Find the ones nearest you
Accredited in Poughkeepsie, NY
| Name | Phone | Type | Organization | Accredited | VA reg # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Julie Gayle | 202-861-2700switchboard | VSO representative | American Legion | 2013 (est.) | 29447 |
| Julie Leslie | 845-486-2060 | VSO representative | New York State Department of Veterans' Services | 2020 (est.) | 49677 |
| Adam Roche | 845-486-2060 | VSO representative | New York State Department of Veterans' Services, American Legion | 2021 (est.) | 49888 |
| Edward Lent | 508-356-5798out-of-state | Attorney | — | 2024 | 57307 |
| Rachel Saunders | 845-471-0058 | Attorney | — | 2026 | 60645 |
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 | Phone | Type | Organization | City | Accredited | VA reg # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richard Buck | (703) 207-9588 x240switchboard | VSO representative | Marine Corps League | Patterson | 2025 (est.) | 59336 |
| Beth-Anne Canero | 845-486-2060 | VSO representative | New York State Department of Veterans' Services, American Legion | Pleasant Valley | 2025 (est.) | 59930 |
| David Cohen | 845-831-2000 | VSO representative | New York State Department of Veterans' Services | Wappingers Falls | 2020 (est.) | 48729 |
| Kevin Hathorn | (854) 486-2060 | VSO representative | American Legion, Marine Corps League | Pleasant Valley | 2023 (est.) | 54045 |
| Michael Jerkowski | 845-340-3190 | VSO representative | New York State Department of Veterans' Services, American Legion | Kingston | 2022 (est.) | 51984 |
| Timothy Keating | 202-861-2700switchboard | VSO representative | New York State Department of Veterans' Services, American Legion | Kingston | 2011 (est.) | 21151 |
| Tanya Pennella | 845-808-1620 | VSO representative | American Legion | Carmel | 2024 (est.) | 57155 |
| Frank Reggero | 845-340-3190 | VSO representative | American Legion | Kingston | 2016 (est.) | 39408 |
| Karl Rohde | 202-861-2700switchboard | VSO representative | New York State Department of Veterans' Services, American Legion | Carmel | 2014 (est.) | 32151 |
| Karen Saffari | 516-253-4602 | VSO representative | New York State Department of Veterans' Services, American Legion | Wappingers Falls | 2019 (est.) | 46379 |
| Gina Thomaselli | 518-474-6114shared line | VSO representative | New York State Department of Veterans' Services | Wappingers Falls | 2017 (est.) | 41468 |
| Jane Zalsky | 518-474-6114shared line | VSO representative | New York State Department of Veterans' Services | Wappingers Falls | 2019 (est.) | 46599 |
| Gary Gogerty | (845) 561-0550 ext. 380 | Attorney | — | New Windsor | 2009 | 13451 |
| Nancy Morgan | 845-562-0203 | Attorney | — | Newburgh | 2008 | 10659 |
| Vincent Pastore | (516) 243-8833 | Attorney | — | Newburgh | 2013 | 28430 |
| Dane St-Cyr | (917) 524-8305 | Attorney | — | Mahopac | 2025 | 59947 |
| John McAuliffe | (201) 247-0580out-of-state | Claims agent | — | Highland Falls | 2021 | 50330 |
| Nory Picos | —no phone published | Claims agent | — | Newburgh | 2016 | 38927 |
| Lauren Scharfenberg | 845-563-9640 | Claims agent | — | Newburgh | 2012 | 25269 |
The organizations behind these representatives
| Organization | Accredited reps nationally |
In New York | Median years accredited | Appointing them |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Legion | 3,712 | 172 | 5.5 | Paper VA Form 21-22 only |
| New York State Department of Veterans' Services | 240 | 199 | 3.8 | 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 New York is
662,406 veterans live in New York and 703 accredited representatives of all kinds are listed there — about 942 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(b)).
- Accredited attorneys and claims agents may charge, but only after the VA has issued an initial decision on the claim (38 USC 5904; 38 CFR 14.636(c)). 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, or check a name or a whole list of registration numbers on our roster check. 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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