VA Form 21-0781
Statement in Support of Claimed Mental Health Disorder(s) Due to In-Service Traumatic Event(s)
The statement form for PTSD and other mental health claims tied to traumatic events in service.
Opens the official VA.gov page, always the authority on the current version and instructions.
This form gives the VA the details it needs to verify in-service events behind a mental health claim: what happened, when, where, and unit information, so records can corroborate it.
The current version consolidated the older 21-0781 and 21-0781a and covers traumatic events broadly, including combat, personal assault, and military sexual trauma, with markers-of-change evidence for events that were never reported.
Worth knowing
- Completing it is not required for the claim to exist, but the detail helps the VA find corroborating records.
- Veterans can get free help completing it from a VSO, and support resources are listed on the official page.
Keep your copy where you can find it
Every form you send becomes part of your story. MusterVault keeps your completed copies, decision letters, and records organized and encrypted on your own computer, so the next deadline finds you ready. No cloud, no account.
Informational only: what this form is and where it lives, not advice about whether or when to file it. A free accredited VSO can advise on your situation. MusterVault organizes records, never gives claims advice, and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.