VA Claim Basics
How VA disability claims work, ratings system, C&P exams, and evidence requirements.
125 articles in this topic
How VA Disability Claims Work: Complete Process Guide
Step-by-step breakdown of the VA disability claims process from initial filing to decision.
VA Disability Ratings Explained: How Percentages Are Assigned
How the VA assigns disability ratings from 0% to 100% and what each percentage means for compensation.
C&P Exam: What to Expect and How to Prepare
Everything you need to know about Compensation and Pension exams, from scheduling to what the examiner evaluates.
Evidence Requirements for VA Disability Claims
The three types of evidence the VA needs to approve your claim and how to gather each one.
Service Connection Explained: Direct, Secondary, and Presumptive
Understanding the three pathways to establish service connection for your VA disability claim.
How to File a VA Disability Claim Online
Walk-through of filing your VA disability claim through VA.gov with screenshots and tips.
VA Claim Timeline: How Long Does a Claim Take?
Average processing times for VA disability claims and what causes delays.
Fully Developed Claim (FDC) Guide
How the Fully Developed Claims program works and why it cuts your wait time.
Intent to File: Lock in Your Effective Date
How filing an Intent to File protects your back pay and gives you a year to gather evidence.
VA Claim Denied? What to Do Next
Your options after a VA claim denial, including supplemental claims, HLR, and Board appeals.
VA Claim Effective Date: How Back Pay Works
How the VA determines your effective date and how to maximize retroactive payments.
Duty to Assist: What the VA Owes You
The VA's legal obligation to help develop your claim and what to do when they fall short.
Benefit of the Doubt Rule Explained
How the 50/50 rule tips close decisions in your favor and how to position your evidence.
BDD Program: File Before You Separate
How the Benefits Delivery at Discharge program lets you file 180-90 days before separation.
VA Claims for Reserves and National Guard
Eligibility rules, activation requirements, and claim strategies for Reserve and Guard veterans.
What Is a VA Disability Rating?
The basics of VA disability ratings and how they translate to monthly compensation.
VA Combined Rating Math: How Multiple Ratings Work
How the VA combines multiple disability ratings using VA math, not simple addition.
Direct Service Connection: Proving In-Service Origin
How to establish direct service connection with in-service events and nexus evidence.
Secondary Service Connection Explained
Filing for conditions caused or aggravated by your existing service-connected disabilities.
Presumptive Service Connection: Auto-Linked Conditions
Conditions the VA automatically links to service for Gulf War, Vietnam, and PACT Act veterans.
VA Development Letter: What It Means and How to Respond
What to do when the VA sends a development letter requesting additional evidence.
VA Claim Deferred: What It Means
Why the VA defers claims, how long it takes, and what you should do while waiting.
VA Claim Preparation Checklist
Complete checklist of documents and evidence to gather before submitting your claim.
VA Form 21-526EZ: Line-by-Line Guide
How to fill out the Application for Disability Compensation correctly.
What Happens After Your C&P Exam
The decision process after your C&P exam and how long results take.
C&P Exam Tips Every Veteran Should Know
Practical tips to prepare for your Compensation and Pension exam.
Buddy Statements: What They Are and How to Use Them
What buddy statements are, who can write them, and how they strengthen your claim.
Using Private Medical Evidence in Your VA Claim
How to submit private doctor records and independent medical opinions.
Common VA Claim Mistakes That Lead to Denials
The most frequent errors veterans make when filing claims and how to avoid them.
VA Disability Compensation Rates: Current Pay Chart
Monthly VA disability pay rates for every rating percentage with and without dependents.
VA Claims for Combat Veterans: Relaxed Evidence Rules
How combat veteran status gives you easier evidence requirements under 38 USC 1154(b).
VA Claims for Women Veterans
Conditions common among women veterans, MST claims, and gender-specific disability considerations.
How to Request a VA Rating Increase
Filing for an increased rating when your condition has worsened.
Reopening a Previously Denied VA Claim
How to reopen a final decision using new and relevant evidence.
Contention vs Claim: VA Terminology Explained
The difference between a claim, contention, and condition in the VA system.
VA Claims for Toxic Exposure Under the PACT Act
How the PACT Act expanded presumptive conditions for burn pit and toxic exposure veterans.
What to Do When Your C&P Exam Was Inadequate
How to challenge a bad C&P exam and request a new one.
How to Fast-Track Your VA Disability Claim
Strategies to speed up VA claim processing including FDC and congressional inquiries.
