Expert insights, practical guides, and essential resources to help you understand and maximize your earned benefits.
A complete guide to Agent Orange VA claims including all presumptive conditions, covered exposure locations (Vietnam, Thailand, Korea, Blue Water Navy), and how to file.
Discover the best states for disabled veterans in 2026. Compare property tax exemptions, income tax benefits, vehicle perks, and more across all 50 states to maximize your benefits.
The Board of Veterans Appeals is the highest level of review within the VA. Learn how to choose the right docket, prepare for a hearing, and what to expect from a Veterans Law Judge decision.
Complete guide to Camp Lejeune water contamination claims including the 8 presumptive conditions, family member eligibility, the Camp Lejeune Justice Act, and step-by-step filing instructions.
Learn when the VA can reduce your disability rating, how the 5-year, 10-year, and 20-year protection rules work, and how to protect yourself when filing for an increase.
Learn whether you can fail a C&P exam, what unfavorable outcomes actually mean, how 0% ratings work, and your options if the exam does not go well.
Everything you need to know about CHAMPVA healthcare coverage for spouses and children of veterans rated 100% P&T, including eligibility, costs, covered services, and how to apply.
A complete guide to Chapter 35 Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) for spouses and children of 100% P&T veterans, including payment rates, eligible programs, and how to apply.
A CUE claim can unlock years of retroactive VA benefits by proving the VA made an obvious, undebatable error in a past decision. Learn the strict requirements and how to evaluate whether you have a valid CUE case.
Learn the most frequent mistakes veterans make during C&P exams that lead to lower ratings or denials, and exactly how to avoid each one.
How military retirees can receive both full retirement pay and VA disability compensation through CRDP or CRSC, potentially adding tens of thousands of dollars annually.
The CAVC is your last resort to overturn a Board of Veterans Appeals decision. Learn about the 120-day deadline, attorney requirements, Joint Motions to Remand, and what to expect from federal court.
A step-by-step preparation checklist for your VA C&P exam. Know what documents to bring, how to prepare mentally, and the timeline for getting ready.
Detailed breakdown of what happens during C&P exams for PTSD, orthopedic injuries, TBI, hearing loss, sleep apnea, and other common conditions veterans claim.
Learn the key differences between private Disability Benefits Questionnaires and VA C&P exams, when each is most useful, typical costs, and how to use both strategically.
A detailed breakdown of the medical evidence, lay statements, and documentation you need to successfully file for a VA disability rating increase. Learn what the VA looks for and how to build a winning evidence package.
Everything Gulf War and Southwest Asia veterans need to know about presumptive conditions including chronic multisymptom illness, fibromyalgia, IBS, chronic fatigue syndrome, and how to file.
Understand typical C&P exam durations for mental health, orthopedic, hearing, TBI, and other conditions. Learn when a short exam is a red flag and how to plan your day.
A complete step-by-step guide to filing a VA disability claim in 2026 — from gathering evidence and filing Intent to File through the C&P exam and decision. Avoid common mistakes that delay or deny claims.
A complete guide to filing for a VA disability rating increase — from recognizing when your condition has worsened to gathering evidence, choosing the right appeal path, and avoiding common mistakes.
Learn how to file a VA claim for migraines secondary to tinnitus, including nexus letter requirements, rating criteria, medical evidence, and how this secondary condition can increase your disability rating.
Explore property tax exemptions for disabled veterans in all 50 states, including which states offer full exemptions for 100% disabled veterans, partial exemptions by rating, and how to apply.
A complete guide to radiation exposure VA claims for atomic veterans, including qualifying activities, the 21 presumptive cancers, dose reconstruction, and how to file for benefits.
Learn how secondary service connection works, the most common secondary VA conditions (sleep apnea, migraines, depression, GERD), evidence requirements, and how secondary claims increase your combined disability rating.
Learn how to file a VA claim for sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD. Understand the medical connection, evidence requirements, nexus letters, and rating levels for sleep apnea.
Compare Supplemental Claims and Higher-Level Reviews for VA disability rating increases. Learn which appeal path is right for your situation, success rates, timelines, and when to use each option.
