Find the ones nearest you
How stretched Alaska is
71,006 veterans live in Alaska and 25 accredited representatives of all kinds are listed there — about 2,840 veterans per representative.
That is a statewide ratio, not any one person's caseload, and not every veteran has a claim open. It is here because it is the only workload figure anyone publishes. Veteran counts: VA VetPop2023 State Estimates, FY2023.
The organizations behind these representatives
| Organization | Accredited reps nationally |
In Alaska | Median years accredited | Appointing them |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Legion | 3,712 | 4 | 5.5 | Paper VA Form 21-22 only |
| Disabled American Veterans | 1,675 | 4 | 5.1 | Paper VA Form 21-22 only |
| Natl Assoc'n of County Veterans Service Officers | 1,992 | 2 | 4.5 | Paper VA Form 21-22 only |
| Veterans of Foreign Wars | 2,297 | 3 | 5.4 | Accepts online POA requests |
| Veterans' Voice of America | 118 | 3 | 8.5 | Paper VA Form 21-22 only |
| Vietnam Veterans of America | 222 | 5 | 8.2 | Paper VA Form 21-22 only |
Median years accredited is estimated from VA registration number sequence for VSO representatives, whose accreditation dates the VA does not publish; it is exact for attorneys and claims agents.
Everyone accredited in Alaska
| Name | Phone | Type | Organization | City | Accredited | VA reg # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jessica Ahvakana | 907-373-7600 | VSO representative | Veterans of Foreign Wars | Wasilla | 2024 (est.) | 57503 |
| Frances Bedel | 907-538-6847 | VSO representative | American Legion | Fairbanks | 2026 (est.) | 60734 |
| Trina Crimmins | 301-585-4000switchboard | VSO representative | Vietnam Veterans of America, Veterans' Voice of America | Kodiak | 2018 (est.) | 44242 |
| Cody Golant | 907-741-9997 | VSO representative | American Legion | Soldotna | 2024 (est.) | 56913 |
| Mark Johnson | (907) 257-4760 | VSO representative | Vietnam Veterans of America, Veterans' Voice of America | Anchorage | 2016 (est.) | 38620 |
| Arnold Leach | 907-257-4802 | VSO representative | American Legion | Anchorage | 2025 (est.) | 59032 |
| Walter Petru | 202-554-3501switchboard | VSO representative | Disabled American Veterans | Palmer | 2010 (est.) | 16556 |
| John Piper | 907-419-4700 | VSO representative | Vietnam Veterans of America | Juneau | 2025 (est.) | 59332 |
| Makai Probasco | 907-257-4801 | VSO representative | Veterans of Foreign Wars | Anchorage | 2025 (est.) | 60491 |
| Michael Robinson | 907-707-7105 | VSO representative | Vietnam Veterans of America | Wasilla | 2023 (est.) | 55324 |
| Lois Sholl | 202-554-3501switchboard | VSO representative | Disabled American Veterans | Anchorage | 2020 (est.) | 48675 |
| Jeffrey Slaikeu | 907-334-0873 | VSO representative | Natl Assoc'n of County Veterans Service Officers | Anchorage | 2026 (est.) | 61827 |
| Benjamin Sutton | 907-257-4801 | VSO representative | Veterans of Foreign Wars | Anchorage | 2024 (est.) | 57504 |
| Philip Templin | 202-861-2700switchboard | VSO representative | American Legion | Anchorage | 2021 (est.) | 51282 |
| Janice Trojan | 907-401-0148 | VSO representative | Vietnam Veterans of America, Veterans' Voice of America | Craig | 2024 (est.) | 57310 |
| Jacqueline Tyson | 907-334-0875 | VSO representative | Natl Assoc'n of County Veterans Service Officers | Anchorage | 2026 (est.) | 61826 |
| Shed Winston | 202-554-3501switchboard | VSO representative | Disabled American Veterans | Fort Wainwright | 2019 (est.) | 47368 |
| Jazelle Wise | 907-257-4803 | VSO representative | Disabled American Veterans | Anchorage | 2026 (est.) | 62041 |
| Felicia Bailey | (907) 269-5100 | Attorney | — | Anchorage | 2026 | 62178 |
| Italia Carson | 907-885-6619 | Attorney | — | North Pole | 2023 | 54546 |
| Lauren Cojei | 248-996-4529out-of-state | Attorney | — | Kodiak | 2024 | 57689 |
| John Day | 907-257-5337 | Attorney | — | Anchorage | 2025 | 58426 |
| Chad Gessel | 888-478-2572 | Attorney | — | Anchorage | 2025 | 59613 |
| Jesse Rongitsch | 612-467-9529out-of-state | Attorney | — | Wasilla | 2026 | 60593 |
| Star Borseth | 907-347-5633 | Claims agent | — | Fairbanks | 2025 | 58460 |
5 of these listings ring a switchboard, not a desk
The VA publishes one phone number per representative, and for 5 of the people on this page that number is an organization's main line shared by hundreds of representatives across the country — not a direct line to them. It is marked switchboard in the table. Ask for the person by name and by VA registration number, and if you cannot get through, any other representative from the same organization can take the case.
Official 2026 VA monthly compensation, including the 2.8% COLA increase.
Dependent add-ons start at a 30% rating. Child-only and dependent-parent rates: see the full 2026 pay chart.
2026 base rates, all ratings (veteran alone)
| Rating | Monthly (2026, incl. 2.8% COLA) |
|---|---|
| 10% | $180.42 |
| 20% | $356.66 |
| 30% | $552.47 |
| 40% | $795.84 |
| 50% | $1,132.90 |
| 60% | $1,435.02 |
| 70% | $1,808.45 |
| 80% | $2,102.15 |
| 90% | $2,362.30 |
| 100% | $3,938.58 |
What any of them may charge you
- VSO representatives cannot charge a fee. Ever. Not for filing, not for "document review", not a percentage of back pay (38 CFR 14.636(b)).
- Accredited attorneys and claims agents may charge, but only after the VA has issued an initial decision on the claim (38 USC 5904; 38 CFR 14.636(c)). Anyone charging to file your first claim is either not accredited or not allowed to.
- Nobody who is not on the VA's roster may prepare or prosecute your claim for a fee (38 CFR 14.629), whatever they call themselves.
Check any name on this page against the VA Office of General Counsel accreditation search before you sign a thing, or check a name or a whole list of registration numbers on our roster check. VetAid takes no payment for placement here and endorses nobody.
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