Fill Out VA Form 21-4138 in 2026
Add details about how your condition started, worsened, or connects to another service-related issue, then sign and download your finished copy.
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How to fill out a VA Form 21-4138
Follow the steps below and you'll finish without guesswork.
Open the form
Access the pre-loaded statement form in the editor, with no upload needed.
Fill in your details
Enter your name, SSN, mailing address, and remarks to complete the form.
Download as PDF
Save your completed statement as a PDF file, ready to attach to your VA claim.
What is a VA Form 21-4138?
VA Form 21-4138, Statement in Support of Claim, gives veterans, or their family and friends, a way to submit a written statement about a VA benefits claim. Use it to add details that medical evidence or service records leave out, whether the claim covers disability, pension, education, or health care benefits. It's your chance to explain your situation in your own words, filling gaps that official paperwork alone can't cover, and strengthening your case in the process.
Key Takeaways
- Veterans use it to add a personal statement
- Family or friends can file it for a veteran
- It fills gaps missing from official records
What is a VA Form 21-4138 used for?
Veterans and claimants use this form to add facts or explanations to a VA claim file. Common uses include:
- Supporting a claim for disability, pension, health care, housing, education, or life insurance benefits
- Requesting a review of a denied claim or adding details to one already in process
- Describing in-service events, symptoms, or how a condition affects daily life
- Explaining how a secondary condition links to an existing service-connected condition
- Updating your file with current information
What information is required on a VA Form 21-4138?
Veteran/Beneficiary's Name
Enter the veteran or beneficiary's first name, middle initial, and last name.
Veteran's Social Security Number
Enter the veteran's Social Security Number to identify the claim file.
VA File Number
Enter the VA file number if one has already been assigned to the claim.
Veteran's Date of Birth
Enter the veteran's date of birth in month, day, year format.
Telephone Number
Enter a daytime phone number, including area code or international code if applicable.
Mailing Address
Enter the street address, city, state, ZIP code, and country for correspondence.
Remarks
Write the detailed statement explaining facts supporting the veteran's or beneficiary's claim.
Signature and Date Signed
Sign and date the form to certify the statement is true and correct.
When is a VA Form 21-4138 due?
VA Form 21-4138 has no fixed due date. You can submit it any time your VA benefits claim is under review. If the VA asks for more information, it may set a timeframe for your reply. Submit promptly anyway, since delays can slow claim processing or affect accrued-benefits eligibility.
Put your statement in writing
Open VA Form 21-4138 here, add your statement in the fillable fields, and download the completed copy for your records.
When is a VA Form 21-4138 not required?
You don't need this statement when your application forms and supporting documents already cover the details your claim needs. If the VA asks for information on a different VA form, use that one instead. Veterans and claimants only need to submit VA Form 21-4138 when a written statement adds facts not captured elsewhere in the file.
What does a VA Form 21-4138 form look like
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