South Dakota has about 64,000 veterans and 7 VA-accredited attorneys and claims agents based in the state. That is about 1 for every 10,000 veterans, 51st among the 50 states, DC and Puerto Rico. Search them by ZIP code below, or find free help from one of the state's 82 accredited VSO representatives.
Attorney · Agency Village · SD
Are you Anthony Maestas? Add your firm, logo and details.
Claim this profile, freeAnthony Maestas has not joined Claim Raven. Your request goes to the email VA lists for them. Sending a request does not create an attorney-client relationship. Do not include medical records, Social Security numbers or other sensitive claim details.
Attorney · Sioux Falls · SD
Are you Travis Hindt? Add your firm, logo and details.
Claim this profile, freeTravis Hindt has not joined Claim Raven. Your request goes to the email VA lists for them. Sending a request does not create an attorney-client relationship. Do not include medical records, Social Security numbers or other sensitive claim details.
Attorney · Vermillion · SD
Are you Thomas Simmons? Add your firm, logo and details.
Claim this profile, freeThomas Simmons has not joined Claim Raven. Your request goes to the email VA lists for them. Sending a request does not create an attorney-client relationship. Do not include medical records, Social Security numbers or other sensitive claim details.
Attorney · Siox Falls · SD
Are you Bobbi Jo Thury? Add your firm, logo and details.
Claim this profile, freeBobbi Jo Thury has not joined Claim Raven. Your request goes to the email VA lists for them. Sending a request does not create an attorney-client relationship. Do not include medical records, Social Security numbers or other sensitive claim details.
Claims agent · Brandon · SD
Are you Dean Kurtz? Add your firm, logo and details.
Claim this profile, freeAttorney · Pierre · SD
Are you Edward Hruska? Add your firm, logo and details.
Claim this profile, freeEdward Hruska has not joined Claim Raven. Your request goes to the email VA lists for them. Sending a request does not create an attorney-client relationship. Do not include medical records, Social Security numbers or other sensitive claim details.
Attorney · Viborg · SD
Are you Eldon Nygaard? Add your firm, logo and details.
Claim this profile, free6 accredited attorneys, 1 claims agent and 82 VSO representatives are based in South Dakota.
South Dakota's 7 attorneys and agents work out to 1.09 per 10,000 veterans, ranking 51 of 52 states and territories.
Of South Dakota's 66 counties, 6 have an accredited attorney or claims agent based there (9.1 percent).
The largest groups in South Dakota are in Agency Village (1), Brandon (1), Pierre (1), Sioux Falls (1), and Siox Falls (1).
South Dakota added 0 newly accredited attorneys and agents in the last 12 months. Median time accredited in South Dakota: 9.6 years.
In these counties, the nearest help may be a free county VSO, or an attorney who works with you by phone and online.
South Dakota's VA regional office is in Sioux Falls.
Attorneys and claims agents per 10,000 veterans: South Dakota 1.09; Iowa 1.27; Minnesota 2.06; Montana 2.03; North Dakota 0.82; Nebraska 8.30; Wyoming 1.98. Based on each representative's roster state, not the states where they accept clients.
About 64,000 veterans live in South Dakota, using VA's rounded population projection.
At least 24,031 veterans in South Dakota 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 3,400 people in South Dakota receiving compensation, using the reported minimum.
Workload report dated 2026-09-19.
Claims with a South Dakota address: 2,100 claims pending, 13.0 percent pending more than 125 days.
For claims with a South Dakota address, VA averaged 84.1 days to complete a claim this fiscal year. Individual claims vary.
Sioux Falls regional office: 432 claims pending, 14.1 percent pending more than 125 days, averaging 69.8 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.
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.
Claim Raven's national analysis covers 101,518 condition decisions in 49,876 appeals: 29.5 percent granted, 40.8 percent denied, and 26.6 percent remanded. These are appealed cases, not initial VA claims.
Where the Board rated the medical link, grant shares were 89.7 percent when strong, 3.7 percent when weak, and 1.6 percent when missing. Grant shares were 16.7 percent with one kind of evidence and 56.9 percent with six or more kinds of evidence, among the 80,128 condition decisions where evidence types were identified.
These figures show association, not cause. Read the analysis and methodology.
| Compare your options | Free VSO | Accredited claims agent | Accredited attorney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost to you | Free | Usually a share of past-due benefits if you win | Usually a share of past-due benefits if you win |
| When they can charge | Never | Only after VA decides your claim | Only after VA decides your claim |
| Typical fee | None | Often 20 percent of back pay | Often 20 percent of 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 |
| 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 |
VA presumes fees up to 20 percent of back pay reasonable; above 33 1/3 percent, unreasonable. Get the agreement in writing.
Find free VSO help in South Dakota or read about South Dakota veterans benefits.
South Dakota has 6 active accredited attorneys and 1 claims agent based in the state.
Often 20 percent of back pay, after VA decides the claim. Agree to fees in writing. VSO help is free.
South Dakota has 60 counties without an attorney or agent located by ZIP. Ask about remote appointments or a free county VSO.
VA averaged 84.1 days to complete claims with a South Dakota address this fiscal year, as of 2026-09-19. Individual claims vary.
Start with the South Dakota VSO directory.
Every active VA-accredited attorney and claims agent is listed for free. Attorneys can claim their listing to add their firm, website and details. Premier and Featured are paid spots above the free listings, labeled "Paid placement." When Featured spots are not sold, they rotate daily among listed attorneys at no cost, labeled "Free rotating spot." Payment never changes the order of the free listings below them.
Claim Raven is not a law firm. No legal advice or endorsements. VA roster listings; paid placements are advertising. Check VA accreditation.
Roster facts come from VA. Send the VA accreditation number and correction to support. Do not send claim records or medical information.