VA screwed up your combined rating math? You can fix it retroactively. File a Clear and Unmistakable Error (CUE) claim if VA miscalculated your combined rating or failed to apply bilateral factor correctly. Pull your rating decision, recalc…
Your service-connected conditions spawn other problems—claim them. That back injury causing depression? The PTSD meds causing weight gain and sleep apnea? These are secondary conditions worth additional compensation. Today, grab a sheet of …
Gulf War vets are leaving money on the table by filing one condition at a time. If you served in Southwest Asia after 1990, file ALL your presumptive conditions simultaneously—IBS, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, headaches, joint pain. VA mu…
VA rates mental health on what you can't do, not diagnoses. Start a daily log using the exact language from mental health DBQs—track occupational impairment, social functioning, and frequency of symptoms like panic attacks or suicidal ideat…
Your VA pharmacy printout is evidence hiding in plain sight. Log into MyHealtheVet right now and pull your complete medication history—it documents severity, treatment resistance, and condition chronicity better than any statement. That anx…
VA ignoring your private doctor's records? Make them look. Submit VA Form 21-4142a to authorize release of specific private medical records directly to your claim. Don't just upload records—this form creates a paper trail proving VA receive…
Your C-file contains everything VA knows about your case. Submit a FOIA request to get your complete claims file, including C&P exam reports, rating decisions, and medical records. This helps you understand VA's reasoning and identify gaps …
Cut through the VA's backlog by requesting a Regional Office review. If your claim seems stuck or you're facing delays, ask your local VA Regional Office for a review to get things moving. This isn't about filing an appeal; it's about havin…
Document every night your CPAP shows AHI events over 5. VA rates sleep apnea based on CPAP requirement, but many vets forget to track compliance data showing actual breathing disruptions. Download your CPAP reports monthly from your machine…
Get battle buddies to write statements about your service-connected injuries today. Buddy statements from fellow veterans who witnessed your injury or observed your symptoms carry serious weight with VA raters. Have them write detailed acco…
Before you head to your C&P exam, do a little recon and study your own medical records to ensure you're prepared to answer questions. It’s like prepping for a mission, so don’t march in blind. You know yourself best, so make sure your story…
Get a real nexus, not wishful thinking. Today, ask your treating clinician (VA or private) for a short written nexus opinion linking your condition to service or to a service-connected disability, including aggravation. Tell them you need t…
Build a laser-focused evidence index tonight. Take 30 minutes to map every document in your file - date, source, and exactly what element it proves (diagnosis, in-service event, nexus, or rating criteria) - then rename your PDFs clearly (YY…
Need speed? Ask VA to expedite your claim for hardship today. Upload a VA Form 21-4138 to your active claim requesting expedited processing due to financial hardship or homelessness, and attach proof like an eviction or foreclosure notice, …
Stop lost records before they sink your claim. If VA can’t find your files or things drag, upload a VA Form 21-4138 listing every prior last/maiden name, any aliases, old service number, SSN variations, branch/unit changes, and your exact s…
Stop leaving SMC-S money on the table—ask for it in writing today. If you’ve got one service-connected disability at 100% (or TDIU from a single disability) and other separate disabilities totaling 60%+, request Special Monthly Compensation…
Lock down your duty proof now. Today, request your Official Military Personnel File (OMPF) with SF-180 from the National Archives (use eVetRecs at archives.gov or mail the form—check VA.gov for current instructions). Ask for your full recor…
Stop a denial before it starts: lock in your C&P contact info today. If you’ve got an open claim, call the exam contractor (QTC, VES, or LHI) and verify your phone, email, and address, opt into text reminders, and confirm you can take short…
Lock in a stronger migraine rating with a hard, dated headache log—start today. Every attack you get from now on, jot the date, start/stop times, symptoms, meds taken, whether you had to lie down, and any time lost from work or daily tasks.…
Make VA Honor Its Own Favorable Findings—Put Them on a 21-4138 Today Grab your last VA decision letter, find the “Favorable Findings” section, and copy those exact lines into VA Form 21-4138 (Statement in Support of Claim). Upload it to you…