Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) offer a range of services for veterans, service members, dependents and survivors. Some VSOs may provide programming for veterans in their communities, such as job fairs; others may organize events to raise money for a subset of veterans, such as housing for homeless veterans. Some VSOs train individuals to meet federal regulatory requirements to become accredited representatives who can represent claimants before the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA’s) regional offices and its Board of Veterans’ Appeals. This report answers frequently asked questions to clarify how VSOs are funded, administered, and connected to the federal government.

What are VSOs?

VSOs are organizations that aid and serve veterans, service members, dependents, and survivors. Descriptions of different types of VSOs appear in the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA’s) 2019 Directory: Veterans and Military Service Organizations and State Directors of Veterans Affairs (Directory of VSOs).

According to the directory, VSOs may fall into one or more of the following categories: congressionally chartered organizations; organizations recognized by VA; organizations recognized by VA to prepare, present, and prosecute claims; national organizations; state, county, or tribal governmental organizations; regional or local organizations; or nonprofit organizations.

There is no uniformly applied statutory definition of the term VSO, but certain laws use the term more narrowly than the Directory of VSOs. For example, the Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2017 (P.L. 115-55) stated: “The term ‘veterans service organization’ means any organization recognized by the Secretary for the representation of veterans under section 5902 of title 38, United States Code.” Any organization that addresses veterans’ needs may call itself a VSO.

What services, activities are supported by VSOs?

VSOs serve veterans, and their activities may encompass a range of services, such as providing programming for veterans in their communities, such as job fairs; organizing events to raise money for a subset of veterans, such as housing for homeless veterans; or providing access to accredited veterans service representatives who can help veterans when they apply for VA benefits.

Are VSOs federal agencies?

VSOs are not federal agencies. VSOs may be nonprofit organizations or state, county, tribal, or local government agencies. Employees who work for VSOs are not federal employees.

However, the VA secretary may make space available in departmental facilities for individuals who work for national VSOs that have been recognized by the secretary. According to 38 U.S.C. §5902(a)(2), “the Secretary may, in the discretion of the Secretary, furnish, if available, space and office facilities for the use of paid full-time representatives of national organizations so recognized.” Thus, while employees of some VSOs may be physically working at VA federal facilities, they are not federal workers. The VSO employees are positioned in these facilities to conveniently assist veterans, their spouses, and their beneficiaries.

What are congressionally chartered VSOs?

Congressionally chartered VSOs are organizations that have been granted charters by Congress through the enactment of public laws. Each congressionally chartered VSO is listed in 36 U.S.C. Subtitle II: Patriotic and National Organizations.

A VSO is “congressionally chartered” if Congress has passed a law that chartered the organization. Provisions related to congressional charters are codified in 36 U.S.C. Subtitle II. According to the Directory of VSOs, the last VSO chartered by Congress was the Military Officers Association of America in 2009. Congress may amend existing charters, which often include conditions for membership, mission, or other characteristics of the particular VSO. Among the congressionally chartered VSOs here are some that preside in Delaware County. The American Legion, organized 1919 – chartered in 1919. Disabled American Veterans (DAV), organized 1920 – chartered in 1932. Veterans of Foreign Wars of The United States (VFW), organized 1899 – chartered in 1936. Marine Corps League, organized 1923 – chartered in 1937. AMVETS, founded 1944 – chartered in 1947. Military Order of The Purple Heart of the U.S.A., Inc. (MOPH), organized 1932 – chartered in 1958. Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA), organized 1978 – chartered in 1986. There are many more congressionally chartered VSOs than are listed here.

What are recognized VSOs?

A recognized VSO is one that has been recognized by VA, which means that the organization has satisfied multiple requirements outlined in 38 C.F.R. §14.628. Recognized VSOs may be national organizations, state organizations, regional or local organizations, or tribal organizations.

Recognized VSOs are not individually named in the U.S. Code. Authority to determine that a VSO is “recognized” is granted to the VA Secretary in 38 U.S.C. §5902 (Recognition of representatives of organizations). The specific regulations that apply to recognized VSOs appear in 38 C.F.R. §14.628 (Recognition of organizations).

The requirements to become a recognized VSO include, but are not limited to: having a primary purpose to serve veterans; demonstrating commitment to veterans through a sizeable organizational membership or performance of veterans services; committing a significant portion of the organization’s assets to veterans services; and submitting evidence that the organization will represent claimants or that it will inform claimants on how to find accredited representation.

VSOs provide evidence to the VA secretary that they meet these criteria through documentation (e.g., membership data, bylaws, description of services provided, and copies of their financial statements). In cases where the organization provides VA claims services, evidence must be provided that the group has the capability to represent claimants before VA regional offices and VA’s Board of Veterans’ Appeals.

Do VSOs provide access to accredited representatives?

Recognized VSOs may provide access to accredited representatives, who assist claimants with their affairs before VA. Not all recognized VSOs provide accredited representatives to represent claimants. The recognized VSOs that do not represent claimants must illustrate how they will inform veterans of the limited services they can provide, as well as how they will advise veterans on how to find accredited representation.

Recognized VSOs submit applications of individuals seeking to become accredited representatives to VA’s Office of General Counsel for accreditation. These applications include evidence that the individuals have been trained and meet specific qualifications. Recognized VSOs that provide access to accredited representatives often also provide the required continuing learning credits that representatives must periodically complete.

Accredited representatives who work for VSOs may not charge their clients fees.

Do VSOs provide reports to the federal government?

Certain VSOs have varying federal reporting requirements. Some may be required to file with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS); others may be required to submit reports as a result of provisions in their congressional charters. However, there is no uniform requirement for all VSOs or all congressionally chartered VSOs to submit reports.

Does veterans affairs provide grants specifically for VSOs?

Most VA support is designed to aid individual veterans rather than organizations that serve veterans. On occasion, Congress has authorized VA to administer grants for which applications may be solicited from VSOs. For example, the Veterans Transportation Program notes the following requirement for applicants for its Highly Rural Transportation Grants: Only a Veterans Service Organization (VSO) or a State Veterans Service Agency can apply, according to paragraphs (a)(2)(A)-(B) of section 307 of the 2010 Act. VSO must be recognized by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for the representation of Veterans under section 5902 of Title 38, United States Code.

Where can i find a directory of all VSOs?

No single resource provides a comprehensive list of all VSOs. However, the following resources provide selected lists of VSOs: 1. VA, “E-Benefits: Manage your representative for VA Claims;” 2. VA, “VSOs in Regional VA Offices;” 3. Directory of VSOs, at https://www.va.gov/vso/VSO-Directory.pdf; 4. VA, “Directory of State Veterans Affairs Offices;” and 5. 36 U.S.C. Subtitle II: Patriotic and National Organizations.

Much of the information in this article was acquired from a document that was prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS serves as nonpartisan shared staff to congressional committees and members of Congress. It operates solely at the behest of and under the direction of Congress. Information in a CRS report should not be relied upon for purposes other than public understanding of information that has been provided by CRS to members of Congress in connection with CRS’s institutional role.

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