VA Form 28-1902W
Veteran Readiness and Employment Questionnaire
You applied for VR&E (28-1900) and have been scheduled for an initial appointment with a VR&E counselor. Complete this before the meeting.
- Who fills it
- veteran
- Journey phase
- Education & Training
- Estimated time
- 20-30 minutes.
- When to file
- Before your initial VR&E counseling appointment.
Official VA form page: https://www.va.gov/find-forms/about-form-28-1902w/
Gather before you start
- ▸Your employment history (types of work, dates)
- ▸Education and training history (degrees, certifications)
- ▸Your career interests and goals
- ▸How your disability affects your ability to work
- ▸Barriers you face to employment
Attach with the form
Section I - Veteran Identification
Blocks 1-4Name, SSN, DOB, addressPII
Your identifying information for the VR&E file.
(legal name, SSN)
Common mistakes
- ×Not completing this before the appointment - unprepared counseling sessions are less productive.
Section II - Disability Impact on Employment
Blocks 5-10How your service-connected disability affects your ability to work
Be specific about functional limitations: pain that prevents sitting/standing/lifting, cognitive issues from TBI/PTSD that affect concentration, hearing/vision limitations, anxiety that prevents customer-facing work, etc. This directly shapes your rehabilitation plan.
e.g., PTSD causes severe anxiety in crowded workplaces; hypervigilance makes sustained office work difficult. Lumbar DDD prevents sitting more than 30 min or lifting over 20 lbs. These together have prevented me from returning to my prior construction work.
Common mistakes
- ×Minimizing disability impact - the counselor needs to understand true barriers to develop an effective rehab plan.
- ×Not mentioning medications that cause cognitive effects or fatigue.
Authority
- 38 CFR 21.40 - Service-connected ≥10% rating + employment handicap eligibility.
Section III - Career Goals and Interests
Blocks 11-16Career interests, past work history, education goals
Describe careers that interest you given your disability limitations. VR&E has 5 tracks: (1) Reemployment at pre-injury job, (2) Rapid employment, (3) Self-employment, (4) Employment through long-term training, (5) Independent Living. Knowing your interests helps match you to the right track.
e.g., Prior work: U.S. Army infantry, construction foreman. Interested in desk-based work in IT, project management, or cybersecurity. Can work remotely or in low-stimulus environments. Would consider 2-year technical program.
Common mistakes
- ×Not mentioning self-employment interest if relevant - VR&E has a specific track and support program for veterans who want to start a business.
Section IV - Certification
Blocks 17-18Veteran signature and datePII
Sign and bring to your appointment.
(signature/date)
Common mistakes
- ×Not completing before the counselor appointment.
Statutory and regulatory authority
- 38 CFR 21.40 - Service-connected ≥10% rating + employment handicap eligibility.