How can we help?
Need help with a VA disability claim, VA appeals, or a VA rating increase? This help page guides veterans through filing a VA claim, understanding a rating decision or denial, calculating monthly pay and back pay, researching VA conditions and diagnostic codes, getting help with nexus letters and medical opinions, and protecting an existing VA disability rating. Whether you are new to the VA process or dealing with a complex appeal, you'll find clear, practical guidance to move forward with your VA benefits claim.
- File a Claim New claim, increase, secondary, presumptive, BDD, TDIU.
- Understand a VA letter Rating decision, denial, reduction, C&P notice, 5103.
- Appeal a denial HLR, supplemental, Board, CUE, effective date.
- Calculate rating or pay Monthly pay, back pay, SMC, CRDP / CRSC.
- SMC (extra compensation) What SMC is, the K through T levels, how to calculate it, and how to appeal.
- Research a condition Look up DC codes, deep-dive guides, secondary pathways.
- Nexus letters & medical opinions What it is, where to get one, what it should say, and how much it helps.
- Cancer & toxic exposure Service connection, presumptive exposures, residuals, and survivor benefits.
- Other VA benefits Healthcare, state benefits, education, more.
- I'm new / just separating BDD, intent to file, first claim, reserves / guard.
- Survivor or family Spouse, child, parent, caregiver, dependent.
- Manage or protect a rating Protect against reductions, reexams, and the myths about what puts a rating at risk.
- Find or rate a rep Search VSO reps and orgs, or rate one you worked with.