Find the ones nearest you
Accredited in Freeport, IL
| Name | Type | Organization | Phone | Accredited | VA reg # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tina Paggi | VSO representative | Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs | 815-233-5092 | 2013 (est.) | 26996 |
| Kristine Spivey | VSO representative | National Association of County Veterans Service Officers | 815-616-8334 | 2022 (est.) | 53312 |
| Jacob Wagner | VSO representative | National Association of County Veterans Service Officers | (815) 233-7282 | 2025 (est.) | 60433 |
Within 25 miles
| Name | Type | Organization | Phone | City | Accredited | VA reg # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kyle Arreguin | VSO representative | National Association of County Veterans Service Officers | 815-255-9181 | Oregon | 2026 (est.) | 61080 |
| Douglas Bergren | VSO representative | National Association of County Veterans Service Officers | 815-906-0134 | Mount Carroll | 2021 (est.) | 50228 |
| William Coleman | VSO representative | National Association of County Veterans Service Officers | 815-255-9181 | Oregon | 2025 (est.) | 59164 |
| Luz Gilkey | VSO representative | National Association of County Veterans Service Officers | 815-255-9181 | Oregon | 2014 (est.) | 32226 |
| Wayne Leonard | VSO representative | National Association of County Veterans Service Officers | —no phone published | Mount Carroll | 2019 (est.) | 46581 |
| Ronda Riffe-Rathje | VSO representative | National Association of County Veterans Service Officers | 815-902-1013 | Mount Carroll | 2025 (est.) | 58436 |
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 |
| National Association of County Veterans Service Officers | 2,133 | 173 | 4.9 | 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 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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