Veterans Service Staff

The Portage County Veterans Service Officer (CVSO) is accredited through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (USDVA) Office of the General Counsel as a Veteran Service Organization (VSO) Representative for the following organizations:

  • National Association of County Veterans Service Officers
  • American Legion
  • Disabled American Veterans
  • Veterans of Foreign Wars
  • Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs
  • Retired Enlisted Association

Statutes and Regulations

Accreditation means the authority granted by USDVA to assist claimants in the preparation, presentation, and prosecution of claims for benefits. 38 C.F.R. § 14.627(a). Unaccredited individuals may provide other services to veterans so long as they do not assist in the preparation, presentation, and prosecution of claims for benefits.

Chapter 59 of Title 38, the United States Code, governs the representation of claimants for veterans benefits and the accreditation of representatives, agents, and attorneys. Title 38 is available in its entirety on the Veterans Affairs website.

Section 101 of Public Law 109-461, enacted on December 22, 2006, amended chapter 59 of title 38. Section 101 amends the law governing the recognition of individuals for the preparation, presentation, and prosecution of claims for benefits before the VA. It requires VA to: (1) regulate the qualifications and standards of conduct applicable to accredited agents and attorneys; (2) annually collect information about accredited agents' and attorneys' standing to practice or appear before any court, bar, or Federal or State agency; (3) proscribe accreditation of individuals who have been suspended or disbarred from any such entity without reinstatement; (4) add to the list of grounds for suspension or exclusion of agents or attorneys from further practice before VA; and (5) subject veteran service organization representatives and individuals recognized for a particular claim to suspension and exclusion from further practice before VA on the same grounds as apply to agents and attorneys.