Find the ones nearest you
Accredited in Albany, NY
| Name | Type | Organization | Phone | Accredited | VA reg # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| James Ader | VSO representative | American Legion, Jewish War Veterans of the USA, Veterans of Foreign Wars | 202-861-2700switchboard | 2014 (est.) | 30192 |
| Welby Alcantara | VSO representative | New York State Department of Veterans' Services | 518-474-6114shared line | 2015 (est.) | 36448 |
| Suzanne Beaton | VSO representative | New York State Department of Veterans' Services | 518-410-7079 | 2026 (est.) | 60781 |
| Jason Chakot | VSO representative | New York State Department of Veterans' Services | 518-474-6114shared line | 2010 (est.) | 18510 |
| Robert Cherry | VSO representative | New York State Department of Veterans' Services | 518-474-6114shared line | 2012 (est.) | 25553 |
| Daniel Engel | VSO representative | American Legion | (518) 416-6461 | 2016 (est.) | 39400 |
| Joel Evans | VSO representative | New York State Department of Veterans' Services | (518) 486-3720 | 2008 (est.) | 8704 |
| Nicholas Ferrara | VSO representative | New York State Department of Veterans' Services | 518-626-5682 | 2026 (est.) | 60936 |
| Stephen Junkins | VSO representative | Veterans of Foreign Wars | 518-626-5687 | 2025 (est.) | 60419 |
| Scott Leslie | VSO representative | New York State Department of Veterans' Services, American Legion | 518-447-7710 | 2023 (est.) | 53675 |
| Cheyenne Lovell | VSO representative | American Legion | 518-377-2423 | 2023 (est.) | 55309 |
| Tyler Lynch | VSO representative | New York State Department of Veterans' Services, American Legion | 518-474-6114shared line | 2018 (est.) | 45917 |
| Buck McTee | VSO representative | New York State Department of Veterans' Services | 518-971-2340 | 2025 (est.) | 59512 |
| Michael Pietro | VSO representative | New York State Department of Veterans' Services | 518-474-6114shared line | 2016 (est.) | 40426 |
| Benjamin Pomerance | VSO representative | New York State Department of Veterans' Services | 518-474-6114shared line | 2014 (est.) | 32670 |
| Destiny Ramos | VSO representative | Veterans of Foreign Wars | 202-543-2239switchboard | 2018 (est.) | 44391 |
| Alexander Restifo | VSO representative | New York State Department of Veterans' Services, American Legion | 518-447-7719 | 2024 (est.) | 57453 |
| Vicki Revander | VSO representative | New York State Department of Veterans' Services | 518-474-6114shared line | 2015 (est.) | 34855 |
| Stephen Roy | VSO representative | New York State Department of Veterans' Services | 518-474-6114shared line | 2024 (est.) | 57565 |
| Anthony Sansone | VSO representative | New York State Department of Veterans' Services | 515-626-6285out-of-state | 2025 (est.) | 59509 |
| Skye Schweit | VSO representative | American Legion | 518-447-5666 | 2026 (est.) | 61144 |
| Mark Sollohub | VSO representative | New York State Department of Veterans' Services | 518-474-6114shared line | 2015 (est.) | 37117 |
| Paul Stote | VSO representative | New York State Department of Veterans' Services, Veterans of Foreign Wars | 518-474-6114shared line | 2009 (est.) | 15101 |
| Sarah Bennett | Attorney | — | (518) 802-0849 | 2024 | 57001 |
| Alex Dell | Attorney | — | (518) 862-5555 | 2018 | 43590 |
| Ashley Emery | Attorney | — | 518-462-0110 | 2014 | 29771 |
| William Reynolds | Attorney | — | 518-427-2650 | 2023 | 54989 |
| Patrick Sorsby | Attorney | — | 518-456-4529 | 2020 | 49304 |
| Zachary Cole | Claims agent | — | 518-862-5555 | 2024 | 56045 |
2 of these listings ring a switchboard, not a desk
The VA publishes one phone number per representative, and for 2 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 # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christopher Albert | VSO representative | American Legion | 518-270-2760 | East Greenbush | 2024 (est.) | 58076 |
| Jesse Aragona | VSO representative | New York State Department of Veterans' Services, American Legion | 518-374-0526 | Schenectady | 2024 (est.) | 57188 |
| Edward Coons | VSO representative | New York State Department of Veterans' Services | 518-828-3610 | Valatie | 2025 (est.) | 60485 |
| Kelly Costello | VSO representative | New York State Department of Veterans' Services, American Legion | 518-377-2423 | Schenectady | 2025 (est.) | 59658 |
| Megan Cutbush | VSO representative | New York State Department of Veterans' Services, National Association of County Veterans Service Officers, Veterans of Foreign Wars | 518-474-6114shared line | Ballston Spa | 2014 (est.) | 32055 |
| William Frank | VSO representative | Veterans of Foreign Wars | 518-377-2423 | Schenectady | 2010 (est.) | 18731 |
| Melissa Hogan | VSO representative | New York State Department of Veterans' Services | 518-474-6114shared line | Troy | 2008 (est.) | 7336 |
| Francis McClement | VSO representative | New York State Department of Veterans' Services, National Association of County Veterans Service Officers, Veterans of Foreign Wars | 518-474-6114shared line | Ballston Spa | 2010 (est.) | 18774 |
| Steven McCutcheon | VSO representative | New York State Department of Veterans' Services, American Legion | 518-722-4983 | Schenectady | 2025 (est.) | 59692 |
| Robert Mitchell | VSO representative | Fleet Reserve Association | 703-683 1400switchboard | Ballston Spa | 2008 (est.) | 4280 |
| Vadym Panasyuk | VSO representative | New York State Department of Veterans' Services | 718-526-1000*2217 | Saint Albans | 2022 (est.) | 52849 |
| Oscar Ramirez | VSO representative | American Legion | 518-722-4983 | Schenectady | 2025 (est.) | 60577 |
| Lonnie Warrington | VSO representative | New York State Department of Veterans' Services | 518-270-2760 | East Greenbush | 2023 (est.) | 54955 |
| Mitchell Kessler | Attorney | — | 518-235-6312 | Cohoes | 2016 | 39946 |
| Steven Kessler | Attorney | — | 800-903-3750 | Schenectady | 2026 | 60914 |
| Peter Lomtevas | Attorney | — | 718-745-3600 | Schenectady | 2025 | 59628 |
| Angela Tylock | Attorney | — | 518-313-7809 | Latham | 2024 | 57804 |
The organizations behind these representatives
| Organization | Accredited reps nationally |
In New York | Median years accredited | Appointing them |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Legion | 3,753 | 166 | 5.5 | Paper VA Form 21-22 only |
| Jewish War Veterans of the USA | 159 | 7 | 8.2 | Paper VA Form 21-22 only |
| New York State Department of Veterans' Services | 251 | 198 | 4.1 | Paper VA Form 21-22 only |
| Veterans of Foreign Wars | 2,342 | 41 | 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 New York is
662,406 veterans live in New York and 772 accredited representatives of all kinds are listed there — about 858 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 New York
All accredited representatives in New York · Search by ZIP code
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