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Claim Research Tools

Use real granted VBA/BVA cases and medical research to strengthen your VA claim development.

Granted BVA Cases & Ratings

Search granted BVA outcomes that match your facts and view rating levels actually awarded.

Medical Research Helper

Build targeted Google Scholar, PubMed, VA, and DoD research queries to support nexus and secondary claims.

About This Free Resource Hub AI related tools and services"

This website is dedicated to providing veterans and their families with easy access to the information and resources they need. We've compiled information from trusted sources and built AI-powered tools to help you navigate benefits, healthcare, employment, and more. Our goal is to empower you with the knowledge to access the support you've earned.

Step-by-Step VA Claim Guide

Filing a VA claim can feel overwhelming. This guide breaks it down into manageable steps with key questions to consider at each stage.

Yes, even if you're not ready to submit everything.

The most important first action is to submit an Intent to File (ITF). This locks in your effective date, which means if your claim is approved, your back pay could go back to the date you submitted the ITF. You have one year from the ITF date to submit your full claim.

Action: Go to the VA website and submit VA Form 21-0966 online. It takes less than 10 minutes.

To file a successful claim, you need evidence. The VA will look for three main things:

  • In-service event: Proof that an injury, illness, or event happened during your service. This is often in your Service Treatment Records (STRs).
  • Current diagnosis: A current medical diagnosis from a doctor for the condition you're claiming.
  • Medical nexus: A link connecting your current diagnosis to your in-service event.

Action: Request your military service and medical records and your C-File. Also, gather all your private medical records related to the condition you are claiming.

You can claim any chronic condition that you believe started or was made worse by your military service. Think about:

  • Direct Service Connection: An injury or illness that started in service (e.g., a knee injury from a parachute jump).
  • Secondary Conditions: A condition caused by an already service-connected disability (e.g., developing arthritis in your hip because of how you walk on your service-connected knee). Use our Secondaries Finder to explore possibilities.
  • Presumptive Conditions: Certain illnesses are "presumed" to be service-connected if you served in a specific location/time (e.g., Agent Orange, PACT Act). See our Presumptives section.

Action: Make a list of all your current health problems and think about how each one might connect to your service.

Medical records are crucial, but so is your personal account. You can explain how your condition affects your daily life.

  • Lay Statements (VA Form 21-10210): Write a statement yourself describing the in-service event, your current symptoms, and how they impact your work and home life.
  • Buddy Letters: Ask family, friends, or fellow service members who have witnessed your condition to write a letter on your behalf.

Action: Use our Lay Statement/Buddy Letter Generator to help structure these important documents.

Once you have your evidence gathered (within one year of your ITF), you can file your formal claim (VA Form 21-526EZ).

  • Online (Recommended): The fastest and easiest way is through the VA.gov website. You can upload all your documents directly.
  • With a VSO: A Veterans Service Officer (VSO) can help you prepare and submit your claim for free. Use our VSO Locator to find one near you.
  • By Mail or In Person: You can mail your completed form and evidence to the VA or drop it off at a VA regional office.

Action: Choose the submission method that works best for you and submit your completed claim package.

The VA will review your claim. This process can take several months. Key events include:

  • Review: A VA employee checks that all required information is present.
  • Gathering Evidence: The VA may request federal records on your behalf.
  • C&P Exam: You will likely be scheduled for a Compensation & Pension (C&P) exam. The examiner will assess your condition. It is critical that you attend this appointment. Use our C&P Coach to prepare.
  • Decision: A VA Rater reviews all the evidence and makes a decision.
  • Notification: You will receive a decision packet in the mail.

Action: Check the status of your claim on VA.gov and be sure to attend all scheduled appointments.

Why You Should File an "Intent to File"

This is one of the most important first steps in the VA claim process. Understanding it can make a significant difference in your benefits.

Request Military Service Records (DD214 & more)

Your official military records, including your DD Form 214 and service medical records, are essential for filing a VA claim. These documents are stored at the National Archives and can be requested online.

Get Your Records from the National Archives

Click the button below to go to the official National Archives website. You can request your complete Official Military Personnel File (OMPF), which includes your DD214, service records, and medical history.

Request Your Records Online

Request Your VA Claims File (C-File)

Your C-File contains all records the VA has related to your claims, including submitted evidence, internal notes, and decision letters. Reviewing it is crucial for understanding your claim history.

