What Is “Title 38” and Why This Page Exists
Title 38 of U.S. law is the legal foundation for all VA benefits. It controls how claims are decided,
how evidence is weighed, how ratings are assigned, and how appeals are won or lost.
- 38 U.S.C. = Laws passed by Congress (your legal rights)
- 38 C.F.R. = VA regulations (how raters apply the law)
- Part 4 = Rating Schedule (percentages and criteria)
- §3.102 = Benefit of the Doubt (tie goes to the veteran)
- §3.159 = Duty to Assist (VA must help develop your claim)
- §3.400 = Effective Dates (controls back pay)
- §1151 = Injuries caused by VA treatment
Purpose of this tool: Help you organize facts, evidence, errors, and supporting case law so you can
build strong, legally grounded VA claims and appeals.
How to use: Create a case → enter your timeline and evidence → research similar BVA/CAVC decisions →
generate notes → print or export for submission or representation.