Find the ones nearest you
Accredited in Ottawa, OH
| Name | Phone | Type | Organization | Accredited | VA reg # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jonathan Balmer | 419-523-8719 | VSO representative | Ohio Department of Veterans Services, Natl Assoc'n of County Veterans Service Officers, American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars | 2022 (est.) | 53210 |
| Kyle Frias | 419-523-4478 | VSO representative | Ohio Department of Veterans Services, Natl Assoc'n of County Veterans Service Officers, American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, Marine Corps League, Veterans of Foreign Wars | 2014 (est.) | 32031 |
| Matthew Prenzlin | 419-523-8716 | VSO representative | Ohio Department of Veterans Services, Natl Assoc'n of County Veterans Service Officers, American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars | 2012 (est.) | 25056 |
Within 25 miles
| Name | Phone | Type | Organization | City | Accredited | VA reg # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Erin Clady | 202-861-2700switchboard | VSO representative | Ohio Department of Veterans Services, Natl Assoc'n of County Veterans Service Officers, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars | Defiance | 2016 (est.) | 40144 |
| Jenna Colley | 419-424-7036 | VSO representative | Ohio Department of Veterans Services, Natl Assoc'n of County Veterans Service Officers, American Legion, Disabled American Veterans | Findlay | 2024 (est.) | 58178 |
| Justin Harbison | 419-223-8522 | VSO representative | Ohio Department of Veterans Services, Natl Assoc'n of County Veterans Service Officers, Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars | Lima | 2025 (est.) | 59230 |
| Nathan Metz | (419) 782-6861 | VSO representative | Ohio Department of Veterans Services, Natl Assoc'n of County Veterans Service Officers, American Legion, Disabled American Veterans | Defiance | 2019 (est.) | 47006 |
| Nicole Praet | 419-424-7036 | VSO representative | Ohio Department of Veterans Services, Natl Assoc'n of County Veterans Service Officers, Disabled American Veterans | Findlay | 2021 (est.) | 49826 |
| Michele Scott | 419-424-7036 | VSO representative | Ohio Department of Veterans Services, Natl Assoc'n of County Veterans Service Officers, American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars | Findlay | 2024 (est.) | 56169 |
| Robert Shattuck | 419-223-8522 | VSO representative | Ohio Department of Veterans Services, Natl Assoc'n of County Veterans Service Officers | Lima | 2026 (est.) | 61645 |
| William Thompson | 419-223-8522 | VSO representative | Ohio Department of Veterans Services, Natl Assoc'n of County Veterans Service Officers, American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars | Lima | 2024 (est.) | 56574 |
| Tamara Wilson | 419-223-8522 | VSO representative | Ohio Department of Veterans Services, Natl Assoc'n of County Veterans Service Officers, American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars | Lima | 2008 (est.) | 1491 |
| Debra Berg-Simon | —no phone published | Attorney | — | Delphos | 2020 | 49149 |
| Angela Elliott | (419) 227-5858 | Attorney | — | Lima | 2013 | 26496 |
The organizations behind these representatives
| Organization | Accredited reps nationally |
In Ohio | Median years accredited | Appointing them |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Legion | 3,712 | 284 | 5.5 | Paper VA Form 21-22 only |
| Disabled American Veterans | 1,675 | 279 | 5.1 | Paper VA Form 21-22 only |
| Marine Corps League | 169 | 9 | 7.7 | Accepts online POA requests |
| Natl Assoc'n of County Veterans Service Officers | 1,992 | 249 | 4.5 | Paper VA Form 21-22 only |
| Ohio Department of Veterans Services | 293 | 293 | 6.2 | Paper VA Form 21-22 only |
| Veterans of Foreign Wars | 2,297 | 258 | 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 Ohio is
669,181 veterans live in Ohio and 540 accredited representatives of all kinds are listed there — about 1,239 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 Ohio
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