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Accredited in Pierre, SD
| Name | Type | Organization | Phone | Accredited | VA reg # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin Bowen | VSO representative | The Retired Enlisted Association, South Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs, American Legion, Blinded Veterans Association, Veterans of Foreign Wars | 605-280-4306 | 2010 (est.) | 17865 |
| Michael Mullen | VSO representative | South Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars | 605-773-6975 | 2024 (est.) | 56614 |
| Kevin Swanson | VSO representative | The Retired Enlisted Association, South Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars | 605-280-4308 | 2012 (est.) | 25546 |
| Edward Hruska | Attorney | — | 605-224-0461 | 2014 | 33398 |
The organizations behind these representatives
| Organization | Accredited reps nationally |
In South Dakota | Median years accredited | Appointing them |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Legion | 3,753 | 64 | 5.5 | Paper VA Form 21-22 only |
| Blinded Veterans Association | 47 | 2 | 17.9 | Paper VA Form 21-22 only |
| South Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs | 68 | 67 | 2.9 | Paper VA Form 21-22 only |
| The Retired Enlisted Association | 104 | 13 | 5.1 | Paper VA Form 21-22 only |
| Veterans of Foreign Wars | 2,342 | 61 | 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 South Dakota is
64,099 veterans live in South Dakota and 82 accredited representatives of all kinds are listed there — about 782 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 South Dakota
All accredited representatives in South Dakota · Search by ZIP code
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