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Understanding the Statement of Service for VA Loans

Written by Samantha Reeves, Executive Broker, Veterans United Realty, Fact checked by Don Wilson, Underwriter
Updated on November 20, 2025

Samantha is a licensed real estate broker and attorney with a Doctor of Law (JD) degree from the University of Missouri. With over 15 years of experience, she is dedicated to educating Veterans about the VA loan process and realty best practices.

Main Takeaways
  • A statement of service verifies active-duty military status and is required by lenders to confirm eligibility for a VA loan.
  • The document must include up-to-date service details and be signed on official letterhead, typically dated within 30 days of application to avoid delays.

Statement of Service vs. Leave and Earnings Statement

Active-duty service members are often required to submit both a Statement of Service and a Leave and Earnings Statement (LES) when applying for a VA loan. But these documents serve very different purposes.

Your LES primarily focuses on your income information. It outlines your base pay, allowances, deductions, and other financial details that help the lender verify your ability to repay the loan.

On the other hand, the statement of service confirms your current military status and covers a broader range of information that underwriters consider.

Your statement of service must reflect current, up-to-date and complete information to satisfy VA lending guidelines.

Don Wilson Underwriter

Using official unit letterhead, including all required details and ensuring the document is properly signed are key to avoiding unnecessary setbacks.

If you need help with your statement of service, reach out to a Veterans United VA loan expert at 855-870-8845 or get started online today.

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Current Version

Nov 20, 2025

Written BySamantha Reeves

Reviewed ByDon Wilson

Updated statement of service example image and added information about common issues. Article fact checked by underwriter Don Wilson.

By Samantha Reeves, Executive Broker, Veterans United Realty
A licensed real estate agent and former loan originator and attorney, Samantha has insider experience dealing with VA loans, from the initial application and contracts to loan funding. She has over 15 years of real estate experience, and nearly 300,000 people follow her Veteran Friendly Real Estate Agents community on Facebook.

About Our Editorial Process

Veterans United is recognized as the leading VA lender in the nation, unmatched in our specialization and expertise in VA loans. Our strict adherence to accuracy and the highest editorial standards guarantees our information is based on thoroughly vetted, unbiased research. Committed to excellence, we offer guidance to our nation's Veterans, ensuring their homebuying experience is informed, seamless and secured with integrity.

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