Find a VA-accredited attorney or claims agent in Florida
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From Claim Raven
Hire a VA-accredited attorney without giving up your back pay.
Claim Raven and VA-accredited attorney Chris Burnette are running a small pilot for paid members: do the groundwork yourself, then hire Chris for the part you need at a flat fee.
Donald C. Burnette is a VA-accredited attorney and owner of the Law Office of D.C. Burnette, PLLC, an independent law firm. Attorney services are provided by the law firm, not Claim Raven. Veterans may choose any attorney or representative, and using Claim Raven does not require hiring the firm.
Filter attorneys and claims agents
Sherri Stone
Attorney
- Accredited since
- 2016
- Location
- Palm Beach Gardens, FL
- 2 Veterans Court decisions
- 3 accredited at this firm
Allison Reddick
Attorney · Hill and Ponton, P.A.
- Accredited since
- 2017
- Location
- Orlando, FL
- Veteran-owned
- 13 accredited at this firm
Terrence Gorman
Attorney
- Accredited since
- 2023
- Location
- St. Augustine, FL
- 4 Veterans Court decisions
- 2 accredited at this firm
Kathy Diener
Attorney
- Accredited since
- 2016
- Location
- Naples, FL
- 5 Veterans Court decisions
- 2 accredited at this firm
Stacey-Rae Simcox
Attorney
- Accredited since
- 2008
- Location
- Gulfport, FL
- 13 Veterans Court decisions
- 5 accredited at this firm
Brendan Garcia
Attorney · Werner, Hoffman, Greig & Garcia
- Accredited since
- 2014
- Location
- Boca Raton, FL
- 37 Veterans Court decisions
- 2 reviews mention VA claims
- Veteran-owned
4.9505 firm reviews
View profile
Benjamin Binder
Attorney · Binder and Watson Law Group, LLP
- Accredited since
- 2019
- Location
- Tampa, FL
- 224 Veterans Court decisions
- Handles VA claims
- 2 accredited at this firm
5.027 firm reviews
View profile
Matthew Hill
Attorney · Hill and Ponton, PA
- Accredited since
- 2008
- Location
- Deland, FL
- 4 Veterans Court decisions
- 4 reviews mention VA claims
- Veteran-owned
4.3121 firm reviews
View profile
Carol Avard
Attorney · Avard Law Offices
- Accredited since
- 2008
- Location
- Cape Coral, FL
- 3 Veterans Court decisions
- 5 accredited at this firm
4.2265 firm reviews
View profileJoe Durrett
Attorney
- Accredited since
- 2009
- Location
- Tallahassee, FL
- Handles VA claims
5.02 reviews
View profile
Christopher Dyer
Attorney · Lucas, Macyszyn & Dyer, Injury Lawyers
- Accredited since
- 2021
- Location
- New Port Richey, FL
- Handles VA claims
- Online appointments
4.9265 firm reviews
View profileAttorney or claims agent listed here?
Add your photo, describe your services and choose how people contact you.
Distances are straight-line estimates between county internal points, not travel distances. ZIP areas can cross county lines.
How to choose an attorney or claims agent
Check accreditation
Everyone listed here is on VA's accreditation roster. Confirm the person on VA's accreditation search before you sign anything.Ask about claims like yours
Ask how many claims they have handled for your condition and at your stage, and who will work on your case day to day.Get the fee in writing
Attorneys and claims agents can charge only after VA decides your claim, usually a share of past-due benefits. VA presumes 20 percent or less is reasonable.Send a free request
Open a profile and send a request. It goes to that attorney or agent by email and costs you nothing.
Florida by the numbers
Florida has about 1.41 million veterans and 786 VA-accredited attorneys and claims agents based in the state. That is about 6 for every 10,000 veterans, 9th among the 50 states, DC and Puerto Rico. Search them by ZIP code on this page, or find free help from one of the state's 611 accredited VSO representatives.
- attorneys and agents
- 786
- per 10,000 veterans (rank 9)
- 5.56
- counties with none located by ZIP
- 22
- average to decide a claim
- 67 days
Accredited help in Florida at a glance
682 accredited attorneys, 104 claims agents and 611 VSO representatives are based in Florida.
Florida's 786 attorneys and agents work out to 5.56 per 10,000 veterans, ranking 9 of 52 states and territories.
Of Florida's 67 counties, 45 have an accredited attorney or claims agent based there (67.2 percent). County locations could not be matched for 71 people on the roster.
The largest groups in Florida are in Tampa (59), Orlando (54), Miami (50), Jacksonville (36), and St. Petersburg (33).
Florida added 97 newly accredited attorneys and agents in the last 12 months. Median time accredited in Florida: 5.1 years. Accreditation dates were unavailable or invalid for 5 people; those records are left out of these time calculations.
22 counties with no attorney or claims agent located by ZIP
- Baker County
- Bradford County
- Calhoun County
- DeSoto County
- Dixie County
- Franklin County
- Gadsden County
- Gilchrist County
- Glades County
- Gulf County
- Hamilton County
- Hardee County
- Hendry County
- Holmes County
- Jackson County
- Jefferson County
- Lafayette County
- Liberty County
- Madison County
- Okeechobee County
- Taylor County
- Union County
In these counties, the nearest help may be a free county VSO, or an attorney who works with you by phone and online.
