Find the ones nearest you
Accredited in Carbondale, IL
| Name | Phone | Type | Organization | Accredited | VA reg # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dax Griffith | 217-785-4114shared line | VSO representative | Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs | 2019 (est.) | 46321 |
| Thomas Downey | 618-967-5695 | Attorney | — | 2022 | 51738 |
| Ryan Taylor | 615-879-6998out-of-state | Attorney | — | 2024 | 57047 |
Within 25 miles
| Name | Phone | Type | Organization | City | Accredited | VA reg # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Donald Bielecki | (618) 435-3678 | VSO representative | Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs | Benton | 2026 (est.) | 61309 |
| Patricia Caraker | 202-861-2700switchboard | VSO representative | American Legion | Marion | 2022 (est.) | 53115 |
| Jonathan Huffman | 618-997-3309 | VSO representative | Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs | Marion | 2024 (est.) | 57935 |
| Edwin Humphrey | 1-800-810-7148switchboard | VSO representative | American Veterans | Marion | 2012 (est.) | 25941 |
| Tyler Lybarger | 618-997-8230 | VSO representative | Veterans of Foreign Wars | Marion | 2026 (est.) | 61601 |
| Jan Monroe | 217-528-4713 | VSO representative | American Veterans | Marion | 2023 (est.) | 55884 |
| Liam Mungovan | (618) 435-9868 | VSO representative | Natl Assoc'n of County Veterans Service Officers | Benton | 2023 (est.) | 55588 |
| Toby Oliver | 312-980-4266shared line | VSO representative | American Legion | Marion | 2025 (est.) | 59693 |
| Brandon Ryan | 618-944-6475 | VSO representative | Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs | Marion | 2026 (est.) | 61698 |
| William Slider | 618-998-5605 | VSO representative | American Legion | Marion | 2018 (est.) | 43560 |
| Martin Parsons | 618-713-9264 | Attorney | — | Carterville | 2016 | 38305 |
| Tiffanny Sievers | 618-997-3500 | Attorney | — | Marion | 2008 | 9610 |
The organizations behind these representatives
| Organization | Accredited reps nationally |
In Illinois | Median years accredited | Appointing them |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs | 113 | 63 | 5.3 | 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 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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