VA Claims Guides
Plain-language answers to the questions veterans actually ask — no jargon, no fluff, sources cited. Written by John from Lima Charlie, a veteran who went through the process himself.
The Most Overlooked Secondary Claims Veterans Never File (And Why They're Missed)
Some of the highest-value secondary claims never make it onto a veteran's application — not because the evidence is missing, but because nobody ever pointed out the connection.
Updated July 28, 2026PTSD VA Rating Explained: The Criteria at 30%, 50%, 70%, and 100%
PTSD is rated under the same General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders as every other psychiatric diagnosis. Here's what separates 30% from 50%, 70%, and 100% — in the schedule's own language.
Updated July 27, 2026How VA Back Pay Works: Effective Dates and Why the ITF Matters
VA back pay is a lump sum covering the gap between your effective date and your approval date. Here's how the effective date is set, why an Intent to File protects it, and what changes it during an appeal.
Updated July 26, 2026Intent to File: The 5-Minute Form That Protects Your VA Back Pay
An Intent to File locks in your effective date for up to a year while you build your claim, so you don't lose months of retroactive VA disability pay. Here's how VA Form 21-0966 works.
Updated July 25, 2026What Is a Presumptive Condition? PACT Act, Agent Orange, and Gulf War Lists Explained
A presumptive condition is one the VA automatically links to your service — no nexus letter required. Here's how the PACT Act, Agent Orange, and Gulf War lists work, and how to tell if you qualify.
Updated July 24, 20262026 VA Disability Pay Rates: The Complete Monthly Compensation Table
Official 2026 VA disability compensation rates, effective December 1, 2025 — from $180.42 at 10% to $3,938.58 at 100%, plus how dependents change the math.
Updated July 23, 2026The C&P Exam: What to Expect, What Examiners Look For, and the Traps to Avoid
Your Compensation & Pension exam often decides your rating. Here's how the exam works, the golden rules, the two traps honest veterans fall into, and what to do if it goes badly.
Updated July 23, 2026Nexus Letter vs. DBQ: What's the Difference, and Which Do You Actually Need?
The nexus letter gets you approved; the DBQ decides your percentage. Here's what each does, which one the VA gives you free, and the smart order to spend your money.
Updated July 23, 2026VA Math: Why 50% + 50% Equals 80% (Not 100%)
The VA doesn't add your ratings — it combines them, and the difference costs veterans real money. Here's exactly how VA math works, with the bilateral factor explained.
Updated July 23, 2026VA Secondary Conditions Explained: The Claims Most Veterans Never File
A secondary condition is caused by a condition you're already service-connected for — or by its treatment. It never had to happen during service, and it pays like any other rating.
Updated July 23, 2026What Is a Nexus Letter? The Document That Makes or Breaks VA Claims
A nexus letter is a doctor's written opinion connecting your condition to your military service. Here's what it must say, when you need one, and the two ways to get it.
Updated July 23, 2026