News and updates
Release notes, claim education, and community stories for veterans navigating VA disability ratings, evidence, and appeals.
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C&P Exam Prep Guides: 41 Free, Condition-Specific Walkthroughs
Free C&P exam prep guides for 41 VA conditions. See the DBQ, measurements, 38 CFR criteria, and honest symptom language. No account required.
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VA Buddy Statement Template and Guide
VA buddy statement guide: lay evidence rules, what to include, and formatting tips. Links to PTSD and depression pages, calculator, and nexus letter basics.
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How to File a VA Disability Claim (Step by Step)
How to file a VA disability claim: eligibility, intent to file, evidence, and VA.gov filing. Links to PTSD and tinnitus guides, calculator, and claim checklist.
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How to Prepare for Your C&P Exam
C&P exam prep for VA claims: what to expect, what to bring, and honest reporting. With links to PTSD and back pain guides plus the disability calculator.
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How to Increase Your VA Disability Rating
Increase VA disability ratings using new evidence and supplemental claims. With links to TBI and anxiety guides plus the combined rating calculator.
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VA Rating Decision: How to Read and Understand Yours
How to read a VA rating decision: codes, combined ratings, effective dates, and appeals. Links to knee and depression guides, calculator, and increase tips.
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VA Nexus Letter: What It Is and How to Get One
VA nexus letter basics: who writes it, medical reasoning, and common mistakes. Links to sleep apnea and tinnitus guides plus the combined rating calculator.
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VA Secondary Conditions: Complete List and How to Claim
VA secondary conditions: nexus rules, common pairs, and evidence tips. Links to sleep apnea and depression guides, calculator, and nexus letter overview.
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TDIU: Total Disability Based on Individual Unemployability
TDIU guide: schedular and extraschedular rules, evidence, unemployability vs 100% schedular, and links to PTSD, back pain pages, calculator, and increase guide.
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VA Disability Claim Checklist: Every Document You Need
VA disability claim checklist for IDs, service records, medical files, and lay statements. Links to knee and migraine guides, calculator, nexus, and buddy help.
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What is a DBQ? (Disability Benefits Questionnaire)
What a VA DBQ is, who completes it, and how raters use it. Links to migraine and hearing loss guides, calculator, and C&P exam preparation.
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Complete Guide to VA PTSD Ratings in 2026: What Veterans Need to Know
Complete 2026 guide to VA PTSD ratings: 0-100% rating criteria, required evidence, C&P exam tips, and how to file a successful claim.
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How to Claim Sleep Apnea Secondary to PTSD: Complete Guide for Veterans
File sleep apnea secondary to PTSD: required evidence, nexus letter basics, VA ratings (0-100%), and common mistakes to avoid.
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VA Combined Ratings Calculator: How VA Math Works (2026 Guide)
VA Combined Ratings 2026: understand VA math, combined ratings, rounding, and compensation. Includes step-by-step examples.
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How VA Rating Assistant Earned 4th Place in the AWS Lambda Hackathon
How VA Rating Assistant placed 4th in the AWS Lambda Hackathon: the serverless architecture, security approach, and what it means for veterans.