Lay Statements

What lay statements are and why they matter

Lay statements (sometimes called buddy letters) are written, signed accounts from people with firsthand knowledge of relevant facts. The VA must consider competent lay evidence when deciding claims, and well-written statements can fill in gaps that medical records cannot.

Under VA case law, a layperson is competent to report symptoms they personally experienced or observed (pain, anxiety, ringing in the ears, falls), the occurrence of in-service events they witnessed, and the impact of conditions on daily function. Laypersons are generally not competent to diagnose disease or provide medical nexus opinions — that requires a qualified provider.

Who should write a lay statement

• The veteran — to describe symptoms, frequency, severity, and functional impact.
• Spouse or partner — observations of mood, sleep, pain behavior, and changes over time.
• Family members — long-term changes in personality, capability, and daily living.
• Fellow service members — corroboration of in-service incidents, exposures, or stressors (buddy letters).
• Co-workers or supervisors — impact on work performance, missed days, accommodations.
• Friends — observations of symptoms, social withdrawal, or limitations.

What to include in a strong lay statement

1. Identify the writer and their relationship to the veteran (length and nature of the relationship).
2. Establish the basis of personal knowledge — how the writer knows what they are describing.
3. Describe specific, observable facts: dates, places, frequency, examples. Avoid generalities.
4. Compare before and after — what was the veteran like before the condition or event, and what changed?
5. Describe the impact on daily life, work, relationships, and self-care.
6. Sign and date. Statements made under penalty of perjury (the standard 21-10210 language) carry more weight.

Buddy letters for in-service events

When service records are incomplete, a fellow service member's account of an event — a firefight, a fall, a chemical exposure, a sexual assault — can be the linchpin of service connection. Buddy letters should describe the writer's own service (unit, dates, location), how they knew the veteran, and the specific event in factual terms.

For Personal Assault / Military Sexual Trauma (MST) claims, the VA accepts a wide range of 'markers' as alternative evidence, including statements from people the veteran told at the time, records of behavioral changes, and lay accounts. The standard for these claims is more flexible than for typical PTSD stressor verification.

Where these claims break down

• ×Writing in vague generalities ('he's not the same anymore') instead of specific examples.
• ×Trying to diagnose or opine on medical causation — stick to observable facts.
• ×Forgetting to sign and date, or omitting the basis of personal knowledge.
• ×Submitting only the veteran's own statement when third-party corroboration is available.
• ×Not addressing the specific reason for a prior denial when used in an appeal.

Frequently Asked Questions