VA Disability Guides
Edited by Shirley Chia
Comprehensive plain-English guides to the U.S. veterans disability compensation system. Each guide is sourced from 38 CFR, the VA Adjudication Procedures Manual (M21-1), and VA.gov.
Filing & evidence
How to File a VA Disability Claim
VA Form 21-526EZ start to finish, FDC program, and free accredited VSO representation.
The VA C&P Exam: What to Expect and How to Prepare
What happens at the compensation & pension exam and how to prepare.
Secondary Conditions: The Complete Stacking Strategy
How 38 CFR 3.310 chains claims from a single primary to a 90%+ combined rating.
Nexus Letters That Win VA Claims
Six elements every passing nexus letter must contain — plus where to get one for free vs paid.
Rating criteria deep-dives
PTSD VA Rating Criteria (38 CFR 4.130)
The six brackets explained, how raters actually decide, and the four common misreads.
Sleep Apnea VA Claim (50% via CPAP)
DC 6847 brackets, four secondary pathways, and why so many veterans miss this claim.
Tinnitus VA Claim (the 10% cap)
Why DC 6260 caps at 10% — and the three secondary strategies that get veterans more.
Compensation & math
How VA Combined Rating Works (pillar guide)
Plain-English walkthrough of 38 CFR 4.25 with worked examples, bilateral factor, TDIU, dependents.
2026 VA Disability Compensation Rates
Full 2026 monthly rate tables effective Dec 1, 2025, including dependent additions.
Dependent Adjustments to VA Disability Compensation
How spouses, children, and dependent parents change your monthly amount at 30%+.
Special programs & appeals
Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) Explained
K through T tiers under 38 USC 1114 that pay above the schedular rate.
TDIU Explained: 100% Pay at a 70% Rating
38 CFR 4.16 — getting 100% pay without a 100% schedular rating.
VA Appeals: HLR, Supplemental, Board
Three appeal lanes under the Appeals Modernization Act.
More guides
Aid & Attendance Benefit
Aid & Attendance (A&A) for service-connected veterans is paid as Special Monthly Compensation at the SMC-L, M, N, O, R-1, or R-2 tier depending on level…
VA Effective Dates
The effective date on your VA decision determines every dollar of retroactive back pay.
TPD Student Loan Discharge
If your VA rating is Total and Permanent — 100% combined schedular without a scheduled future exam, or TDIU designated permanent — your federal student…
Auto Allowance and Adaptive Equipment
Under 38 USC 3902, eligible service-connected disabled veterans receive a one-time automobile allowance (2026 amount approximately $27,074.99) toward th…
BDD and Quick Start Pre-Discharge Claims
The Benefits Delivery at Discharge (BDD) program lets active-duty service members file VA disability claims 180 to 90 days before separation, complete a…
Board of Veterans' Appeals
The Board of Veterans' Appeals is the third Appeals Modernization Act lane and the highest administrative review before federal court.
BVA Hearing vs. Direct Review
At the Board of Veterans' Appeals, Form 10182 forces a one-time election among three lanes: direct review, evidence submission, or hearing.
CAVC: Appealing a Board Denial
The Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC) is the federal Article I court that reviews Board of Veterans' Appeals denials.
CHAMPVA for Dependents
CHAMPVA (Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs) is a federal health benefit for spouses, surviving spouses, and chil…
Chapter 35 DEA for Dependents
Chapter 35 Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) provides a monthly stipend (~$1,488/mo full-time in 2026) and access to degree programs, vocational…
CRSC vs CRDP
Military retirees with a service-connected VA rating historically had retirement pay reduced dollar-for-dollar by VA compensation (the VA-waiver).
DBQs Explained
Disability Benefits Questionnaires (DBQs) are the standardized clinical forms VA raters use to apply the rating schedule.
Depression VA Rating
Major depressive disorder is rated under 38 CFR 4.130 DC 9434 using the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders (0/10/30/50/70/100 percent).
Type 2 Diabetes VA Rating
Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus is rated under 38 CFR 4.119 Diagnostic Code 7913 in six brackets from 10% (managed by restricted diet only) to 100% (insulin pl…
DIC Survivor Benefits
Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) is a tax-free monthly benefit under 38 USC 1310 paid to surviving spouses, children, and dependent parents o…
Federal Tax Treatment of VA Disability
VA disability compensation is fully excluded from federal gross income under Internal Revenue Code 104(a)(4).
Fibromyalgia VA Rating
Fibromyalgia is rated under 38 CFR 4.71a Diagnostic Code 5025 in three brackets: 10% (continuous medication for control), 20% (episodic with exacerbatio…
Fully Developed Claim Program
The Fully Developed Claim (FDC) program is the VA's fast-track adjudication option.
GERD VA Rating
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is rated by analogy to DC 7346 (hiatal hernia) under 38 CFR 4.114, with brackets from 10 to 60 percent based on s…
Hearing Loss VA Claim
Hearing loss is rated under 38 CFR 4.85 Diagnostic Code 6100 using a strict mathematical formula: pure-tone average (PTA) at 1000/2000/3000/4000 Hz comb…
Higher-Level Review Deep Dive
Higher-Level Review is one of three appeal lanes under the Appeals Modernization Act.
Hypertension VA Rating
Hypertension is rated under 38 CFR 4.104 Diagnostic Code 7101 based on diastolic AND systolic blood pressure readings: 10% for diastolic 100-109 or syst…
IBS VA Rating
Irritable Bowel Syndrome is rated under 38 CFR 4.114 Diagnostic Code 7319 with three brackets: 0% mild, 10% moderate, 30% severe.
Increased Rating Claims
An increased rating claim is filed when an already-service-connected condition has worsened.
Intent to File Strategy
VA Form 21-0966 (Intent to File a Claim) is the most underused tool in VA claims practice.
Knee Conditions VA Rating
Knee conditions are rated under 38 CFR 4.71a DC 5256-5263.
Lay Statements and Buddy Letters
Lay statements (VA Form 21-10210) are sworn personal-knowledge declarations from anyone — the veteran, a spouse, a buddy, a coworker, a fellow service m…
Lumbar Spine VA Rating
Lumbar (low back) spine conditions are rated under 38 CFR 4.71a using the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.
Migraine VA Rating
Migraine is rated under 38 CFR 4.124a Diagnostic Code 8100 at 0, 10, 30, or 50 percent based on the frequency of "prostrating attacks" — a specific VA t…
MST Claim Process
Military Sexual Trauma claims operate under a special evidence rule at 38 CFR 3.304(f)(5).
P&T Status Protection
Permanent and Total (P&T) status is the VA designation that a disability is both total in extent (100% schedular or TDIU) and not expected to improve ov…
PACT Act 2022: Complete Presumptive Conditions List
The Honoring Our PACT Act of 2022 is the largest expansion of VA disability benefits in a generation.
Disabled Veteran Property Tax Exemptions by State
All 50 states offer some property tax relief for service-connected disabled veterans, but the rules differ dramatically.
SAH and SHA Adaptive Housing Grants
The VA offers two adaptive housing grants under 38 USC 2101.
SMC-L: Loss or Loss of Use
SMC-L under 38 USC 1114(l) pays $4,900.83/month in 2026 (single veteran, no dependents) for anatomical loss or loss of use of one hand, one foot, one ey…
SMC-S Housebound Benefit
SMC-S is the housebound tier of Special Monthly Compensation.