VSO Tools

These free tools do the claim math and deadline tracking for VSO representatives.

Each result is an estimate built from VA's published rules. Check it against the veteran's own records and VA letters before you rely on it. Everything here is free, with no ads, and the calculators need no account.

Calculators

Answer the money questions a veteran asks first: rating, monthly pay, back pay, and benefits for survivors and retirees.

VA Math Calculator

Combine ratings the VA way and see 2026 monthly pay with dependents and the bilateral factor.

Back Pay Estimator

Estimate retroactive pay from the effective date to today.

SMC Back Pay Calculator

Back pay for an SMC or SMC-K award, at each year's rates.

DIC Calculator

Dependency and Indemnity Compensation for surviving spouses and children.

Combined Rating Estimator

A quick estimate of where a set of ratings lands before the claim is filed.

VA Pension & Survivors Pension Calculator

Needs-based pension for wartime Veterans, surviving spouses and surviving children: income, medical costs, net worth, and the monthly payment.

CRDP / CRSC Calculator

For military retirees: compare retired pay under CRDP and CRSC using their own VA and DFAS record amounts.

Drill Pay vs. VA Compensation Calculator

For Guard and Reserve members still drilling with a VA rating: compare training pay with the VA amount waived for the same days.

Effective-Date Timeline

Check an initial claim and its review history, see a possible effective date, and identify facts that still need checking.

Claim Preparation and Filing

Keep deadlines from slipping, plan the evidence, and file with the words VA's system expects.

Intent to File Tracker

VSO mode tracks up to 100 veterans, one ITF each, with the date it expires and reminder emails.

Interactive Claim Preparation Guide

The seven steps of preparing a claim, from choosing conditions to building a copy to take along, with a tool for each task.

BDD Claim Guide

Benefits Delivery at Discharge: the 180 to 90 day window, the SHA Part A requirement, and the effective-date rule.

Functional Impairment Examples

Real work and daily-life limitations from published Board decisions, by condition, to help a veteran describe their own.

Interactive Claim Guides

Charts for PTSD, sleep apnea, mental health, SMC, TDIU, cancer, nexus letters and secondary claims. Tap any step for an explanation.

21-526EZ Filing Terms

The exact condition names to select on VA.gov, mapped to VA diagnostic codes.

Look Up a Representative

Identify who holds a Power of Attorney code before you accept or act on a POA.

VA POA Code Lookup

Find who is behind a Power of Attorney code in SHARES, VBMS or BIRLS. Updated weekly from VA's lists.

State and County Data

See what each state offers and how many veterans in your area already receive VA compensation.

State Level Benefits

Each state's benefits for disabled veterans, plus how many veterans in the state and in each county receive VA disability compensation, and what percentage are at each rating level.

Veterans by State and County

How the number of veterans receiving VA disability compensation changed from 2019 to 2025, by state and county, with the share rated 100% and the VSO reps serving each county.

Common questions

Are these tools free for VSO representatives?
Yes. Every tool on this page is free, with no ads. The calculators need no account. The Intent to File tracker saves to a free RateMyVSO account so it can keep your list and send reminders.
What does VSO mode on the Intent to File tracker do?
VSO mode lets one signed-in account track up to 100 veterans, one Intent to File each. For every veteran you see the date VA received the ITF and the date it expires, so you can see each deadline coming. Reminder emails go only to the account holder.

These tools are for educational purposes only and are not legal, medical, or financial advice. Are you an accredited representative listed on RateMyVSO? Claim your profile to add a photo and bio and respond to reviews. Looking for more? Browse every calculator and tool or every tool and guide on the site.