source:
  type: guide
  id: va-m26-7-ch02-t04
  authority: VA Lenders Handbook (VA Pamphlet 26-7), Chapter 2, Topic 4 — Proof of
    Service Requirements
  description: VA Lenders Handbook (VA Pamphlet 26-7), Chapter 2, Topic 4 — Proof
    of Service Requirements.
  coverage_tier: operative
obligations:
- id: va-m26-7-ch02-t04-full
  canonical_id: va-m26-7-ch02-t04-full
  section: VA Lenders Handbook (VA Pamphlet 26-7), Chapter 2, Topic 4 — Proof of Service
    Requirements
  type: do
  tags:
  - regulator-direct
  - va
  - va-handbook
  - corpus-expansion
  - tier-operative
  primary_source:
    tier: 1
    authority: VA Lenders Handbook (VA Pamphlet 26-7), Chapter 2, Topic 4 — Proof
      of Service Requirements
    source_class: va-handbook
    source_url: https://www.benefits.va.gov/warms/pam26_7.asp
    snapshot_id: 488cf6b152dfffb7
    fetched_at: '2026-05-23T01:53:52Z'
    content_hash: sha256:b9f2259ef4bf182c8700374d01f483bbad8bde952afea193cdbca84386d635e6
    paragraph_quote: '4. Proof of Service Requirements Change Date March 28, 2019
      • This chapter has been revised in its entirety. a. Discharged Veterans (Regular
      Military) The DD214 Form, Certificate of Release or Discharge From Active Duty,
      will generally contain all the information needed for VA to make an eligibility
      determination for persons who served on active duty of the a regular component
      of the Armed Forces. The regular Armed Forces include active duty in the Army,
      Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard. • VA will accept legible copies
      of the DD214 Form. • Veterans separated after October 1, 1979, should furnish
      Member Copy 2, 4, 8, or any copy of a DD214 Form that includes the COS and the
      narrative reason for separation. Veterans separated from military service after
      January 1, 1950, should have received DD214 Form. Veterans separated from active
      duty before January 1, 1950, received documentation other than DD214 Form. To
      be acceptable, it should indicate: a) LOS, and b) COS b. Veterans Still on Active
      Duty Proof of service for Veterans on active duty is a Statement of Service
      (SOS) signed by, or by the direction of, the adjutant, personnel office, or
      commander of the unit or higher headquarters they are attached to. There is
      no one unique form used by the military for an SOS. While an SOS is typically
      on military letterhead, it may also be electronic and both are acceptable. The
      SOS must clearly show the: • Veteran’s full name, • social Security Number (SSN)
      or the last 4 digits of the SSN, • entry date on active duty, • duration of
      lost time, if any, and • name and point of contact for the command or unit.
      Continued on next page VA Pamphlet 26-7, Revised Chapter 2: Veteran’s Eligibility
      and Entitlement 2-13 4. Proof of Service Requirements, continued c. Discharged
      Reserve/ Guard Members There is no one form used by the Reserves or National
      Guard that is similar to DD214 Form. Selected Reserve describes a member or
      unit with the Ready Reserve designated by their respective services and approved
      by the Joint Chiefs of Staff as so essential to initial wartime missions that
      they have priority over all other reserves. The National Guard is a unique element
      of the U.S. Military that serves both community and country. Any state governor
      or the President of the United States can call on the Guard in a moments notice.
      Discharged members of the Army or Air National Guard may submit NGB Form 22,
      Report of Separation and Record of Service, and NGB Form 23B, Retirement Points
      Summary Statement, with the COS document. Members of the Reserves should submit
      their points statement with COS. Typically, all members of the Reserves and/or
      Guard receive an annual retirement points summary which indicates the level
      and length of participation. The applicant should submit the latest retirement
      point statement received, along with evidence of honorable service. VA will
      accept legible copies. d. Current Reserve/ Guard Members Individuals who are
      still members of the Reserves/National Guard must provide an SOS signed by,
      or by the direction of, the adjutant, personnel office, or commander of the
      unit or higher headquarters they are attached to. There is no one form used
      uniformly by the military for an SOS. While an SOS is typically on military
      letterhead, some may be electronic and both are acceptable. The statement of
      service must clearly show the: • Veteran’s full name, • the SSN or the last
      4 digits of the SSN, • entry date of the applicant’s Reserve/Guard duty, and
      • the unit must state the creditable (actually drilled) years served in the
      Reserves or the National Guard. Continued on next page VA Pamphlet 26-7, Revised
      Chapter 2: Veteran’s Eligibility and Entitlement 2-14 4. Proof of Service Requirements,
      continued d. Current Reserve/ Guard Members, Continued If called to active duty,
      a copy of the orders must accompany the SOS with the name and point of contact
      for the command or unit. The statement must clearly indicate that the applicant
      is an “active” reservist or National Guard member and not just in a control
      group (inactive status). If Veterans cannot locate proof of service, they can
      request military documents either through the National Archives, http://www.ebenefits.va.gov/,
      or by completing SF- 180, Request Pertaining to Military Records. The completed
      form should be submitted to the appropriate address shown. It should not be
      sent to VA. In many cases, VA internal systems will have sufficient information
      to make the eligibility determination for those who served on active duty. Lenders
      and Veterans should not delay requesting a COE pending receipt of requested
      military documents. VA Pamphlet 26-7, Revised Chapter 2: Veteran’s Eligibility
      and Entitlement 2-15'
  judgment: false
