Find the ones nearest you
Accredited in Carbondale, IL
| Name | Type | Organization | Phone | Accredited | VA reg # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dax Griffith | VSO representative | Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs | 217-785-4114shared line | 2019 (est.) | 46321 |
| Thomas Downey | Attorney | — | 618-967-5695 | 2022 | 51738 |
| Ryan Taylor | Attorney | — | 615-879-6998out-of-state | 2024 | 57047 |
Within 25 miles
| Name | Type | Organization | Phone | City | Accredited | VA reg # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Donald Bielecki | VSO representative | Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs | (618) 435-3678 | Benton | 2026 (est.) | 61309 |
| Patricia Caraker | VSO representative | American Legion | 202-861-2700switchboard | Marion | 2022 (est.) | 53115 |
| Jonathan Huffman | VSO representative | Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs | 618-997-3309 | Marion | 2024 (est.) | 57935 |
| Edwin Humphrey | VSO representative | American Veterans | 1-800-810-7148switchboard | Marion | 2012 (est.) | 25941 |
| Tyler Lybarger | VSO representative | Veterans of Foreign Wars | 618-997-8230 | Marion | 2026 (est.) | 61601 |
| Jan Monroe | VSO representative | American Veterans | 217-528-4713 | Marion | 2023 (est.) | 55884 |
| Liam Mungovan | VSO representative | National Association of County Veterans Service Officers | (618) 435-9868 | Benton | 2023 (est.) | 55588 |
| Toby Oliver | VSO representative | American Legion | 312-980-4266shared line | Marion | 2025 (est.) | 59693 |
| Brandon Ryan | VSO representative | Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs | 618-944-6475 | Marion | 2026 (est.) | 61698 |
| William Slider | VSO representative | American Legion | 618-998-5605 | Marion | 2017 (est.) | 43560 |
| Dale Aschemann | Attorney | — | 618-534-1764 | Marion | 2022 | 51892 |
| Martin Parsons | Attorney | — | 618-713-9264 | Carterville | 2016 | 38305 |
| Tiffanny Sievers | Attorney | — | 618-997-3500 | Marion | 2008 | 9610 |
The organizations behind these representatives
| Organization | Accredited reps nationally |
In Illinois | Median years accredited | Appointing them |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs | 110 | 63 | 5.6 | Accepts online POA requests |
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 537 accredited representatives of all kinds are listed there — about 1,157 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).
- Accredited attorneys and claims agents may charge, but only after the VA has issued an initial decision on the claim (38 USC 5904). 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. 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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