Free VSO Help in Lake County, Illinois
Find Veterans Service Officers serving veterans in Lake County.
VSO assistance is free. A VSO should never take a percentage of your VA disability benefits or back pay.
There are 9 VA-accredited VSO offices listed for veterans in Lake County, Illinois, representing 6 organizations such as American Veterans, Disabled American Veterans and Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs. A Veterans Service Officer in Lake County can help with VA disability claims, appeals, decision letters, and other benefits at no charge.
If an office here can't take your appointment soon, free VSO help is also listed in nearby Cook County, Kane County and McHenry County.
Free VA claim help usually starts with a short intake: the VSO reviews your discharge papers and records, explains which claim type fits your situation, and helps you complete and submit VA forms. Bring your documents to the first visit to save time.
VSO Offices in Lake County
American Veterans
North Chicago, IL, 60064 · Lake County
Accredited representative: Harold K Dukala
1-800-810-7148
Appointments: contact office for details
Hours: contact office for details
VA-accredited (per VA Office of General Counsel) · Last verified 9/28/2026
Disabled American Veterans
Gurnee, IL, 60031 · Lake County
6 accredited representatives: Allan M Lacson; Benito Garcia; Eric W Storm; Jilian S Padaoan; Keeyawnia C Hawkins; Krista L Wolfer
202-554-3501
Appointments: contact office for details
Hours: contact office for details
VA-accredited (per VA Office of General Counsel) · Last verified 9/28/2026
Disabled American Veterans
North Chicago, IL, 60064 · Lake County
Accredited representative: Leon M Ocasio
202-554-3501
Appointments: contact office for details
Hours: contact office for details
VA-accredited (per VA Office of General Counsel) · Last verified 9/28/2026
Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs
Deerfield, IL · Lake County
Accredited representative: De' Yunka Adams
217-782-6641
Appointments: contact office for details
Hours: contact office for details
VA-accredited (per VA Office of General Counsel) · Last verified 9/28/2026
Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs
Lockport, IL, 60041 · Lake County
Accredited representative: Anthony Hernandez
217-782-6641
Appointments: contact office for details
Hours: contact office for details
VA-accredited (per VA Office of General Counsel) · Last verified 9/28/2026
Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs
Deerfield, IL, 60015 · Lake County
2 accredited representatives: Walter L Wilson; William A Illa
217-782-6641
Appointments: contact office for details
Hours: contact office for details
VA-accredited (per VA Office of General Counsel) · Last verified 9/28/2026
Natl Assoc'n of County Veterans Service Officers
Gurnee, IL, 60031 · Lake County
19 accredited representatives: Allan M Lacson; Andres Martinez; Andrew C Tangen; Benito Garcia; Christina Pettersen; Daniel B Hunter; Eric W Storm; Fernando Sanchez (+11 more)
Contact office for details
Appointments: contact office for details
Hours: contact office for details
VA-accredited (per VA Office of General Counsel) · Last verified 9/28/2026
Texas Veterans Commission
Gurnee, IL, 60031 · Lake County
Accredited representative: Keeyawnia C Hawkins
512-463-6564
Appointments: contact office for details
Hours: contact office for details
VA-accredited (per VA Office of General Counsel) · Last verified 9/28/2026
Veterans of Foreign Wars
Gurnee, IL, 60031 · Lake County
4 accredited representatives: Eric W Storm; Jilian S Padaoan; John L Murray; Keeyawnia C Hawkins
202-543-2239
Appointments: contact office for details
Hours: contact office for details
VA-accredited (per VA Office of General Counsel) · Last verified 9/28/2026
Cities With VSO Offices in Lake County
Nearby Counties With Free VSO Help
VSO Appointment Checklist
- DD-214 or discharge documents
- VA decision letters
- Service treatment records
- Civilian medical records
- Current diagnosis information
- Medication list
- Marriage/dependent information if relevant
- Statements from family, friends, or coworkers
- Any previous DBQs or C&P examination records
- List of conditions you want to discuss
Frequently Asked Questions About VSOs
What is a VSO?
A Veterans Service Officer (VSO) is a representative of a veterans service organization, state, county, or tribal office who is accredited by the VA to help veterans prepare, file, and follow up on claims for VA benefits.
Is a VSO free?
Yes. Accredited VSO representatives help veterans at no charge. A VSO should never ask for a fee or a percentage of your VA disability benefits or back pay.
Can a VSO help with a VA disability claim?
Yes. A VSO can help you file an initial disability claim, gather and organize evidence, complete VA forms, and track the claim after it is submitted.
How do I find a VSO in Lake County?
Browse the office listings on this page for Lake County, call the office to confirm hours and appointment requirements, and verify accreditation on VA.gov before appointing a representative.
Can a VSO help with a VA appeal?
Yes. VSOs commonly help with Supplemental Claims and Higher-Level Reviews, and many can assist with Board of Veterans' Appeals filings.
What should I bring to my VSO appointment?
Bring your DD-214, any VA decision letters, service treatment records, civilian medical records, a medication list, dependent information if relevant, and a list of the conditions you want to discuss.
How do I know if a VSO is VA accredited?
Search the representative or organization in the VA Office of General Counsel accreditation search on VA.gov. Accreditation can change, so confirm it before signing a VA Form 21-22.
Can I change my VSO?
Yes. You can appoint a different accredited representative at any time by submitting a new VA Form 21-22 (organization) or 21-22a (individual), which replaces the prior appointment.
Prepare Before You Meet With Your VSO
StratForge can help you organize your records, understand VA decision letters, prepare for C&P exams, and create personal statements before your VSO appointment. The VSO directory itself is always free.
Directory last updated: September 28, 2026
StratForge is an independent veteran resource and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Accreditation information can change, so veterans should verify current accreditation through VA.gov before appointing a representative.
Accreditation data: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs – Office of General Counsel. ZIP-to-county matching (U.S. Census Bureau) is used only to estimate location, never to determine accreditation.