How to Request Your C-File

Here is the mailing address: Department of Veterans Affairs Evidence Intake Center P.O. Box 4444 Janesville, WI 53547-4444, Important: What Your Letter Must Include To ensure your request is processed without delay, your signed letter must contain the following: Your Full Name Your Social Security Number (or VA File Number) Your Date of Birth A clear statement that you are requesting "a complete copy of my VA Claims File (C-File) under the Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act." Your return mailing address and phone number. Your signature. The VA requires your signature to release your records. Please be aware that processing times for mailed requests can take several months.

Key Service Areas

Healthcare & Medical

Access comprehensive health benefits, find VA medical centers, and learn about specialized care programs for physical and mental health.

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Education & Training

Utilize your GI Bill and other educational benefits for college, vocational training, and career development programs.

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Employment Services

Find resources for job training, career counseling, and assistance for veteran-owned small businesses.

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Housing & Home Loans

Learn about VA-backed home loans, housing grants for disabled veterans, and resources for preventing homelessness.

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Disability & Pension

Apply for disability compensation, pension benefits, and other financial support for wartime veterans and survivors.

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Life Insurance & Memorials

Explore VA life insurance options and get information on burial benefits and memorial services.

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Understanding Your VA Disability Rating

This section explains how a VA Rater determines your disability percentage for compensation purposes.

A disability rating is a percentage (from 0% to 100% in 10% increments) assigned to a service-connected condition. This percentage represents the average impairment in earning capacity caused by the disability. A 0% rating acknowledges a service-connected condition but indicates it doesn't currently impair your ability to work. A 100% rating represents total disability. The rating directly determines the amount of monthly tax-free compensation you receive.

Raters use a guide called the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD). This schedule lists specific symptoms, signs, and functional limitations for thousands of conditions. The rater reviews all the medical evidence in your file (from service records, VA doctors, private doctors, and C&P exams) and finds the diagnostic code that matches your condition. They then compare your documented symptoms to the criteria listed under that code to assign the appropriate percentage. They must assign a rating based on the criteria that best fits the evidence.

There are three critical pieces of evidence a rater looks for:

  • Current Diagnosis: You must have a current diagnosis of the condition you are claiming from a medical professional.
  • In-Service Event/Injury/Illness: There must be evidence that something happened during your military service that caused or aggravated the condition. This can come from your service treatment records, personnel files, or lay statements.
  • Medical Nexus: This is the crucial link. A medical professional must provide an opinion that your current condition is "at least as likely as not" caused by the in-service event. This is often provided in a Compensation & Pension (C&P) exam or a nexus letter from a private doctor.

VA ratings are not simply added together. The VA uses a "whole person theory." You start as 100% "whole." Your highest rating is subtracted from 100%. For example, a 50% rating leaves you 50% "whole." The next rating is then calculated based on the remaining 50%, not the original 100%. So, a second 30% rating would be 30% of 50%, which is 15%. This 15% is added to the original 50% for a combined value of 65%. This final number is then rounded to the nearest 10% (so 65% becomes a 70% combined rating). This process continues for all disabilities, which is why it becomes harder to reach 100% with multiple smaller ratings.

Veterans Q&A

Have a specific question about your benefits, the claims process, or VA programs? Ask our AI assistant for an explanation based on publicly available information.

Understanding Presumptive Conditions

For certain conditions, the VA automatically assumes ("presumes") they are related to your military service. This means you do not need to provide a medical nexus.

A presumptive condition is a disease or disability that the VA presumes was caused by your military service because of the specific circumstances of that service (e.g., where and when you served). If you have a diagnosed presumptive condition and meet the service requirements, you only need to show your diagnosis and service history; you do not need to prove the in-service event or provide a medical nexus. This makes the claim process much simpler.

Veterans who served in specific locations in Vietnam, the Korean DMZ, or other designated areas may be presumed to have been exposed to Agent Orange. The list of presumptive conditions includes many types of cancer, Type 2 Diabetes, Parkinson's Disease, and Ischemic Heart Disease.

Veterans who served in the Southwest Asia theater of operations may be eligible for presumptive service connection for conditions like chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and certain infectious diseases. The PACT Act has significantly expanded the list of presumptive conditions related to burn pit exposure for these veterans.

Veterans and family members who lived at U.S. Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune or MCAS New River for at least 30 days between August 1953 and December 1987 may be eligible for benefits for a list of presumptive conditions, including various cancers and other serious illnesses.

