Find the ones nearest you
Accredited in Montour Falls, NY
| Name | Type | Organization | Phone | Accredited | VA reg # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dewayne Butler | VSO representative | New York State Department of Veterans' Services, National Association of County Veterans Service Officers, American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars | 607-535-2091 | 2023 (est.) | 55135 |
| Kristine Gardner | VSO representative | New York State Department of Veterans' Services, American Legion | 202-861-2700switchboard | 2019 (est.) | 48096 |
| Jason Gilliland | VSO representative | American Legion | 607-535-8187 | 2026 (est.) | 61390 |
| Crystal Kawski | VSO representative | National Association of County Veterans Service Officers, American Legion | 607-535-2091 | 2024 (est.) | 57564 |
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 # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Antes | VSO representative | New York State Department of Veterans' Services, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars | 315-536-4280 | Penn Yan | 2016 (est.) | 40621 |
| John Canestaro | VSO representative | New York State Department of Veterans' Services | 518-474-6114shared line | Elmira | 2009 (est.) | 13579 |
| William Clairborne | VSO representative | New York State Department of Veterans' Services, National Association of County Veterans Service Officers, American Legion | 607-274-5920 | Ithaca | 2020 (est.) | 48807 |
| Eugene DeMonstoy | VSO representative | New York State Department of Veterans' Services, American Legion | 607-664-2198 | Bath | 2024 (est.) | 56532 |
| Ronald Dieg | VSO representative | New York State Department of Veterans' Services | 518-474-6114shared line | Felmira | 2019 (est.) | 47169 |
| Roderick Ford | VSO representative | American Legion | 607-664-2527 | Bath | 2023 (est.) | 55335 |
| Douglas Gibbs | VSO representative | New York State Department of Veterans' Services, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars | 315-536-5196 | Penn Yan | 2023 (est.) | 54524 |
| Amanda Henkel | VSO representative | New York State Department of Veterans' Services | 607-664-4495 | Bath | 2025 (est.) | 59311 |
| Andrew Kimball | VSO representative | New York State Department of Veterans' Services, American Legion | 607-737-5447 | Elmira | 2017 (est.) | 43085 |
| Ignacio Lopez | VSO representative | New York State Department of Veterans' Services | 607-274-5920 | Ithaca | 2025 (est.) | 59992 |
| Michael Murphy | VSO representative | New York State Department of Veterans' Services, American Legion | 607-737-5448 | Elmira | 2009 (est.) | 12647 |
| Gary Smith | VSO representative | New York State Department of Veterans' Services, American Legion | 607-664-2528 | Bath | 2021 (est.) | 50386 |
| Danielle Bernard | Attorney | — | 607-776-4126 | Bath | 2018 | 43707 |
| James Hardwick | Attorney | — | 607-254-1272 | Ithaca | 2023 | 54271 |
| Ellen Heidrick | Attorney | — | 607-776-4126 | Bath | 2017 | 42810 |
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 |
| Disabled American Veterans | 1,663 | 14 | 5.1 | Paper VA Form 21-22 only |
| National Association of County Veterans Service Officers | 2,133 | 34 | 4.9 | 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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