VA Form 21-0966: Submit an Intent to File
Step-by-step instructions for filing an Intent to File to lock in your date.
Adding Dependents to Your VA Compensation
How to add spouse, children, or parents to increase monthly payments.
Temporary 100% Rating for Surgery or Hospitalization
Getting a temporary 100% rating during recovery from service-connected surgery.
TDIU: Getting Paid at 100% Without a 100% Rating
How Total Disability Individual Unemployability works and eligibility requirements.
Filing a VA Claim for PTSD: Requirements
The three elements you need to prove for a PTSD disability claim.
Filing a VA Claim for Hearing Loss
How the VA rates hearing loss and what audiogram results qualify.
Aggravation Claims: Pre-Existing Conditions Made Worse by Service
Filing when service aggravated a condition that existed before enlistment.
Gulf War Presumptive Conditions: Complete List
Every presumptive condition for veterans who served in Southwest Asia.
Agent Orange Presumptive Conditions: Full List
All presumptive conditions linked to Agent Orange for Vietnam-era veterans.
Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Claims
Filing VA claims for conditions caused by contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.
Burn Pit Exposure Claims Under the PACT Act
PACT Act coverage for burn pit exposure and newly presumptive conditions.
Radiation Exposure VA Claims
Claims for veterans exposed to radiation during nuclear testing or atomic cleanup.
VA Claims for Military Retirees
How retirement pay and VA disability interact, including concurrent receipt.
Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) Explained
SMC levels, qualification criteria, and additional compensation beyond your rating.
Protected VA Ratings: 5, 10, and 20-Year Rules
When the VA cannot reduce your rating based on how long you have held it.
VA Proposed Rating Reduction: How to Fight It
What to do when the VA proposes reducing your disability rating.
Clear and Unmistakable Error (CUE) Claims
Challenging a past VA decision using CUE for potential years of back pay.
VA Claims for Homeless Veterans
How homeless veterans can file claims and access housing assistance.
Appointing a VA Representative: Form 21-22
How to appoint a VSO, attorney, or claims agent as your representative.
How to Get Your Military Medical Records
Requesting service treatment records and personnel records from NPRC.
Nexus Letters: What They Are and Why You Need One
What a nexus letter is, why it matters, and how to get one for your claim.
DBQs Explained: Disability Benefits Questionnaires
How DBQs work and how to get your private doctor to complete one.
Filing a VA Claim for Chronic Pain
How the VA evaluates chronic pain and what diagnosis codes to use.
VA Claims for Mental Health Conditions
How the VA rates mental health using the General Rating Formula.
Lay Evidence: Your Own Testimony Matters
How personal statements serve as valid evidence in VA claims.
VA Claims for Military Sexual Trauma (MST)
Special evidence rules and marker evidence for MST-related claims.
How Long After Separation Can You File?
There is no deadline, but timing affects your effective date and back pay.
VA Claims for Terminal Illness: Expedited Processing
How terminally ill veterans get fast-tracked claims and DIC access.
Static vs Non-Static VA Ratings
The difference and how it affects future re-examination scheduling.
VA Claims for Joint Conditions Overview
How the VA rates joint disabilities using range of motion criteria.
VA Claims for Back and Spine Conditions Overview
Rating criteria for thoracolumbar and cervical spine conditions.
VA Claims for Traumatic Brain Injury Overview
How the VA evaluates TBI across 10 areas of dysfunction.
VA Claims for Sleep Disorders Overview
How the VA rates sleep apnea, insomnia, and other sleep conditions.
VA Claims for Skin Conditions Overview
How the VA rates skin conditions based on body surface area.
VA Claims for GI Conditions Overview
How the VA rates GERD, IBS, and other gastrointestinal conditions.
VA Claims for Respiratory Conditions Overview
How the VA rates asthma, COPD, and other lung conditions.
VA Claims for Heart Conditions Overview
How the VA rates heart conditions using METs testing.
VA Claims for Diabetes: Agent Orange Link
Filing for Type 2 diabetes and secondary conditions from diabetes.
VA Claims for Cancer: Service Connection Paths
Filing cancer claims through presumptive and direct service connection.
VA Claims for Migraines: Rating Criteria
How the VA rates migraines on frequency and severity.
VA Claims for Tinnitus: Most Common Disability
Filing for tinnitus and secondary conditions you can add.
VA Claims for Vision and Eye Conditions
How the VA rates vision loss and eye conditions.
VA Claims for Dental Conditions
When dental conditions qualify for VA disability compensation.
