What a buddy statement is
A sworn lay statement from someone who has personal knowledge of your in-service injury, event, or symptoms — used as evidence under 38 CFR § 3.159. Filed on VA Form 21-10210 (Lay/Witness Statement).
Who can write one
- Battle buddies, squad members, anyone who served with you.
- Spouse, parents, or close friends who witnessed symptoms before/during/after service.
- Civilian coworkers who can speak to functional limitations.
- The buddy doesn''t need to still be in service or even be a veteran themselves.
What makes a strong buddy statement
- Identify the writer clearly — full name, dates of service if a fellow servicemember, unit, and how they know you.
- Specific dates and locations — "In October 2008, while deployed to FOB Salerno..." beats "back in the day."
- First-hand observation only — what they saw, heard, did. Not what they were told later.
- Specific events — the IED blast, the fall from the truck, the night you couldn''t stop shaking after the firefight.
- Symptoms they witnessed — sleep disturbance, hypervigilance, knee favoring, hearing problems.
- Sworn under penalty of perjury — the form has the language; they sign and date.
What makes a weak buddy statement (avoid)
- "He was a great soldier and deserves benefits." — Conclusory, no facts.
- Speculation: "I think he might have been hurt..." — VA disregards.
- Medical opinion from a non-medical writer: "His PTSD started from..." — Lay people can describe symptoms, not diagnose.
- Generic "I served with him for two years" without any specific events.
Sample structure
> I, [Name], served with [Veteran] in [Unit] from [Date] to [Date]. On or about [Specific Date], I personally witnessed [specific event]. I observed [Veteran] [specific symptoms] in the days/months following. I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States that the foregoing is true and correct.
How to submit
- Attach as evidence on VA.gov when you file your claim.
- Or include with VA Form 21-526EZ if filing on paper.
- Multiple buddy statements are better than one — they corroborate each other.
For PTSD claims especially
Buddy statements can establish a stressor even if the official records don''t document the event. Critical for combat experiences not captured in unit records.
Bottom line
Lay evidence is allowed, encouraged, and often decisive. Get specific, get sworn statements, get them attached to your claim.