Find the ones nearest you
Accredited in Lapeer, MI
| Name | Type | Organization | Phone | Accredited | VA reg # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cheryl Burrough | VSO representative | National Association of County Veterans Service Officers, Veterans of Foreign Wars | 810-667-0256 | 2015 (est.) | 35150 |
| Lori Darga | VSO representative | National Association of County Veterans Service Officers, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency | 810-667-0256 | 2017 (est.) | 40966 |
| Peter Kirley | VSO representative | National Association of County Veterans Service Officers, Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars | 810-667-0256 | 2021 (est.) | 50345 |
| Amanda Klein | VSO representative | Veterans of Foreign Wars | 202-543-2239switchboard | 2022 (est.) | 52841 |
| Josie Shelton | VSO representative | National Association of County Veterans Service Officers, Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars | 810-667-0256 | 2024 (est.) | 57691 |
| Melissa Redick | Attorney | — | 810-660-7050 | 2023 | 55197 |
1 of these listings ring a switchboard, not a desk
The VA publishes one phone number per representative, and for 1 of the people on this page that number is an organization's main line shared by hundreds of representatives across the country — not a direct line to them. It is marked switchboard in the table. Ask for the person by name and by VA registration number, and if you cannot get through, any other representative from the same organization can take the case.
Within 25 miles
| Name | Type | Organization | Phone | City | Accredited | VA reg # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Derrick Britton | VSO representative | National Association of County Veterans Service Officers, American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency | 810-257-3068shared line | Flint | 2023 (est.) | 55807 |
| David Downer | VSO representative | National Association of County Veterans Service Officers, American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars | 313-964-6640shared line | Flint | 2008 (est.) | 9164 |
| Chad Parenteau | VSO representative | National Association of County Veterans Service Officers, American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency | (810) 257-3068shared line | Flint | 2024 (est.) | 57637 |
| Tristan Shaw | VSO representative | National Association of County Veterans Service Officers, American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency | 810-257-3068shared line | Flint | 2022 (est.) | 53402 |
| Beth Smith | VSO representative | National Association of County Veterans Service Officers, American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars | 810-257-3068shared line | Flint | 2022 (est.) | 53043 |
| Rhonda Sparling | VSO representative | National Association of County Veterans Service Officers, American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars | 810-257-3068shared line | Flint | 2023 (est.) | 55806 |
| Lauren Thompson | VSO representative | National Association of County Veterans Service Officers | 810-257-3196 | Flint | 2024 (est.) | 56472 |
| Carrie Wagner | VSO representative | National Association of County Veterans Service Officers, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars | 810-257-3068shared line | Flint | 2014 (est.) | 32376 |
| Gerard Garno | Attorney | — | 586-752-2500 | Washington | 2009 | 12941 |
| Taylor Karam | Attorney | — | 810-234-2621 | Flint | 2020 | 48744 |
| Kelli King-Penner | Attorney | — | 810-694-9000 | Grand Blanc | 2017 | 42068 |
| Michael Kotarski | Attorney | — | 810-234-7959 | Flint | 2013 | 27831 |
| Julie Winkfield | Attorney | — | 800-322-4512 | Flint | 2020 | 48958 |
The organizations behind these representatives
| Organization | Accredited reps nationally |
In Michigan | Median years accredited | Appointing them |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Legion | 3,753 | 206 | 5.5 | Paper VA Form 21-22 only |
| Disabled American Veterans | 1,663 | 136 | 5.1 | Paper VA Form 21-22 only |
| Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency | 136 | 90 | 5.1 | Paper VA Form 21-22 only |
| National Association of County Veterans Service Officers | 2,133 | 214 | 4.9 | Paper VA Form 21-22 only |
| Veterans of Foreign Wars | 2,342 | 146 | 5.4 | 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 Michigan is
499,734 veterans live in Michigan and 522 accredited representatives of all kinds are listed there — about 957 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 Michigan
All accredited representatives in Michigan · Search by ZIP code
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