VA Claims for Scars: Rating by Location and Size
How the VA rates scars based on size, pain, and instability.
VA Claims for Peripheral Neuropathy
Filing for neuropathy as primary or secondary to diabetes or toxic exposure.
VA Claims for Fibromyalgia
Filing for fibromyalgia as a Gulf War presumptive condition.
VA Claims for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
How CFS qualifies as a Gulf War presumptive condition.
VA Claims for Erectile Dysfunction
Claiming ED secondary to PTSD, medications, or diabetes.
VA Claims for Flat Feet (Pes Planus)
Rating criteria and proving aggravation during service.
VA Claims for Plantar Fasciitis
Service connection from military boots and training.
VA Claims for Gout
Secondary service connection strategies and rating criteria.
VA Claims for Sinusitis and Rhinitis
How the VA rates sinus conditions and common secondary links.
PTSD Stressor Verification Process
How the VA confirms stressors for combat and non-combat PTSD.
Herbicide Exposure Beyond Vietnam
Locations beyond Vietnam where veterans faced herbicide exposure.
DIC: Dependency and Indemnity Compensation
How surviving spouses and dependents file for DIC benefits.
Schedular vs Extraschedular TDIU
The two paths to 100% pay through individual unemployability.
Aid and Attendance Benefits
Extra VA compensation for veterans needing daily living assistance.
The Bilateral Factor Explained
How bilateral disabilities add extra points to your combined rating.
The Pyramiding Rule: No Double Ratings
Why the VA cannot rate the same symptoms under two codes.
Analogous Ratings for Unlisted Conditions
How the VA rates conditions not in the rating schedule.
Gulf War Illness and Undiagnosed Conditions
Filing for MUCMI and undiagnosed illness under 38 CFR 3.317.
VA Claims for Cold Weather Injuries
Filing for frostbite and cold injury residuals from service.
VA Claims for Asbestos Exposure
How Navy and shipyard veterans file for mesothelioma and related conditions.
VA Claims for Noise Exposure Beyond Hearing Loss
Conditions linked to noise exposure including vestibular disorders.
VA Claims for Non-Combat PTSD
Filing PTSD claims from accidents, training injuries, and personal assault.
VA Claims for Depression and Anxiety
How the VA rates depression and anxiety separately from PTSD.
Section 1151 Claims: VA Medical Malpractice
Compensation when VA medical treatment caused additional disability.
VA Claims for Hypertension Under PACT Act
How high blood pressure claims work for toxic exposure veterans.
VA Claims for Kidney Disease
Filing for kidney conditions secondary to hypertension or diabetes.
VA Claims for Liver Conditions
Filing for hepatitis, fatty liver, and other liver conditions.
VA Claims for Sleep Apnea: Complete Guide
CPAP requirements, weight gain nexus, and secondary connections for OSA.
VA Claims for Autoimmune Conditions
Filing for lupus, RA, MS, and other autoimmune disorders.
VA Claims for Thyroid and Endocrine Disorders
How the VA rates thyroid conditions and endocrine disabilities.
VA Claims for Medication Side Effects
Claiming secondary conditions from prescribed medications.
VA Claims for Loss of Use of Extremities
How loss of use works for SMC eligibility.
VA Claims for Veterans Over 65
Special considerations for older veterans filing first-time claims.
VA Claims for Vietnam Era Veterans
Presumptive conditions, Agent Orange, and unique claim strategies.
VA Claims for Post-9/11 Veterans
PACT Act benefits, burn pit registry, and modern claim strategies.
VA Claims for Korean War Veterans
Cold injury presumptives and unique conditions from Korean service.
VA Claims for Peacetime Veterans
You do not need combat service to file a valid VA claim.
Concurrent Receipt: Keep Retirement and VA Pay
How CRDP and CRSC let you receive both military retirement and VA disability.
VA Claims and Unemployment: What to Know
How unemployment status affects TDIU claims and VA benefits.
Reading Your VA Rating Decision Letter
How to interpret your rating decision and identify errors.
VA Claims for Pre-Existing Conditions
When conditions that existed before service can still be service-connected.
Buddy Letter vs Nexus Letter: When to Use Each
The difference between lay evidence and medical nexus evidence.
VA Claims and Dependent Benefits Overview
How your VA disability rating unlocks benefits for your spouse, children, and parents.
VA Claims for Gulf War Era Veterans
Claim strategies and presumptive conditions for veterans who served 1990 to present.