Find a VA-accredited attorney or claims agent in Iowa
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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
Emily Weiss
Attorney
- Accredited since
- 2019
- Location
- Council Bluffs, IA
- 28 Veterans Court decisions
- 2 accredited at this firm
Attorney 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.
Iowa by the numbers
Iowa has about 182,000 veterans and 23 VA-accredited attorneys and claims agents based in the state. That is about 1 for every 10,000 veterans, 48th 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 179 accredited VSO representatives.
- attorneys and agents
- 23
- per 10,000 veterans (rank 48)
- 1.27
- counties with none located by ZIP
- 92
- average to decide a claim
- 76 days
Firms that also serve Iowa
These attorneys and claims agents are based in other states and say they take clients in Iowa. They are not counted in the Iowa totals above.
- Accredited since
- 2026
- Location
- Columbia, SC
- Handles VA claims
VA-Accredited Attorney | Veteran & Air Force Veteran
- Accredited since
- 2026
- Location
- Watertown, WI
Experience You Need, Results You Deserve
Attorney Deena Wingard
Attorney · Mitchell and Wingard, Attorneys and Counselors at Law
Verified profile
- Accredited since
- 2024
- Location
- Atlanta, GA
Former Rating Specialist, Decision Review Officer and Rating Quality Review Specialist
Accredited help in Iowa at a glance
22 accredited attorneys, 1 claims agent and 179 VSO representatives are based in Iowa.
Iowa's 23 attorneys and agents work out to 1.27 per 10,000 veterans, ranking 48 of 52 states and territories.
Of Iowa's 99 counties, 7 have an accredited attorney or claims agent based there (7.1 percent). County locations could not be matched for 2 people on the roster.
The largest groups in Iowa are in Dubuque (5), Iowa City (5), Des Moines (3), Cedar Rapids (1), and Clear Lake (1).
Iowa added 2 newly accredited attorneys and agents in the last 12 months. Median time accredited in Iowa: 11.5 years.
92 counties with no attorney or claims agent located by ZIP
- Adair County
- Adams County
- Allamakee County
- Appanoose County
- Audubon County
- Benton County
- Black Hawk County
- Boone County
- Bremer County
- Buchanan County
- Buena Vista County
- Butler County
- Calhoun County
- Carroll County
- Cass County
- Cedar County
- Cherokee County
- Chickasaw County
- Clarke County
- Clay County
- Clayton County
- Clinton County
- Crawford County
- Dallas County
- Davis County
- Decatur County
- Delaware County
- Des Moines County
- Dickinson County
- Emmet County
- Fayette County
- Floyd County
- Franklin County
- Fremont County
- Greene County
- Grundy County
- Guthrie County
- Hamilton County
- Hancock County
- Hardin County
- Harrison County
- Henry County
- Howard County
- Humboldt County
- Ida County
- Iowa County
- Jackson County
- Jasper County
- Jefferson County
- Jones County
- Keokuk County
- Kossuth County
- Lee County
- Linn County
- Louisa County
- Lucas County
- Lyon County
- Madison County
- Mahaska County
- Marion County
- Marshall County
- Mills County
- Mitchell County
- Monona County
- Monroe County
- Montgomery County
- Muscatine County
- O'Brien County
- Osceola County
- Page County
- Palo Alto County
- Plymouth County
- Pocahontas County
- Poweshiek County
- Ringgold County
- Sac County
- Shelby County
- Story County
- Tama County
- Taylor County
- Union County
- Van Buren County
- Wapello County
- Warren County
- Washington County
- Wayne County
- Webster County
- Winnebago County
- Winneshiek County
- Woodbury County
- Worth County
- Wright County
In these counties, the nearest help may be a free county VSO, or an attorney who works with you by phone and online.
Iowa's VA regional office is in Des Moines.
Neighboring states
Attorneys and claims agents per 10,000 veterans: Iowa 1.27; Illinois 4.23; Minnesota 2.06; Missouri 3.12; Nebraska 8.55; South Dakota 1.09; Wisconsin 2.14. Based on each representative's roster state, not the states where they accept clients.
Veterans and benefits in Iowa
About 182,000 veterans live in Iowa, using VA's rounded population projection.
At least 52,754 veterans in Iowa 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 2,300 people in Iowa receiving compensation, using the reported minimum.
Where Iowa claims are worked
Workload report dated 2026-10-24.
Claims with a Iowa address: 6,555 claims pending, 11.7 percent pending more than 125 days.
For claims with a Iowa address, VA averaged 76.3 days to complete a claim this fiscal year. Individual claims vary.
Des Moines regional office: 1,005 claims pending, 17.0 percent pending more than 125 days, averaging 80.1 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 Iowa
Find free VSO help in Iowa or read about Iowa veterans benefits.
Questions about VA-accredited representatives in Iowa
How much does a VA disability lawyer cost in Iowa?
Federal VA rules apply in Iowa. 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. 179 accredited VSO representatives in Iowa 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?
Iowa has 22 accredited attorneys and 1 claims agent. Attorneys are lawyers; claims agents are accredited non-attorneys. Both can handle VA claims and appeals.
Can a VA-accredited lawyer outside Iowa help me?
Yes. Accreditation is national. 92 of Iowa's 99 counties have none located by ZIP, so ask about phone and video appointments.
How do I choose a VA disability lawyer in Iowa?
Ask about experience with your issue, the fee in writing and who handles your case. Claim Raven does not rank Iowa representatives by quality.
What benefits does a 100% disabled veteran get in Iowa?
Iowa has its own veteran benefits, and many depend on your rating. See Iowa veteran benefits by rating.
How long do Iowa claims take?
VA averaged 76.3 days to complete claims with a Iowa address this fiscal year, as of 2026-10-24. Individual claims vary.
Where can I find free help in Iowa?
Start with the Iowa 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.