Find the ones nearest you
Accredited in Machesney Park, IL
| Name | Type | Organization | Phone | Accredited | VA reg # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Melissa Beckford | VSO representative | Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs | 217-785-4114shared line | 2015 (est.) | 37311 |
| Debbie Fuehrer | VSO representative | Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs | 217-785-4114shared line | 2018 (est.) | 44593 |
| Michael Jay | VSO representative | Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs | 217-785-4114shared line | 2020 (est.) | 48387 |
| Matthew Taylor | VSO representative | Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs | 217-785-4114shared line | 2012 (est.) | 25444 |
Within 25 miles
| Name | Type | Organization | Phone | City | Accredited | VA reg # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Willie Borden | VSO representative | National Association of County Veterans Service Officers, Disabled American Veterans | 815-516-2850 | Rockford | 2015 (est.) | 33853 |
| Elizabeth Carville | VSO representative | National Association of County Veterans Service Officers | (815) 544-6464 | Belvidere | 2018 (est.) | 44845 |
| Quentin Helland | VSO representative | National Association of County Veterans Service Officers | 815-544-6464 | Belvidere | 2026 (est.) | 61319 |
| Debra Hoover | VSO representative | National Association of County Veterans Service Officers | 779-238-2859 | Rockford | 2025 (est.) | 58386 |
| Luz Ortiz Rivera | VSO representative | National Association of County Veterans Service Officers | 815-516-2854 | Rockford | 2023 (est.) | 55023 |
| Jeremy Bergstrom | Attorney | — | 815-608-6468 | Caledonia | 2012 | 23821 |
| Kira Devin | Attorney | — | 815-965-2902 | Rockford | 2019 | 46626 |
| Jason Esmond | Attorney | — | 815-967-9000 | Rockford | 2023 | 54968 |
| Tracy Jones | Attorney | — | 815-967-9000 | Rockford | 2017 | 40926 |
| Stephanie Seibold | Attorney | — | 815-505-5335 | Rockford | 2019 | 46925 |
| Heather Skrip | Attorney | — | 815-965-2902 | Rockford | 2018 | 43576 |
| Floretta Leavy | Claims agent | — | 815-670-1232 | Rockford | 2014 | 30563 |
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
Does your rating decision hold up under a real audit?
Upload your decision letter and C&P exams — VetAid's analyzer reads the full file, checks every examiner statement word-for-word against your records, and shows which arguments for a higher rating actually hold. Free, and we never take a cut of your back pay.
Analyze my claim free →