Not every injury made it into a service treatment record. Combat, field conditions, and the culture of “rubbing some dirt on it” left gaps in millions of files. Buddy statements fill those gaps with first-hand testimony.
Who can write one
Anyone with direct knowledge — a fellow service member, a spouse, a family member. They are competent to describe what they personally saw: the injury, the change in your behavior, the symptoms over the years.
How to make it credible
- Stick to what the writer personally observed
- Include specific dates, places, and details
- Describe the change over time — before service, during, and after
- Sign and date it; VA Form 21-10210 is built for this
A single credible buddy statement has re-established in-service events the VA claimed never happened.