Writing Your Personal Statement | VAC.claims
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Writing Your Personal Statement

Your statement helps explain the story behind the records. Aim for a clear chronology, concrete examples and accuracy-not dramatic language.

A useful structure

  1. Identify your service.
    Give relevant service dates, trade or occupation, units, ships, bases and deployments.
  2. Describe the event, duty or exposure.
    Explain what happened, where and when, how often it occurred, and what you personally observed. Distinguish known facts from estimates.
  3. Explain the health timeline.
    Describe when symptoms first appeared, when you sought care, when the condition was diagnosed and how it changed. Avoid making a medical conclusion beyond your knowledge.
  4. Explain the effect today.
    Use specific examples of limits on daily tasks, mobility, sleep, concentration, work, relationships or independence, as relevant to the claim.
  5. Connect the statement to the records.
    Refer to supporting documents by name and date. If a record is missing or a date differs, explain what you know and why.
  6. Review for accuracy.
    Check names, dates and sequence. Remove speculation and repetition. Keep a dated copy of the final statement.

Personal statement template

Use this as a starting point and adapt it to the facts of your own claim. Delete any section that does not apply.

1. Service background
I served in [branch/trade/unit] from [date] to [date]. My relevant duties included [describe duties, locations, deployments].

2. Relevant event, duty or exposure
Between approximately [dates], I [describe what you personally did, observed or were exposed to]. This occurred at [location] and [frequency/duration, if known]. I know this because [personal knowledge/record/source]. Details I cannot confirm are [identify uncertainties].

3. Health timeline
I first noticed [symptom or issue] around [date/period]. I sought medical attention [when/where, if known]. I was diagnosed with [condition] by [provider] on/about [date]. Relevant records include [list records].

4. Current effects
The condition affects me by [describe specific examples, frequency and severity]. For example, [one or two factual examples].

5. Supporting information
The documents that may help explain my account are [document/date]. [Explain any missing records, gaps in treatment or differences in dates, if relevant.]

6. Declaration
This statement is accurate to the best of my knowledge and recollection. Where I have estimated dates or details, I have identified them as estimates.

Signed: ____________________   Date: ____________________

Important: This is a general drafting aid, not an official VAC form or a substitute for medical evidence. Do not claim that an exposure caused a condition solely because it occurred before diagnosis. Where causation is a medical question, ask a qualified health professional or representative what evidence may be useful.