VA-accredited representatives in Lafayette, LA

7 people are accredited by the VA to represent veterans on disability claims in Lafayette, LA — 3 of them work for free. Names, phone numbers and registration numbers below, straight from the VA's roster.

Accredited in Lafayette, LA

NameTypeOrganizationPhoneAccreditedVA reg #
Stanley DayVSO representativeCatholic War Veterans of the USA703-549-3622shared line2014 (est.)32829
Nakeisha FootsVSO representativeThe Retired Enlisted Association, Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs, American Legion, Fleet Reserve Association, Veterans of Foreign Wars337-262-56282021 (est.)50964
Karen MamalakisVSO representativeCatholic War Veterans of the USA337-257-46492023 (est.)55000
Amy BakerAttorney222-255-3297202660646
Shelton EliseAttorney337-237-3000202354217
Taylor JamesAttorney337-703-4312202252703
Jennings Jones IIIAttorney337-534-8405200810690

Within 25 miles

NameTypeOrganizationPhoneCityAccreditedVA reg #
William DeanVSO representativeLouisiana Department of Veterans Affairs, American Legion, Fleet Reserve Association, Veterans of Foreign Wars337-373-0001New Iberia2020 (est.)49647
Angela HebertVSO representativeLouisiana Department of Veterans Affairs, American Legion, Marine Corps League, Veterans of Foreign Wars337-788-7539Crowley2024 (est.)56226
MacArthur LindonVSO representativeThe Retired Enlisted Association, Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars337-373-0001New Iberia2022 (est.)53222
Vanessa MelanconVSO representativeLouisiana Department of Veterans Affairs, National Association of County Veterans Service Officers, American Legion, Fleet Reserve Association, Veterans of Foreign Wars337-828-5047Abbeville2014 (est.)31001
Aubrey MilliganVSO representativeCatholic War Veterans of the USA337-278-4460Broussard2021 (est.)50478
Merlinda PrejeanClaims agent337-278-5845Church Point201329211

The organizations behind these representatives

OrganizationAccredited reps
nationally
In Louisiana Median years
accredited
Appointing them
American Legion3,753655.5Paper VA Form 21-22 only
Catholic War Veterans of the USA3544.6Accepts online POA requests
Fleet Reserve Association4754412.5Paper VA Form 21-22 only
Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs129825.1Paper VA Form 21-22 only
The Retired Enlisted Association104135.1Paper VA Form 21-22 only
Veterans of Foreign Wars2,342735.4Accepts 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 Louisiana is

257,383 veterans live in Louisiana and 201 accredited representatives of all kinds are listed there — about 1,281 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.

What would this rating pay you? (2026 rates)

Official 2026 VA monthly compensation, including the 2.8% COLA increase.

per month ·  per year, tax-free

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)
RatingMonthly (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
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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.

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Every name, phone number and accreditation date on this page comes from the VA Office of General Counsel accreditation roster, retrieved 2026-08-21. VetAid is not affiliated with the VA, is not a VA-accredited representative, takes no payment for placement, and endorses no one listed here. This is general information, not legal advice.