PACT Act and TERA Explained

The PACT Act created a new framework for handling claims related to toxic exposures, known as TERA.

Toxic Exposure Questionnaire

This tool helps you identify potential connections between your military service, toxic exposures, and current health conditions. Provide as much detail as possible for a more relevant analysis.

Select the primary era or location relevant to your exposure concerns.

List any specific substances or hazards you were exposed to (e.g., burn pits, CARC paint, asbestos, industrial solvents, radiation).

List your current medical diagnoses. Please separate each condition with a comma.

MOS-Based Exposure Hazards

Enter your Military Occupational Specialty (MOS, AFSC, NEC) to identify potential occupational health hazards associated with your job.

Understanding Different VA Claim Types

Knowing which type of claim to file is a critical step in the process.

This is the very first claim a veteran files for disability benefits for one or more conditions they believe are related to their military service. It's the starting point for receiving compensation.

This type of claim is for a new disability that was caused or aggravated by an existing service-connected condition. For example, if a service-connected knee injury causes you to develop arthritis in your hip, you can file a secondary claim for the hip arthritis.

If a condition that is already service-connected has worsened over time, you can file a claim for an increased rating. You will need to provide medical evidence showing that the severity of your disability has increased since your last rating decision.

If your initial claim was denied, you can file a Supplemental Claim. This requires you to submit new and relevant evidence that was not part of the original claim. The VA has a duty to assist you in gathering any new evidence you identify.

If you disagree with a VA decision but have no new evidence to submit, you can request a Higher-Level Review. A more experienced rater will review the original claim and the evidence on record to determine if an error was made. You cannot submit new evidence with an HLR request.

Nexus Letter Helper

Enter a medical condition to generate key rating information and a nexus letter template to discuss with your doctor. This tool is for informational purposes only.

Lay Statement / Buddy Letter Generator

A strong Lay Statement (or "Buddy Letter") can be powerful evidence. This tool helps you or a friend/family member structure a clear and effective statement.

Common Secondary Conditions Finder

Enter a primary service-connected condition to see a list of other conditions that are commonly caused or aggravated by it.

C&P Exam Coach

Nervous about your C&P Exam? Practice with our AI Coach. Enter your condition, and the coach will ask you relevant questions to help you prepare.

Advanced VA Disability Calculator

Calculate your combined rating and check for potential Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) eligibility.

Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ) Library

Review the public DBQ forms the VA uses to evaluate specific conditions. This can help you and your doctor prepare for your exam.

You can find all public DBQ forms on the official VA website. Clicking the link below will take you directly to the VA's DBQ page.

Go to VA DBQ Library

State-Specific Veteran Benefits

Beyond federal VA benefits, your state offers valuable resources. Select your state to see a summary of potential benefits like tax exemptions, education programs, and more.

Benefits for Dependents & Survivors

Information on key benefits available to the families of Veterans.

DIC is a tax-free monthly benefit paid to eligible survivors of military Service members who died in the line of duty or eligible survivors of Veterans whose death resulted from a service-related injury or disease.

The Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) is a health care program for the spouse or widow(er) and for the children of a Veteran who is rated permanently and totally disabled for a service-connected disability, or died from a service-connected disability.

The DEA program offers education and training opportunities to eligible dependents of Veterans who are permanently and totally disabled due to a service-related condition or who died while on active duty or as a result of a service-related condition.

More at VA.gov

Find a Local VSO

Get free, professional help with your claim by finding an accredited Veterans Service Officer (VSO) near you.

Local VA Office Finder

Find contact information for your local VA Regional Office and Patient Advocate.

Special Monthly Compensation (SMC)

Homeless Veteran Assistance

If you are a Veteran who is homeless or at imminent risk of homelessness, immediate help is available.

National Call Center for Homeless Veterans

1-877-4AID-VET (1-877-424-3838)

This hotline is free, confidential, and available 24/7. It connects homeless and at-risk Veterans with trained VA counselors and local resources.

Key Housing Programs

The VA offers several programs, including the HUD-VASH program, which combines HUD housing vouchers with VA supportive services to help homeless Veterans and their families find and sustain permanent housing.

Explore VA Homeless Programs

In Crisis? You Are Not Alone.

Confidential support is available 24/7. If you are a Veteran in crisis or concerned about one, connect with caring, qualified responders for free, confidential help.

Call 988 and press 1

Text 838255

Chat Online