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When veterans file for VA disability compensation due to depression, the process often feels overwhelming. The burden of proving the severity and impact of a mental health condition can be difficult, especially when medical records don’t fully capture how depression affects daily life. In these cases, one of the most overlooked and underused tools is the buddy statement.
Also known as a lay statement, a buddy statement is a firsthand account provided by someone who personally witnesses how your depression affects you. It’s written by a friend, spouse, coworker, fellow service member, or family member who can provide specific details that medical records might miss.
Understanding VA Claims for Depression
Depression is one of the most common mental health conditions among veterans. It can be the result of a host of service-related issues, including direct trauma, combat stress, or injury. Some veterans face depression due to a secondary condition linked to chronic pain, PTSD, or disability-related lifestyle changes. The Department of Veterans Affairs recognizes depression as a ratable mental health disorder, meaning it can serve as the basis for a disability benefits claim. To qualify for VA disability compensation, you must demonstrate:
1. A current diagnosis of depression
2. A link to your military service
3. Evidence of ongoing symptoms and functional impairment
VA ratings for depression range from 0% to 100%, based on how much the condition interferes with your ability to work, socialize, and manage daily activities. However, depression doesn’t show up in a blood test or a scan, so the VA often relies on subjective evaluations, including your own statements and those of people who know you.
That’s where buddy statements come in.
What Is a Buddy Statement?
A buddy statement is a written document submitted to the VA that describes observable changes or behaviors related to your condition. While medical professionals assess symptoms based on what you report during clinical visits, buddy statements show how those symptoms play out in real life—at home, at work, and in social settings.
Key features of a good buddy statement:
- It is written by someone who knows you well and has observed your symptoms over time.
- It includes specific examples of behaviors, incidents, or changes in your mood, personality, or habits.
- It connects those behaviors to the timeframe of your military service or to the worsening of your condition since discharge.
The VA gives weight to credible lay evidence, especially when it helps clarify the day-to-day impact of a mental health issue like depression.
Why Buddy Statements Matter in Depression Claims
Depression is often invisible to the outside world. You may show up for your VA appointment clean-shaven, coherent, and dressed appropriately, and still be struggling to get out of bed in the morning. Buddy statements fill the gap between clinical impressions and lived experience. They can corroborate your own self-reported issues and add emotional context to what your doctors have noticed on their own.
Types of Buddy Statements That Help in Depression Claims
Not all buddy statements are the same. The following examples could be helpful depending on your circumstances. Ultimately, the most important thing is for these letters to be truthful and come from a place of attempting to explain what you have been experiencing due to your depression.
1. Statements from Spouses or Partners
Partners often observe how depression affects intimacy, communication, household responsibilities, and emotional regulation. A spouse might describe how the veteran has withdrawn, lost motivation, or experienced intense mood swings.
2. Statements from Friends or Fellow Veterans
These statements are especially helpful when the friend knew you before and after your service, as it can provide a contrasting view on your quality of life. Statements from people who served with you and experienced the same events can also be helpful.
3. Statements from Employers or Coworkers
These statements can document how your depression has affected your job performance, attendance, or interpersonal relationships at work. The longer you have worked somewhere, the more impactful these statements can be.
4. Statements from Family Members or Caregivers
Parents, siblings, or adult children may observe long-term behavioral changes and how your depression affects daily functioning.
How to Structure a Buddy Statement
While there is no mandatory formula for these letters, they can benefit from following a clear structure similar to the following:
1. Identify the writer – Include name, relationship to the veteran, and how long they’ve known the veteran.
2. Describe observations – Focus on behaviors and changes, not just opinions or emotions.
3. Provide specific examples – Detail incidents that illustrate the veteran’s symptoms.
4. Relate the information to timeframes – Tie changes to military service or post-discharge events.
5. Sign and date – The statement should be signed and dated.
Avoid vague statements like “he’s depressed” or “she seems sad.” These letters are not about offering medical opinions; they are designed to include factual observations. Use descriptive phrases and specific anecdotes that help the VA understand how depression impacts real life.
When to Use a VA Disability Appeal Lawyer
If your depression claim is denied or underrated, appealing can be a difficult and technical process. This is where a VA disability appeal lawyer becomes critical. It is important to understand that while the claims process itself can be challenging, federal law prohibits hiring an attorney until the VA has made its initial decision. You can hire an attorney in order to appeal a denial or even an award that you feel is too low. Gang & Associates can help in the following ways:
- Review your original claim and denial letter
- Identify gaps in your evidence
- Help gather new buddy statements and guide the people writing them
- Draft a strong argument for why the initial rating was incorrect
Because buddy statements can play a pivotal role in appeals, a VA disability appeal lawyer can help ensure they are crafted strategically and meet the VA’s expectations for probative value.
Buddy statements alone are rarely enough to overturn a denial, but when combined with medical records and professional legal support, they can be the tipping point.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Buddy statements can be powerful, but only if used correctly. Here are some mistakes to avoid:
1. Submitting Generic or Repetitive Statements
If all your buddy statements say the same thing or offer only vague generalities, they lose impact. Encourage each person to focus on unique experiences or perspectives.
2. Over- or Understating Symptoms
Exaggerating symptoms can hurt your credibility, while understating them misses the point. Aim for accuracy and detail, not dramatization.
3. Not Updating Statements for Appeals
If you’ve already submitted buddy statements but your claim was denied, consider getting new or updated statements that reflect your current symptoms or events that occurred since your last filing.
The Role of Buddy Statements in Secondary Depression Claims
Many veterans develop depression secondarily as a result of chronic pain, limited mobility, or service-connected physical conditions. Buddy statements in these cases should:
- Emphasize the connection between the physical condition and emotional distress
- Describe the veteran’s frustration, social isolation, or loss of identity
- Show how the mental health symptoms developed or worsened over time
This type of lay evidence can support not just the diagnosis, but also the link between the depression and the primary service-connected issue.
Do Buddy Statements Make a Difference?
Buddy statements can have a tremendous impact on the outcome of your claim. The VA’s own internal guidelines state that lay statements can serve as competent evidence in claims involving mental health, pain, and observable behavior. In fact, in some cases where medical records are lacking or incomplete, credible buddy statements can tilt the balance in your favor.
For depression claims in particular, these personal accounts provide a fuller, more human picture of what’s really happening. When strategically used and paired with legal guidance, buddy statements can be the silent strength behind a successful VA disability appeal.
Discuss a Buddy Statement with Gang & Associates
A well-written buddy statement may seem informal, but it holds real weight in the eyes of the VA. For veterans struggling with depression, this kind of firsthand account can make all the difference, especially when appealing a denial or a low rating. Our team can help you with every aspect of obtaining the statements you need. By working with a VA disability appeal lawyer, you could secure the buddy statement that helps you win your appeal and secure the benefits you deserve. Contact Gang & Associates as soon as possible to discuss your options during a private consultation.