Prompt details

Tested on

Claude Opus 5.5

Length

536 words · 3 fill-ins

Example input

[Your service history]: US Army, active duty for 6 years; I separated 11 years ago. Infantryman (11B), airborne qualified, in an airborne infantry brigade. One 12-month deployment to Afghanistan in my 3rd year. About 60 static-line jumps. Regular live-fire ranges, and a lot of time near mortars and .50 cal fire on deployment. Hearing protection was issued but often not worn on patrols. In-service events: a hard landing on a training jump in my 5th year; my right knee twisted when I hit. I went to sick call the next day and got an x-ray (normal), a knee brace and a 14-day profile (no running, no jumping). The knee kept hurting after the profile and I went back to sick call twice the following year for knee pain. The ringing in my ears started during the deployment and I mentioned it on my post-deployment health assessment.

[Conditions and symptoms]: Right knee: hurts every day, worse on stairs and after standing more than about an hour. Swells 2 or 3 evenings a week. It gives out on me about twice a month, last time on the stairs at work. I stopped running completely. Ice and ibuprofen most nights. At work (warehouse supervisor) I asked to move from the floor to a mostly desk role a year ago because of the standing and the stairs. I can't kneel on the floor to play with my kids for more than a minute or two. An orthopedist diagnosed right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome and early osteoarthritis 8 months ago. Ears: constant high-pitched ringing in both ears, every day since the deployment. Worse at night when it's quiet. I sleep with a fan on, and it takes me a long time to fall asleep most nights. In meetings I sometimes miss what people say when there is background noise. Nobody has diagnosed it; I haven't had a hearing test since I got out.

[Records and claim status]: First claim. I submitted an intent to file online 3 weeks ago. I have my service treatment records (they show the sick call after the jump, the knee x-ray, the profile and the two later visits for knee pain; I'm not sure whether the post-deployment assessment mentions the ringing), my DD-214, and the orthopedist's notes and diagnosis from 8 months ago. People who could write a statement: my former team leader, who saw the hard landing and helped me off the drop zone; my wife, who sees the knee swelling, my trouble sleeping and the fan every night. I have not talked to a VSO yet.

Example output

*Assumption: you'll file both conditions together as a first claim under the intent to file you submitted 3 weeks ago. The claim form is VA Form 21-526EZ; your representative will confirm.*

1. Condition summary

Condition	In service	Now	Effect on work and life	Records that show it
Right knee (diagnosed: patellofemoral pain syndrome and early osteoarthritis)	5th year: hard landing on a training jump, right knee twisted. Sick call next day: x-ray (normal), knee brace, 14-day profile (no running, no jumping). Knee kept hurting after the profile, with 2 more sick call visits the next year. About 60 static-line jumps total.	Pain every day, worse on stairs and after standing more than about an hour. Swells 2 or 3 evenings a week. Gives out about twice a month (last time on the stairs at work). Ice and ibuprofen most nights.	Stopped running completely. A year ago asked to move from the warehouse floor to a mostly desk role because of the standing and stairs. Can't kneel on the floor to play with kids for more than a minute or two.	STRs (sick call, x-ray, profile, 2 follow-ups); orthopedist notes and diagnosis (8 months ago); DD-214 (MOS, airborne)
Ringing in both ears (not yet diagnosed)	11B, regular live-fire ranges. 12-month Afghanistan deployment (3rd year), a lot of time near mortars and .50 cal fire. Hearing protection issued, often not worn on patrols. Ringing started during the deployment; you mentioned it on the post-deployment health assessment.	Constant high-pitched ringing in both ears, every day since the deployment. Worse at night when it's quiet.	Sleeps with a fan on. Takes a long time to fall asleep most nights. Sometimes misses what people say in meetings when there is background noise.	DD-214 (MOS, deployment); STRs (check whether the post-deployment assessment records the ringing); no post-service hearing test yet

2. Personal statement (VA Form 21-4138)

Claude Opus 5.5

VA Disability Statement – VA claim statement prompt for ChatGPT and Claude

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Claude Opus 5.5

This prompt helps a veteran prepare a VA disability claim. Paste your service history, conditions and records; you get a condition summary, a personal statement in your words, an evidence checklist and buddy statement requests.

What you get

A condition-by-condition summary of what happened in service and what you live with now
A personal statement in your own words, ready for VA Form 21-4138
An evidence checklist per condition: diagnosis, in-service event and link
Buddy statement requests and questions for your accredited representative

How to use it

1
Write it the way you would say it
Note each condition with real examples: how often, how long and what you stopped doing. The statement keeps your plain words.
2
Check every line against your life
Read the statement and strike anything that is not exactly true, or that happens less often than it says.
3
Take it to a VSO
Bring the statement, the checklist and the questions to a free accredited Veterans Service Organization representative before you file.

Better results

Describe your usual days and your worst days, and how often each happens. A rater needs frequency, not adjectives.
Send a follow-up: "Which sentence in my statement is not backed by my notes?" and delete anything it names.
Send each buddy their request with a reminder to write only what they saw, with rough dates, on VA Form 21-10210.

Questions

Can I use ChatGPT for my VA claim?

Yes, for organizing and wording. ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini can turn your notes into a clear personal statement and evidence checklist. Everything must stay true and in your words; AI cannot predict your rating, and an accredited VSO representative should review it before you file.

What should a VA personal statement include?

For each condition, a VA personal statement should cover what happened in service, the symptoms you have now and how often, and how they affect your work and daily life. Specific examples help more than words like "severe". Submit it on VA Form 21-4138 or plain paper.

What is a buddy statement for a VA claim?

A buddy statement is a written account from someone who saw your in-service event or sees your symptoms now, such as a fellow service member or a spouse. VA calls it a lay or witness statement and accepts it on VA Form 21-10210.

Do I have to pay someone to file a VA claim?

No. Accredited Veterans Service Organization representatives help you file and gather evidence for free. Accredited attorneys and claims agents can charge only after VA decides your initial claim, so be wary of anyone who asks for money to file one.

Updated 8 Nov 2026