Florida's VA regional office is in St. Petersburg.
Neighboring states
Attorneys and claims agents per 10,000 veterans: Florida 5.56; Alabama 3.21; Georgia 4.29. Based on each representative's roster state, not the states where they accept clients.
Veterans and benefits in Florida
About 1.41 million veterans live in Florida, using VA's rounded population projection.
At least 538,014 veterans in Florida received VA disability compensation at the end of fiscal year 2025. VA does not publish very small county counts, so the true number is a little higher.
That works out to about one accredited attorney or claims agent for every 680 people in Florida receiving compensation, using the reported minimum.
Where Florida claims are worked
Workload report dated 2026-10-24.
Claims with a Florida address: 66,695 claims pending, 10.9 percent pending more than 125 days.
For claims with a Florida address, VA averaged 67.5 days to complete a claim this fiscal year. Individual claims vary.
St. Petersburg regional office: 12,042 claims pending, 14.1 percent pending more than 125 days, averaging 74.6 days pending.
VA moves claims between offices, so an office's queue can include claims from other states.
Board hearings are mostly virtual, so an attorney does not need to be local.
How representation relates to Board results
National Board of Veterans' Appeals results, fiscal year 2024, legacy appeals.
| Representation | Appeals allowed |
|---|---|
| Attorney | 42.7 percent |
| Claims agent | 37.5 percent |
| AMVETS | 34.9 percent |
| American Legion | 32.0 percent |
| Disabled American Veterans | 31.7 percent |
| State service organizations | 31.5 percent |
| Paralyzed Veterans of America | 31.5 percent |
| Vietnam Veterans of America | 30.9 percent |
| Veterans of Foreign Wars | 30.7 percent |
| No representation | 29.7 percent |
These are national figures for older appeals and do not account for differences between cases.
What decides Board appeals
Claim Raven's national analysis covers 1,378,030 rulings in 511,036 Board decisions: 22.2 percent granted, 27.1 percent denied, and 40.8 percent remanded. These are appealed cases, not initial VA claims.
On service connection rulings the Board granted or denied, grant shares were 99.2 percent when the Board relied on a favorable medical opinion, 0.7 percent when the opinion evidence went against the claim, and 27.1 percent when no medical opinion was weighed.
These figures show association, not cause. Read the analysis and methodology.
Which kind of help fits you?
| Compare your options | Free VSO | Accredited claims agent | Accredited attorney | On your own with Claim Raven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost to you | Free | Usually a share of past-due benefits if you win | Usually a share of past-due benefits if you win | Free to start, then a monthly plan. You keep all of your back pay. |
| When they can charge | Never | Only after VA decides your claim | Only after VA decides your claim | Never from your back pay |
| Typical fee | None | Often 20 percent of back pay | Often 20 percent of back pay | None from your back pay |
| Can take you to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims | Usually no | Some, if admitted to that court | Yes, if admitted to that court | No. Claim Raven helps you prepare; it does not represent you |
| Good fit when | You are filing a first claim or want free help | Your claim was denied and you want paid help | Your claim was denied, you are headed to the Board or the Court, or the case is complex | You want to understand your records and decision letters and file the claim yourself |
VA presumes fees up to 20 percent of back pay reasonable; above 33 1/3 percent, unreasonable. Get the agreement in writing.
Free help in Florida
Find free VSO help in Florida or read about Florida veterans benefits.
Questions about VA-accredited representatives in Florida
How much does a VA disability lawyer cost in Florida?
Federal VA rules apply in Florida. Representatives usually charge only after VA decides your claim, and VA presumes a fee of 20 percent of past-due benefits or less is reasonable.
Do I need a lawyer for my VA disability claim?
Not always. 611 accredited VSO representatives in Florida help for free, often with a first claim. Paid help usually starts after a denial.
What is the difference between a VA-accredited attorney and a claims agent?
Florida has 682 accredited attorneys and 104 claims agents. Attorneys are lawyers; claims agents are accredited non-attorneys. Both can handle VA claims and appeals.
Can a VA-accredited lawyer outside Florida help me?
Yes. Accreditation is national. 22 of Florida's 67 counties have none located by ZIP, so ask about phone and video appointments.
How do I choose a VA disability lawyer in Florida?
Ask about experience with your issue, the fee in writing and who handles your case. Claim Raven does not rank Florida representatives by quality.
What benefits does a 100% disabled veteran get in Florida?
Florida has its own veteran benefits, and many depend on your rating. See Florida veteran benefits by rating.
How long do Florida claims take?
VA averaged 67.5 days to complete claims with a Florida address this fiscal year, as of 2026-10-24. Individual claims vary.
Where can I find free help in Florida?
Start with the Florida VSO directory.
Sources and dates
- VA veteran population (VetPop2023), September 2023 projection.
- VA compensation recipients (FY2025), September 2025.
- Board representation (FY2024).
- Board analysis, 2026-10-06.
- VA accreditation roster, facts refreshed 2026-10-29.
- VA Monday Morning Workload Report, 2026-10-24.
- Census county adjacency, 2024; state neighbors include water-boundary contacts.
Claim Raven is not a law firm. No legal advice or endorsements. VA roster listings; paid placements are advertising. Check VA accreditation.
Report a listing correction
Roster facts come from VA. Send the VA accreditation number and correction to support. Do not send claim records or medical information.