Find the ones nearest you
Accredited in Bloomington, IL
| Name | Phone | Type | Organization | Accredited | VA reg # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rodolfo Acevedo | 312-980-4266shared line | VSO representative | American Legion | 2023 (est.) | 55820 |
| Klemens Brzuszkiewicz | 312-980-4266shared line | VSO representative | American Legion | 2026 (est.) | 60842 |
| Christopher Calhoun | 309-888-4750 | VSO representative | Natl Assoc'n of County Veterans Service Officers, American Veterans | 2023 (est.) | 54402 |
| Michael Celeski | 312-980-4266shared line | VSO representative | American Legion | 2024 (est.) | 57650 |
| Daniel Ebker | 217-670-4036 | VSO representative | Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs | 2024 (est.) | 57176 |
| Michele Hansen-Hoback | 217-685-3248 | VSO representative | Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs | 2023 (est.) | 53864 |
| Nickola Rogers | 312-980-4266shared line | VSO representative | American Legion | 2026 (est.) | 60806 |
| Shannon Tarkowski | 309-888-5140 | VSO representative | Natl Assoc'n of County Veterans Service Officers | 2026 (est.) | 60764 |
Within 25 miles
| Name | Phone | Type | Organization | City | Accredited | VA reg # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jordan Bunting | 309-467-7394 | VSO representative | Natl Assoc'n of County Veterans Service Officers | Eureka | 2023 (est.) | 55222 |
| Allen Helsel | 309-467-2716 | VSO representative | Natl Assoc'n of County Veterans Service Officers | Eureka | 2023 (est.) | 55802 |
The organizations behind these representatives
| Organization | Accredited reps nationally |
In Illinois | Median years accredited | Appointing them |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Legion | 3,712 | 31 | 5.5 | Paper VA Form 21-22 only |
| American Veterans | 91 | 8 | 7.3 | Paper VA Form 21-22 only |
| Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs | 113 | 63 | 5.3 | Accepts online POA requests |
| Natl Assoc'n of County Veterans Service Officers | 1,992 | 168 | 4.5 | 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 Illinois is
621,229 veterans live in Illinois and 511 accredited representatives of all kinds are listed there — about 1,216 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 Illinois
All accredited representatives in Illinois · Search by ZIP code
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