Understand how VA disability ratings gain protection over time through the 5-year, 10-year, and 20-year rules, and what Permanent and Total (P&T) status means for your benefits.
Everything you need to know about Traumatic Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (TSGLI) — who qualifies, the schedule of losses, payment amounts from $25,000 to $100,000, and how to file a claim.
Understand all three VA appeal lanes under the Appeals Modernization Act — Supplemental Claims, Higher-Level Review, and Board Appeals — and choose the right strategy for your situation.
Learn how to calculate your VA disability rating using VA math, understand combined ratings, and see 2026 compensation rates. Use our free tool to find benefits at every rating level.
A Higher-Level Review lets a senior VA rater re-examine your claim for errors. Learn when to file an HLR, how informal conferences work, and what to expect from the process.
Learn how filing a VA Intent to File (ITF) protects your effective date, locks in potential back pay, and gives you one year to complete your disability claim. Three easy ways to file today.
Understand realistic timelines for VA disability rating increase claims in 2026. Learn processing times for Supplemental Claims, Higher-Level Reviews, and Board Appeals, plus what to do if your claim is delayed.
You do not need a new medical diagnosis to get a higher VA disability rating. Learn how to prove worsening symptoms, document functional decline, and build a case for an increase with your existing condition.
Learn what pyramiding means under 38 CFR 4.14, how it can lead to claim denials or rating reductions, and how to structure your claims correctly to maximize your VA disability rating.
Learn about VA Special Monthly Compensation (SMC), including SMC-K, SMC-S, SMC-L rates for 2026, eligibility requirements, and how to claim additional compensation beyond standard disability pay.
A Supplemental Claim lets you submit new evidence to overturn a VA denial. Learn what counts as new and relevant evidence, how the duty to assist works, and step-by-step filing instructions.
A complete walkthrough of the VA Compensation & Pension exam process, from scheduling through results. Know exactly what happens so you can walk in prepared and confident.
Learn the best time to file for a VA disability rating increase, when to wait, and how to protect your effective date. Strategic timing can mean thousands of dollars in additional back pay.
Discover 5 overlooked veteran benefits that could save you $10,000-$50,000+ annually. Property tax exemptions, state education programs, SDVOSB certification, and more hidden benefits most veterans miss.
Discover federal, state, and local veteran benefits you qualify for in 2026. This step-by-step guide helps veterans find property tax exemptions, education benefits, healthcare, and more. Stop leaving thousands on the table.
Learn what nexus letters are, why they're critical for VA disability claims, and how to get a strong medical nexus opinion that proves service connection.
Complete 2026 guide to PACT Act benefits for veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and toxic substances. Covers all 23+ presumptive conditions, eligibility by service location, how to file claims, and healthcare enrollment.
Compare 2026 Post-9/11 GI Bill and Montgomery GI Bill rates, eligibility, and benefits. Learn which GI Bill offers better tuition, housing allowance, and family transfer options for your education goals.
Complete 2026 guide to VA presumptive conditions. Learn about Agent Orange, Gulf War illness, PACT Act burn pit exposure, Camp Lejeune contamination, and radiation exposure presumptions that can fast-track your disability claim.
Complete 2026 guide to state veteran benefits: property tax exemptions worth thousands, free college tuition, hunting/fishing licenses, and employment preferences. Find your state's hidden benefits.
TDIU and 100% schedular rating both pay $3,938.58/month in 2026, but differ in employment rules, state benefits, and protection. Learn which path fits your situation.
Complete 2026 guide to VA survivor benefits including DIC ($1,699/month), Survivors Pension, CHAMPVA healthcare, education benefits, and state-specific programs for military families.
Official 2026 VA disability compensation rates with the 2.8% COLA increase. Includes pay charts for all ratings (10%-100%), dependent rates, TDIU, SMC, payment schedule, and VA math explained.
Everything you need to know about VA home loans in 2026: eligibility requirements, zero down payment, funding fee exemptions for disabled veterans, property tax exemptions by state, and how to maximize your homebuying benefits.
Discover how Veterans Benefits Finder helps veterans find federal, state, and local benefits they may qualify for based on their service and disability rating.
