Navigating Veterans' Benefits
Filing and appealing VA claims can feel overwhelming on your own! The good news is, you don’t have to!
You can go to https://www.index.va.gov/ and watch the videos, read the tutorials, and file a claim on your own. But, you first should ask yourself, “Which conditions do I claim?” If you take a look at our Self-Help page, you will see over 80 issues. Most are ones you can get compensation or medical services for but others, like child care, clothing and transportation, that you might not think the VA can help with, you can also get help for.
That’s just the tip of the iceberg. Looking at the VA’s Exposure Ed app, you’ll see that there are literally hundreds of diseases, including many cancers, you could have to deal with, based on hazards you didn’t even know you were exposed to.
On top of that, when you file a claim, the adjudicator, who reviews it at the VA is looking for specific phrases or key words that are written into the laws and regulations they follow. If they don’t see them, you will eventually get your first rejection. Hopefully it will have a thorough enough explanation to help you refile more successfully the second or third time. If you need any military records to back up your claim, we wish you the best of luck.
Non-VA Local Help
Know A Vet? presents this information and these national resource directories, not as a recommendation of any specific service or provider, but as a starting point for your own research.
Please feel free to use the check sheets Before, During and After the Medical Appointment and Choosing a Medical Service Provider to help you in your search for the best help for your individual circumstances.
In addition, there may be other federal, state and local government or private resources for your individual needs.
VA, Government, and Organization Help
Know A Vet? presents this information and these national resource directories, not as a recommendation of any specific service or provider, but as a starting point for your own research.
Clicking here will bring you to a database of other VA services you can locate by zip code.
Please also check out our page on Filing Claims. We recommend that you do NOT file claims on your own. If you do not file exactly the way the VA looks for information, it can take literally years for your claim to go back and forth before approval or denial.
The other resources listed, such as your local Veterans Service Office (names vary by county), VSO counselor, VFW, etc., will help you determine what you are eligible for and file correctly for results in as little as a few weeks.
Learn More – Get More
Learn more about what it feels like to live your best life. Go to our Self Help page to explore other issues that can bring you “All The Way Home.”
Also, check out the Claims and Appeals topic to maximize compensation and benefits for yourself AND your loved ones.
It’s your turn to get your best life back! You EARNED it with your service!
