Find a VA-accredited attorney or claims agent in Rhode Island
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Matthew Fusco
Claims agent
- Accredited since
- 2020
- Location
- North Providence, RI
Attorney or claims agent listed here?
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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.
Rhode Island by the numbers
Rhode Island has about 55,000 veterans and 174 VA-accredited attorneys and claims agents based in the state. That is about 32 for every 10,000 veterans, 2nd 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 14 accredited VSO representatives.
- attorneys and agents
- 174
- per 10,000 veterans (rank 2)
- 31.63
- counties with none located by ZIP
- 0
- average to decide a claim
- 76 days
Firms that also serve Rhode Island
These attorneys and claims agents are based in other states and say they take clients in Rhode Island. They are not counted in the Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island at a glance
92 accredited attorneys, 82 claims agents and 14 VSO representatives are based in Rhode Island.
Rhode Island's 174 attorneys and agents work out to 31.63 per 10,000 veterans, ranking 2 of 52 states and territories.
Of Rhode Island's 5 counties, 5 have an accredited attorney or claims agent based there (100.0 percent). County locations could not be matched for 3 people on the roster.
The largest groups in Rhode Island are in Providence (113), Warwick (20), East Greenwich (17), Johnston (7), and Cranston (3).
Rhode Island added 26 newly accredited attorneys and agents in the last 12 months. Median time accredited in Rhode Island: 4.5 years. Accreditation dates were unavailable or invalid for 1 person; those records are left out of these time calculations.
Rhode Island's VA regional office is in Providence.
Neighboring states
Attorneys and claims agents per 10,000 veterans: Rhode Island 31.63; Connecticut 5.91; Massachusetts 5.88; New York 7.29. Based on each representative's roster state, not the states where they accept clients.
Veterans and benefits in Rhode Island
About 55,000 veterans live in Rhode Island, using VA's rounded population projection.
At least 16,212 veterans in Rhode Island 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 93 people in Rhode Island receiving compensation, using the reported minimum.
Where Rhode Island claims are worked
Workload report dated 2026-10-31.
Claims with a Rhode Island address: 1,547 claims pending, 9.6 percent pending more than 125 days.
For claims with a Rhode Island address, VA averaged 76.3 days to complete a claim this fiscal year. Individual claims vary.
Providence regional office: 1,446 claims pending, 18.3 percent pending more than 125 days, averaging 79.2 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 Rhode Island
Find free VSO help in Rhode Island or read about Rhode Island veterans benefits.
Questions about VA-accredited representatives in Rhode Island
How much does a VA disability lawyer cost in Rhode Island?
Federal VA rules apply in Rhode Island. 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. 14 accredited VSO representatives in Rhode Island 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?
Rhode Island has 92 accredited attorneys and 82 claims agents. Attorneys are lawyers; claims agents are accredited non-attorneys. Both can handle VA claims and appeals.
Can a VA-accredited lawyer outside Rhode Island help me?
Yes. Accreditation is national. Many representatives meet clients by phone or video.
How do I choose a VA disability lawyer in Rhode Island?
Ask about experience with your issue, the fee in writing and who handles your case. Claim Raven does not rank Rhode Island representatives by quality.
What benefits does a 100% disabled veteran get in Rhode Island?
Rhode Island has its own veteran benefits, and many depend on your rating. See Rhode Island veteran benefits by rating.
How long do Rhode Island claims take?
VA averaged 76.3 days to complete claims with a Rhode Island address this fiscal year, as of 2026-10-31. Individual claims vary.
Where can I find free help in Rhode Island?
Start with the Rhode Island 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 2026-11-09.
- VA Monday Morning Workload Report, 2026-10-31.
- 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.