VA Claims Process & Eligibility Overview
1
Who's Eligible?
Service connection required. A current disability linked to your active duty, training, or inactive duty training.
Evidence types:
- Medical diagnosis
- In-service event/injury/illness
- Nexus (medical link between the two)
Timelines:
Most claims aren't time-barred, but earlier filing can protect back pay.
Common eligibility paths
- Direct service connection: injury/illness began in service.
- Secondary conditions: new conditions caused or aggravated by a service-connected one (e.g., knee → hip/back; PTSD → sleep issues).
- Presumptives: VA presumes connection for specific exposures/locations (Agent Orange, burn pits/PACT Act, Gulf War, Camp Lejeune, radiation, POW).
- Aggravation: pre-service condition permanently worsened due to service.
2
How Ratings Work (the 10% ladder)
- Ratings run 10%–100% in 10% steps. Each step has a fixed dollar value.
- Combining ratings ≠ simple addition. VA uses the "whole person" formula—each new condition reduces the remaining efficiency (the "VA math" table).
- Dependents matter at 30%+ (spouse, children, certain parents).
- Individual Unemployability (TDIU): paid at 100% if service-connected conditions prevent substantially gainful work (even if schedular rating <100%).
- Re-evaluation / increases: file when symptoms worsen or you have stronger evidence.
3
Evidence That Moves The Needle
- Current medical evidence (diagnoses, DBQs, specialist notes)
- Nexus opinions (clear, reasoned "at least as likely as not" statements)
- Lay statements (you, family, buddy letters) describing functional loss
- Service records (STRs, line-of-duty, deployment/exposure docs)
4
What We Do
- Screen your file and prior decisions for missed issues and secondary links
- Attorney crafts the right lane: initial | supplemental | HLR | Board
- Build evidence, file, track, and escalate with deadlines owned by us
Tools
Disability Benefit Estimator
See a ballpark based on rating & dependents
Free Case Review
We confirm eligibility, strategy, and next steps
Quick FAQs
Can I apply if I was denied?
Yes—most wins come from supplemental/HLR/Board.
Do I need a diagnosis?
Yes; symptoms alone aren't enough.
Will my rating drop if I ask for an increase?
Possible, but rare with stable evidence; we advise before filing.
Back pay?
Paid from the effective date of the claim/intent to file.