Find the ones nearest you
Accredited in Fort Myers, FL
| Name | Phone | Type | Organization | Accredited | VA reg # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jonathan Ramirez Rivera | 202-861-2700switchboard | VSO representative | Florida Department of Veterans Affairs, American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, Jewish War Veterans of the USA | 2016 (est.) | 39986 |
| Rodney Van Ness | 202-861-2700switchboard | VSO representative | Florida Department of Veterans Affairs, American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, Fleet Reserve Association, Jewish War Veterans of the USA | 2008 (est.) | 6370 |
| Brian Bronsther | 518-852-3349out-of-state | Attorney | — | 2019 | 47490 |
| Heidi Brown | 239-939-4888 | Attorney | — | 2013 | 27274 |
| Courtney McNichols | 239-246-6761 | Attorney | — | 2023 | 54214 |
| Kevin Sarlo | 239-334-4554 | Attorney | — | 2022 | 52932 |
| Britton Swank | 239-208-3040 | Attorney | — | 2008 | 10326 |
| Theodore Wolfendale | 239-595-6633 | Attorney | — | 2023 | 54418 |
| Lorraine Barker | (239) 218-2004 | Claims agent | — | 2026 | 62102 |
| David Casterioto | 239-344-9852 | Claims agent | — | 2011 | 19529 |
| David Cruz | 530-848-4254out-of-state | Claims agent | — | 2019 | 46456 |
| Edward DeRose | 239-362-0131 | Claims agent | — | 2012 | 23607 |
| Jeffrey Roberts | 720-475-0440out-of-state | Claims agent | — | 2026 | 61590 |
2 of these listings ring a switchboard, not a desk
The VA publishes one phone number per representative, and for 2 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.
Within 25 miles
| Name | Phone | Type | Organization | City | Accredited | VA reg # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steven Benz | 727-319-7444shared line | VSO representative | Disabled American Veterans | Cape Coral | 2025 (est.) | 59064 |
| John Castle | 703-207-9588switchboard | VSO representative | Marine Corps League | Cape Coral | 2026 (est.) | 62077 |
| David Grant | 727-319-7444shared line | VSO representative | Disabled American Veterans | Cape Coral | 2025 (est.) | 59065 |
| Stephen Peck | 202-554-3501switchboard | VSO representative | Disabled American Veterans | Cape Coral | 2019 (est.) | 47060 |
| Joseph Rapley | 727-319-7444shared line | VSO representative | Disabled American Veterans | Cape Coral | 2008 (est.) | 10236 |
| Carol Avard | 239-945-0808shared line | Attorney | — | Cape Coral | 2008 | 9186 |
| Bill Berke | 239-549-6689 | Attorney | — | Cape Coral | 2013 | 27936 |
| Daniel Burzynski | 239-434-8557 | Attorney | — | Naples | 2008 | 8940 |
| Sandra Cassidy | 716-388-5138out-of-state | Attorney | — | Cape Coral | 2026 | 61136 |
| John Cunniff | (239) 254-2915 | Attorney | — | Naples | 2011 | 24773 |
| Leslie Dean | 239-330-4932 | Attorney | — | Naples | 2017 | 42569 |
| Kathy Diener | (239) 687-5522 | Attorney | — | Naples | 2016 | 38714 |
| Antony Kolenc | 239-687-5305 | Attorney | — | Naples | 2023 | 55104 |
| Amy McGarry | 239-945-3883 | Attorney | — | Cape Coral | 2013 | 28261 |
| Douglas Mohney | 239-945-0808shared line | Attorney | — | Cape Coral | 2012 | 24377 |
| Craig Polhemus | 239-945-0808shared line | Attorney | — | Cape Coral | 2017 | 40889 |
| Douglas Rankin | 239-262-0061 | Attorney | — | Naples | 2010 | 16369 |
| Michael Sexton | 239-945-0808shared line | Attorney | — | Cape Coral | 2013 | 26245 |
| Deborah Wainey | 239-945-0808shared line | Attorney | — | Cape Coral | 2008 | 10197 |
| Mark Zakhvatayev | 239-945-0808shared line | Attorney | — | Cape Coral | 2013 | 26244 |
| Volodymyr Zakhvatayev | 239-269-1519 | Attorney | — | Cape Coral | 2018 | 45733 |
| Joseph Siegel | 973-713-4405out-of-state | Claims agent | — | Bonita Springs | 2017 | 41398 |
| Cecilia Weld | 850-773-2255 | Claims agent | — | Wausau | 2009 | 20788 |
The organizations behind these representatives
| Organization | Accredited reps nationally |
In Florida | Median years accredited | Appointing them |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Legion | 3,712 | 338 | 5.5 | Paper VA Form 21-22 only |
| Disabled American Veterans | 1,675 | 198 | 5.1 | Paper VA Form 21-22 only |
| Fleet Reserve Association | 470 | 71 | 12.9 | Paper VA Form 21-22 only |
| Florida Department of Veterans Affairs | 415 | 362 | 4.2 | Paper VA Form 21-22 only |
| Jewish War Veterans of the USA | 157 | 36 | 8.5 | 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.
How stretched Florida is
1,412,962 veterans live in Florida and 1228 accredited representatives of all kinds are listed there — about 1,151 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.
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.
Elsewhere in Florida
All accredited representatives in Florida · Search by ZIP code
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