims or provide legal advice (per 38 U.S.C. § 5904).

Last reviewed: April 2026 · Next review: October 2026

Maintained by: Veterans Benefits Navigator editorial team. Every citation links to a primary federal or state source. See editorial standards and our privacy posture.

Primary sources: 38 U.S.C. § 5902 (recognition of representatives of organizations), 38 CFR § 14.628 (recognition of organizations, including state and county VSOs), VA OGC accredited-representative directory, National Association of County Veterans Service Officers (NACVSO)

This page is for veterans, family members, and caregivers who keep hearing the term County Veterans Service Officer (CVSO) and want a plain-language explanation of who they are, what they can do, and how to find one. Most U.S. counties (and many parishes and Alaska boroughs) have one, and their help is free.

What a CVSO is

A County Veterans Service Officer is a local government employee whose job is to help veterans in that county access federal and state benefits. They are typically housed in the county courthouse, a county veterans services office, or a county human services building. In Louisiana they may be called a parish veterans service officer; in Alaska, a borough or tribal veterans representative. The title varies, the role is the same.

A CVSO is usually not a VA employee and usually not an attorney. In almost every state the CVSO is on the county payroll, which is why their services cost the veteran nothing. The county is the employer; the veteran is the client.

To represent a veteran before VA, a CVSO must be individually accredited. That accreditation flows from a VA-recognized organization under 38 U.S.C. § 5902[src] and the regulations at 38 CFR § 14.628[src], which specifically recognize state and regional veterans service organizations, including county employees, as representatives. Before they are accredited, they complete training and pass a character-and-fitness review through VA's Office of the General Counsel.

What a CVSO does for you

A CVSO is a free, accredited guide through the VA claim process. Typical work includes:

  • Reviewing your service history, medical records, and current rating (if any) to identify claims you may be eligible to file.
  • Preparing and filing an initial disability compensation claim, pension claim, or dependency claim on your behalf, once you sign a VA Form 21-22 appointing their organization as your power of attorney.
  • Helping you gather evidence: requesting your service treatment records, identifying DBQs, and explaining what kinds of statements support a claim.
  • Preparing you for a Compensation and Pension (C&P) exam so you know what to expect and what the examiner is assessing.
  • Filing appeals under VA's modern Appeals Modernization Act framework (supplemental claims, higher-level review, and Board appeals).
  • Helping with state-level benefits such as property tax exemptions, state veteran ID cards, tuition waivers, hunting and fishing license preferences, and state veterans home applications.
  • Pointing you to other programs: VA health care enrollment, survivor benefits for family, burial and memorial benefits, and state emergency assistance funds.

All of this is at no charge. CVSO representation, like VSO representation generally, is free by design.

What a CVSO does NOT do

A CVSO is accredited to represent veterans in VA matters. They are not lawyers and not clinicians, and their scope has edges:

  • No general legal practice. A CVSO can represent you before VA. They cannot give legal advice on landlord disputes, family law, criminal defense, or estate planning.
  • No medical advice or diagnosis. A CVSO can explain what evidence a claim needs. They will not tell you what conditions you have or what treatment to pursue.
  • No guaranteed rating or dollar amount. Rating decisions rest with VA based on the full record. Anyone promising a specific percentage or a guaranteed approval is not describing how the system works.
  • No fees. A CVSO cannot charge you, and cannot accept gifts in exchange for handling your claim.
  • No representation at the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC). Appeals that leave the Board of Veterans' Appeals and go to the CAVC require a VA-accredited attorney. A good CVSO will tell you when a case has reached that threshold and help you find counsel.

How to find your CVSO

There are four reliable paths. Any one of them works.

  1. Start on VBN. Use the state hub, pick your state, then look for the county veterans services directory linked from that state's page. State pages link to the official state department of veterans affairs, which in turn lists county offices.
  2. VA OGC accredited-representative directory. The VA Office of the General Counsel publishes a public search of every accredited VSO representative, claims agent, and attorney at va.gov/ogc/apps/accreditation. Filter by "VSO representative" and your state. County employees show up with their county or state organization listed.
  3. Search the web for your county. The query "[your county] veterans service officer" almost always surfaces the county government page with an address, phone number, and intake hours. In small counties the role may share a page with human services or the county administrator.
  4. NACVSO. The National Association of County Veterans Service Officers maintains a state-by-state directory and a training curriculum for CVSOs. Useful if the county pages are sparse or you want to cross-check.

Before you sign a power of attorney with anyone, verify them in the VA OGC directory. A legitimate representative expects it.

What to bring to a first appointment

Bringing documents to the first visit saves a second appointment. If you do not have something, the CVSO can usually help you request it; bring what you have.

  • DD-214 (every period of service, member copy 4 if possible).
  • Current VA rating decision letter, if you have an existing rating.
  • A written list of conditions you believe are connected to service, with rough dates when each began.
  • Medical records you already have, both VA and private, especially recent treatment notes and imaging reports.
  • Buddy statements or lay statements, if anyone who served with you or knows you well has written one.
  • Prior decision letters on denied claims, if you are considering a supplemental claim or higher-level review.
  • A list of questions. Write them down. The first appointment moves quickly and it is easy to forget.

Do not bring your Social Security card. A CVSO does not need it for a VA claim; the file number on your rating letter or your VA.gov account is sufficient.

National VSOs vs CVSOs

National Veterans Service Organizations such as the VFW, DAV, AMVETS, American Legion, and Paralyzed Veterans of America also accredit representatives who work at no cost. The legal basis is the same: VA recognizes the organization under 38 U.S.C. § 5902[src], and the organization certifies the individual. Both paths lead to accredited, free representation.

  • CVSOs are funded by the county, physically based in your county, and often tuned to local and state-level benefits in addition to federal ones.
  • National VSO representatives may be based at a regional office or a VA hospital. Membership in the organization is not required to be represented by one.

Important: you can have only one power of attorney for VA claims at a time. Signing a new VA Form 21-22 revokes the previous one. If you switch, your new representative needs a short window to get the file. Choose carefully, but know you are not locked in for life.

If there is no CVSO in your county

Not every county funds a full-time CVSO. In rural areas it is common to see one officer covering two or three counties on a rotating schedule, a state-level officer traveling to your county once or twice a month, or no county office at all.

If your county does not have one, you have options:

  • Check the state department of veterans affairs (linked from your state's page on /state). Many states run a cadre of state service officers who cover counties that do not have their own.
  • Contact a national VSO such as the DAV, VFW, American Legion, or AMVETS. Their representatives will work with you regardless of where you live, often by phone, secure fax, and mail.
  • If travel is a barrier, ask whether the nearest CVSO does phone intakes or visits a nearby town on a set day.

For more context on the accreditation system itself, see what VA accreditation means. For the claim process a CVSO typically helps with, see the disability hub.

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