Notes from the file room
How the VA claims process actually works.
Explainers, rule changes, and plain-language walkthroughs — written so you can read your own record and understand your own decisions. No outcome promises, no urgency, no percentage of anybody's benefits.
LatestVA News & Policy
The December 31, 2026 Gulf War Deadline: What It Actually Means for Your VA Claim
The Dec 31, 2026 date in VA's Gulf War regulation is not a filing deadline — and under the law Congress passed in 2022, it isn't a manifestation deadline either. Here's what actually controls your claim.
VA News & PolicyIs the VA Cutting Sleep Apnea and Tinnitus Ratings? What HR 9237 Actually Does — and Why Your Filing Date Matters
HR 9237 would change VA sleep apnea and tinnitus ratings. Existing ratings are protected three separate ways — but the new criteria would apply to claims filed after enactment. Here's what the bill text actually says.16 min read
VA News & PolicyThe Quiet Tightening: How M-21-1 Updates After Spicer v. McDonough Raised the Bar on Secondary Service Connection Claims
The Spicer v. McDonough ruling looked like a win for veterans. But buried in the M-21-1 manual updates that followed, the VA quietly tightened the evidentiary bar on all secondary service connection claims — including 3.310(a), which had nothing to do with the case.24 min read
Company NewsMost AI Tools for Vet Claims Weren't Built for You — They Were Built to Bill You
Most AI platforms in the VA disability space are built for attorneys and consultants — not for the veterans who actually need help. Here's why that matters and what a direct-to-veteran approach looks like.15 min read
Other BenefitsVA Student Loan Forgiveness for 100% Disabled Veterans: Do You Qualify?
If you have a 100% Permanent and Total VA disability rating or receive TDIU benefits, you may qualify to have your federal student loans completely forgiven sometimes without even filing an application. Learn how now!16 min read
Claims & Evidence Building Filing Your First VA Disability Claim
Most veterans who delay filing say the same thing: they didn't know where to start. This guide changes that. From service connection basics to C&P exam prep to what your decision letter actually means — here's everything you need to file a strong claim and get the rating you deserve.24 min read
Company NewsFind Free VA Claim Help Near You: The Ultimate Guide to Veteran Service Organizations
Thousands of VA-accredited professionals are ready to help you file your disability claim — completely free. Learn how VSOs work, why they matter, and how to find one near you in under a minute.20 min read
Company NewsVeteran AI Joins NACVSO as Strategic Partner: AI-Powered Tools for County Veteran Service Officers
Veteran AI has officially joined NACVSO as a 2026 strategic partner, bringing AI-powered tools to the County Veteran Service Officers who help millions of veterans navigate VA benefits every day. Here's what this means for veterans and the people who serve them.15 min read
VA News & PolicyThe VA's New Rule Punishes Veterans for Taking Their Medication
Your disability rating is now based on how you function on your meds — not what your condition actually looks like without them. VA bypassed public comment to make this change effective immediately, overriding a decade of court decisions that protected veterans.17 min read
Start with your own record
The VA has a file on you. Most veterans have never read it.
It’s your record and you’re entitled to it. Request it, upload it, and read what it actually contains — conditions already noted, exams already performed, records the VA already holds. $25 a month, flat, cancel anytime.
Where we stand
- Educational content, not advice about your specific claim.
- We publish outcome data with the methodology attached, never beside a signup button.
- Free accredited help exists — VSOs, DAV, VFW, the American Legion — and we say so.
- Flat $25 a month. Never a percentage of your benefits.