Find the ones nearest you
Accredited in Wheaton, IL
| Name | Type | Organization | Phone | Accredited | VA reg # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emily Barrett | VSO representative | National Association of County Veterans Service Officers | 630-407-5655 | 2024 (est.) | 57818 |
| Steven Fixler | VSO representative | National Association of County Veterans Service Officers, Jewish War Veterans of the USA | 630-407-5655 | 2010 (est.) | 18938 |
| Brittany Michor | VSO representative | National Association of County Veterans Service Officers | 630-407-5655 | 2024 (est.) | 58233 |
| Alberto Rangel Mejia | VSO representative | National Association of County Veterans Service Officers | 630-407-5655 | 2023 (est.) | 54426 |
| Marcus Woodward | VSO representative | Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs | 217-785-4114shared line | 2008 (est.) | 6865 |
| Harold Conick | Attorney | — | 630-681-1336 | 2011 | 19375 |
| Trevor Orsinger | Attorney | — | 630-430-8313 | 2017 | 40615 |
| Gina Salamone | Attorney | — | 630-221-1755 | 2019 | 46480 |
| Lawrence Stein | Attorney | — | 312-929-5741 | 2023 | 54817 |
Within 25 miles
| Name | Type | Organization | Phone | City | Accredited | VA reg # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Artis Aquino | VSO representative | National Association of County Veterans Service Officers, Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars | 815-740-8389shared line | Joliet | 2025 (est.) | 59200 |
| Amy Benson | VSO representative | National Association of County Veterans Service Officers, American Legion | 202-861-2700switchboard | Joliet | 2018 (est.) | 44868 |
| Rosemarie Bitar | VSO representative | National Association of County Veterans Service Officers, Veterans of Foreign Wars | 815-740-8389shared line | Joliet | 2024 (est.) | 57870 |
| James Blue | VSO representative | African American PTSD Association | 253-589-0766shared line | Chicago | 2008 (est.) | 8240 |
| Kenneth Bonner | VSO representative | Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs | 217-785-4114shared line | Joliet | 2014 (est.) | 33406 |
| Douglas Curlee | VSO representative | National Association of County Veterans Service Officers | 815-774-7486 | Joliet | 2026 (est.) | 61010 |
| Matthew Dolmyer | VSO representative | National Association of County Veterans Service Officers, Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars | 630-553-8355 | Yorkville | 2025 (est.) | 58396 |
| John Fanning | VSO representative | American Legion | 708-293-1430 | Orland Park | 2026 (est.) | 61167 |
| Andrew Gagner | VSO representative | National Association of County Veterans Service Officers, Disabled American Veterans | 630-381-9158 | Yorkville | 2022 (est.) | 53374 |
| Sara Gavin | VSO representative | National Association of County Veterans Service Officers | 630-553-8355 | Yorkville | 2025 (est.) | 60255 |
| Anthony Hernandez | VSO representative | Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs | 217-785-4114shared line | Lockport | 2018 (est.) | 44592 |
| Chad Lockman | VSO representative | National Association of County Veterans Service Officers, Veterans of Foreign Wars | 630-553-8354 | Yorkville | 2014 (est.) | 32415 |
| Charletta Lutcher-Hayes | VSO representative | Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs | 815-730-4334 | Joliet | 2008 (est.) | 6244 |
| Dennis Medina | VSO representative | National Association of County Veterans Service Officers | 915-774-7472out-of-state | Joliet | 2026 (est.) | 61084 |
| Samuel Miller | VSO representative | Catholic War Veterans of the USA | 703-549-3622shared line | Chicago | 2008 (est.) | 4102 |
| Henry Moses | VSO representative | African American PTSD Association | 253-589-0766shared line | Chicago | 2009 (est.) | 12743 |
| Erik Papineau | VSO representative | National Association of County Veterans Service Officers, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars | 202-861-2700switchboard | Joliet | 2014 (est.) | 32423 |
| Brandon Peterson | VSO representative | National Association of County Veterans Service Officers | 815-740-8389shared line | Joliet | 2023 (est.) | 55434 |
| Wayne Price | VSO representative | African American PTSD Association | 253-589-0766shared line | Chicago | 2008 (est.) | 8223 |
| Aria Scott | VSO representative | National Association of County Veterans Service Officers | 815-740-8389shared line | Joliet | 2023 (est.) | 55805 |
| Jennifer Solum | VSO representative | National Association of County Veterans Service Officers | —no phone published | Joliet | 2017 (est.) | 42125 |
| William Sutton | VSO representative | National Association of County Veterans Service Officers, American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars | 815-756-8129 | Joliet | 2019 (est.) | 47354 |
| Jeffrey Walsh | VSO representative | National Association of County Veterans Service Officers, Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars | 815-740-8389shared line | Joliet | 2023 (est.) | 55164 |
| Keri Wright | VSO representative | National Association of County Veterans Service Officers | 815-740-8389shared line | Joliet | 2023 (est.) | 54438 |
| Michelle Zekas | VSO representative | National Association of County Veterans Service Officers | 630-381-9605 | Yorkville | 2024 (est.) | 57760 |
| Brenda Bates | Attorney | — | 773-355-0489 | Oak Lawn | 2021 | 51104 |
| Edward Farmer | Attorney | — | 800-700-4174 | Warrenville | 2011 | 18849 |
| William Hardesty | Attorney | — | 815-302-9340 | New Lenox | 2022 | 52642 |
| Paloma Holloman | Attorney | — | 630-716-6404 | Warrenville | 2024 | 55988 |
| Jamie Holz | Attorney | — | 563-599-0719out-of-state | Mokena | 2024 | 57492 |
| Brian Lambert | Attorney | — | 708-420-2358 | Romeoville | 2018 | 45889 |
| Martin LeFevour | Attorney | — | (708) 246-4246 | Westmont | 2020 | 48954 |
| Paul Lechner | Attorney | — | 708-460-6686 | Orland Hills | 2011 | 20177 |
| Phillip Lee | Attorney | — | 815-242-2000 | Joliet | 2014 | 31606 |
| Andrew Pettit | Attorney | — | 619-957-6771out-of-state | Warrenville | 2025 | 59766 |
| Heather Voorn | Attorney | — | 708-675-7156 | New Lenox | 2009 | 11613 |
| Mark Ely | Claims agent | — | 630-708-7359 | Naperville | 2025 | 58349 |
| Betty Jones | Claims agent | — | 773-936-3281 | Chicago | 2002 | 6914 |
| Robert Nichols | Claims agent | — | (815) 348-7512 | Tinley Park | 2021 | 51337 |
| Gerald Schmitt | Claims agent | — | 630-915-9467 | New Lenox | 2009 | 15268 |
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 |
| Jewish War Veterans of the USA | 159 | 1 | 8.2 | Paper VA Form 21-22 only |
| 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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