Veterans Mortgage of America is a VA Approved Lender | NMLS ID 3117

Certificate of Eligibility (COE)

VA Loan Advantage

After providing your DD214, the next step is obtaining a Certificate of Eligibility (COE). The COE verifies to the lender that you are eligible for a VA-backed loan. The evidence needed for a COE is based on the nature of eligibility.  Before digging through piles of old papers looking for your DD Form 214, allow us to try to obtain your COE from VA first.  If we cannot get one immediately from VA, we will ask for your DD 214 at that time to show proof of service.


Veterans and current/former National Guard or Reserve members who have Federal active service need to submit the following:

  • DD Form 214 

*required to have a copy showing the type of service (item 24) AND the narrative reason for separation (item 28).


Active Duty Service Members submit the following:

  • A current statement of service:
    signed by the adjutant, personnel office, or commander of the unit or higher headquarters
    showing:
    -Your full name
    -Social Security Number
    -Date of birth
    -Entry date on active duty
    -The duration of any lost time
    -The name of the command providing the information

Current National Guard or Reserve member who has never been Federal active service submit the following:

  •  A current statement of service:
    signed by the adjutant, personnel office, or commander of the unit or higher headquarters
    showing:
    -Your full name
    -Social Security Number
    -Date of birth
    -Entry date on active duty
    -The duration of any lost time
    -The name of the command providing the information

A reservist or National Guard member must have 6 qualifying and Honorable years of service in the Selected Reserve (Points Statement) or National Guard (NGB-22). Qualifying years include years in which at least one IAD or AD point was earned.

If providing points statement and the veteran has been discharged, please provide a copy of the veterans DD Form 256 (Certificate of Discharged) showing the honorable discharge after completion of Six years.


Discharged member of the National Guard who has never been activated for Federal active service submits the following:

  • NGB Form 22, Report of Separation AND Record of Service, for each period of National Guard service
    OR
  • NGB Form 23, Retirement Points Accounting, AND proof of the character of service

Discharged member of the Selected Reserve who has never been activated for Federal active service submits the following:

  • Copy of the latest annual retirement points statement AND evidence of honorable discharge

Surviving Spouse receiving Dependency & Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits submit the following:
VA form 26-1817 and veteran’s DD214 ( if available)
*Include veteran’s and surviving spouse’s social security number on the 26-1817 form


Surviving Spouse not receiving Dependency & Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits submit the following to the appropriate Compensation and Pension office:
– VA form 21-534
– DD214 (if available)
– Marriage License
– Death Certificate or DD Form 1300 – Report of Casualty


Once proper documentation is gathered and completed, Service Members, Veterans, and National Guard and Reserve Members may:

If veteran has served in Vietnam or any of the Gulf War periods please submit the DD214 associated with that tour to establish the correct period of service and category of eligibility. Contact us today for more information at (888)-842-0000

If applicant needs active duty records, Please call the National Personnel Records Center @ 866-272-6272 or online at http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/

If applicant needs reserve/national guard records, they can call

Army – 888-276-9472

Air Force – 800-525-0102 option 3

Navy – 866-827-5672

Marine Corp. – 703-784-9306 / 9307

Coast Guard – 866-634-0574

National Guard – 888-276-9472

-Apply online: Submit your DD214 to Veterans Mortgage of America at [email protected]

-Apply through VMA: VMA has access to the VA online system. This method can establish eligibility and issue an online COE in a few seconds. *Not everyone qualifies to apply online, make sure to ask your lending professional if you wish to apply this way.

-Apply by mail: Use VA Form 26-1880, Request for Certificate of Eligibility.

Surviving Spouses may:

-submit the VA form 26-1817 through VMA

or you can submit to us for electronic submission for faster results.

Get Started with USAVA

Jimmy O.
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"USAVA Lending did a fine job. They explained everything. They treated me just fine and they were real friendly. If I had a question they got right back in touch with me at the time they said they would. They got what I wanted. I had no complaints. They corrected things that needed to be done. I was alright with the interest rate being the same. I would recommend them."
Elizabeth C.
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We received VA Refinance from USAVA Lending. All expectations were meet we had excellent communications from the "Executive Assistant. They provided prompt and thorough services. I would recommend USAVA Lending. It was easy with no hassles."
Will M.
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"The service was real good and they were pleasant. They were real polite and nice. The loan closed early and it did not take too long. We had no problems with them. The loan originator was excellent. He set us up and he was fantastic! He called back to see if everything went smooth and to find out if we had any questions. We did not have any questions because they answered them. I would definitely recommend them."
Barbara S.
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"They did a great job! I was very satisfied with their helpfulness and they went as far as taking care of the little details. During the time I was refinancing, my husband was in the hospital and was in ICU. The Senior Loan Processor was very helpful and was there for me when I couldn't be quite there myself. We got a reduced interest rate and reduced payment. I got a lot of great customer service from their team. I was looking for a place online and just happened to find their website and have been trying to refinance for 2-3 years..."
Charles M.
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"Thank all of you that worked to get this mortgage through. The Senior Loan Processor was quite a tireless person working with us. She was good to us and caring. She was also reassuring. We were very nervous and she calmed our fears.We would recommend USAVA Lending very highly. They were friendly, courteous, informative. They explained everything. USAVA Lending was the first loan company we have used in many years and it was worth our while. They facilitated the process, so we had nothing was held up."
Levi M.
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"I have used USA Home Loans a couple of times now and I keep going back because the employee I work with is great. I am always treated well and the employee is very personable. I have recommended them and if asked I would keep recommending them they are efficient."
Anthony Z.
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"Everyone at USAVA Lending did a splendid job in refinancing my home..They were very courteous,imformative, and answered all my questions. They were all very professional in handling my re finance, and it was finished promptly.I recommend your Lending Instition very highly.Thank you all for doing such a great job!"
Joe L.
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"Compared to Chase and other places that I worked with USAVA Lending were excellent. It was impressive because they are in Arizona and I am 1000 miles away in the bay area in California and I got better service from them than I would get from Chase who is literally around the corner. When the loan originator contacted me I was kind of leery that something like this would go through, but he did a remarkable job in terms of managing the loan application and process..."