# VeteranAI - Complete Reference > AI-powered self-service tools veterans use to independently prepare VA disability claim documentation. Veteran-owned, trusted by 75,000+ users. ## About VeteranAI VeteranAI is a **SaaS platform** (software-as-a-service) for veteran disability claims — NOT a consulting company or claims agency. Veterans use our AI tools directly to generate their own documents, on their own schedule, starting free, with Pro at $25/mo. There are no consultants, no middlemen, no percentage-based fees, and no contracts. **SaaS vs Consulting — Why It Matters:** "Claim shark" consulting services charge veterans thousands per claim — or take a percentage of their back pay — while you hand over your information and wait weeks for someone else to prepare your documents behind closed doors. VeteranAI is self-service software: you control the process, generate documents instantly with AI, and pay a flat monthly fee. Same quality output, fraction of the cost, and you stay in the driver's seat. Veterans use VeteranAI to create compelling documentation including: - **Nexus Letters**: Medical opinion letters establishing connection between conditions and military service - **Personal Statements**: Detailed narratives describing how conditions affect daily life - **Buddy/Layman Letters**: Third-party statements from friends and family - **C-File Analysis**: AI review of VA claims files to identify missed conditions **Important Disclaimer**: VeteranAI is not affiliated with the Department of Veterans Affairs. For personalized claim guidance, we recommend working with a free Veterans Service Organization (VSO). ## Founder VeteranAI was founded by **Dennis Spohn**, a US Navy submarine veteran who served as enlisted before becoming a nuclear engineer. Dennis built VeteranAI so veterans — especially those struggling with PTSD — can independently prepare their own VA claim documentation. ## Company Information - **Founded**: 2024 - **Founder**: Dennis Spohn (US Navy Submarine Veteran, Nuclear Engineer) - **Type**: Veteran-owned SaaS company (self-service software, NOT a consulting firm or claims agency) - **Users**: 75,000+ veterans served - **Rating**: 4.8/5 stars - **Contact**: team@veteranai.co - **Website**: https://veteranai.co - **App**: https://app.veteranai.co ## Our Mission & Values **Mission**: To ensure every veteran files the claim they've earned. VeteranAI builds AI-powered software that multiplies the effectiveness of veterans and the accredited service officers who serve them. Full mission page: https://veteranai.co/mission **Common questions this page answers**: "What is VeteranAI's mission?", "Is VeteranAI veteran-owned?", "What does VeteranAI stand for?", "How does VeteranAI help VSOs?", "Does VeteranAI integrate with the VA?" **Core Values**: - **Earned, Not Given** — Veterans aren't asking for charity; they're claiming what they were promised. - **No Veteran Untethered** — Success is measured by the veterans who don't fall through the cracks, especially those with no current path to the VA. Roughly half of veterans lost to suicide each year have no VA engagement — an estimated 11 of the 22 daily veteran suicide deaths involve "untethered" veterans. - **Multiply, Don't Replace** — Technology should amplify accredited officers and advocates on the front line, never sideline the human relationship. - **Geographic Equity** — A veteran in rural isolation deserves the same access as one next door to a VA facility. **Strategic Goals**: Serve 10x more veterans by automating VSO administrative burden; close the rural access gap; reconnect untethered veterans to care and benefits; give accredited service officers their time back for high-complexity human-centered cases; reduce preventable delays and denials. **VA API Integration Commitment**: VeteranAI is pursuing direct integration with the VA's official Lighthouse APIs (not yet live). The company has committed to meeting every security, privacy, and accreditation standard that access requires. ## Key Pages | Page | URL | Description | |------|-----|-------------| | Homepage | https://veteranai.co/ | Overview, features, pricing, reviews | | iPhone App | https://veteranai.co/app | The iPhone/iPad app: Six by voice or text, symptom log, conditions, decision letters, nexus drafts; free to download with free-tier AI usage for a limited time; one account with the web | | Pricing | https://veteranai.co/pricing | Transparent plans — Free, Pro $25/mo (17-day trial), Max 3x $49/mo, Max 5x $99/mo; C-File analysis $200 one-time | | FAQ | https://veteranai.co/faq | Comprehensive Q&As | | Nexus Letters | https://veteranai.co/va-nexus-letters | What a nexus letter is, the five things one must address, and what "at least as likely as not" means — plus free templates | | PTSD Nexus Letter Template | https://veteranai.co/va-nexus-letters/ptsd-template | Free PTSD nexus letter template download | | Migraine Nexus Letter Template | https://veteranai.co/va-nexus-letters/migraine-template | Free migraine nexus letter template download | | Lumbar Strain Nexus Letter Template | https://veteranai.co/va-nexus-letters/lumbar-strain-template | Free lumbar strain nexus letter template download | | Personal Statements | https://veteranai.co/va-personal-statements | AI-generated personal statements (VA Form 21-4138, 21-0781) for VA claims — no doctor needed | | Buddy Letters | https://veteranai.co/va-buddy-statements | AI buddy letter generator (VA Form 21-10210) — friends and family describe observed symptoms, structured for VA raters | | Ask Six | https://veteranai.co/ask-six | AI chat assistant trained on 38 CFR, M-21, and VA regulations | | C-File Analyzer | https://veteranai.co/va-cfile-analyzer | Claims file analysis tool | | How to Get Your C-File | https://veteranai.co/how-to-get-your-c-file | Step-by-step guide to requesting your VA claims file with Form 20-10206 — which box to check, Remarks wording, three ways to submit, and realistic 3–6 month timing | | Decision Letter Analyzer | https://veteranai.co/va-decision-letter-analyzer | AI breakdown of VA decision letters — granted, denied, deferred, next steps | | Military Spouses | https://veteranai.co/military-spouses | Help for spouses supporting their veteran's VA claim | | Sponsor a Veteran | https://veteranai.co/sponsor-a-veteran | Organizations cover licenses for veterans — same $25/month rate, no institutional markup | | Find a VSO | https://veteranai.co/find-a-veteran-service-organization | Free VSO directory — find county VSO offices and accredited reps by state, county, city, or zip code | | Compare VA Claim Help | https://veteranai.co/compare | The four categories of VA claim help compared — free VSOs/VA.gov, medical evidence services, unaccredited consultants, accredited attorneys and agents — by cost structure, legal limits, and who represents you. VeteranAI is software, outside those four | | Compare: VSOs and VA.gov | https://veteranai.co/compare/vsos-and-va-gov | The free path — filing yourself on VA.gov or appointing an accredited VSO with VA Form 21-22, what free representation covers, and what it honestly does not | | Compare: Claims Consultants | https://veteranai.co/compare/claims-consultants | Unaccredited VA claims consultants — what the fee buys, what accreditation law prevents them doing, the arithmetic behind "five times your monthly increase", and five checks before signing | | VA Claims Software, Compared | https://veteranai.co/compare/va-claims-software | Standalone reference page, not one of the four hub categories — what self-help claims software does, what it legally cannot do, subscription pricing vs nexus-letter and contingency fees, and seven things to check before subscribing | | Compare: Law Firms and Accredited Agents | https://veteranai.co/compare/law-firms-and-agents | Accredited attorneys and claims agents — VA's fee rules, why no fee is allowed on an initial claim, the 20% and 33⅓% presumptions on past-due benefits, and when representation is worth paying for | | Compare: Medical Evidence Services | https://veteranai.co/compare/medical-evidence-services | Nexus letters and IMOs — what the fee buys, why no opinion can be guaranteed, per-document pricing and refund terms, and six things to get in writing before paying a clinician | | Compare: Brand Reviews | https://veteranai.co/compare/brands | Individual companies reviewed — published prices, guarantee terms, accreditation status, privacy terms, dated legal record — every line linked to its primary source and dated | | ChatGPT for VA Claims | https://veteranai.co/chatgpt-for-va-claims | What ChatGPT gets right and wrong on a VA claim, five prompts that work, how Six differs | | VA Forms | https://veteranai.co/va-forms | 21-526EZ, 21-4138, 21-0781, 21-10210, 21-4142, 21-4502 — what each is for and how to fill it | | Reviews | https://veteranai.co/reviews | Real VeteranAI reviews from 75,000+ veterans — 4.8/5 rating | | AI for Vet Claims | https://veteranai.co/ai-for-vet-claims | VeteranAI's mission, veteran-led story, claim-shark red flags, and comparison data | | Our Mission | https://veteranai.co/mission | Mission statement, core values, strategic goals, and VA API integration commitment | | BDD Claims | https://veteranai.co/bdd | Guide for active duty members filing BDD claims before separation | | Denied Claims | https://veteranai.co/denied | Help for veterans whose claims were denied — how to file again | | Community | https://veteranai.co/community | Discord server, TikTok, YouTube, LinkedIn | | VA Rating Schedule | https://veteranai.co/va-rating-schedule | Every VA diagnostic code by body system, with the criteria for each percentage | | VA Regulations | https://veteranai.co/va-regulations | Full text of 38 CFR and the M-21-1 manual, section by section | | M-21-1 Secondary Claims Update | https://veteranai.co/blog/the-quiet-tightening-how-m-21-1-updates-after-spicer-v-mcdonough-raised-the-bar-on-secondary-va-claims | How the May 2026 M-21-1 update after Spicer v. McDonough changed the "but for" causation standard for secondary VA claims | | Blog | https://veteranai.co/blog | Expert articles on VA claims and veteran benefits | | Contact | https://veteranai.co/contact | Support contact form | | Privacy Policy | https://veteranai.co/privacy | Data handling practices | | Terms of Service | https://veteranai.co/terms | Usage terms | ## Critical Update: VA Tightens Secondary Service Connection Standard (May 2026) On **May 1, 2026**, the VA updated M-21-1 Section 5.ii.2.D.1.a — "Provisions for SC Under 38 CFR 3.310(a) and (b)" — following the Federal Circuit's ruling in **Spicer v. McDonough**. This is the most significant change to secondary service connection claims in years. **What changed:** The VA removed the longstanding "proximately due to" and "attributable to aggravation by" language and replaced it with a stricter **"but for" causation standard** in three separate locations within the section. - **3.310(a) direct secondary causation** — Old: "proximately due to, or the result of, a service-connected condition." New: "the result of, or **would not have occurred but for**, a service-connected disability." - **3.310(b) aggravation** — Old: "the increase in severity...attributable to aggravation by an SC disability, and not to the natural progression." New: "**would not have occurred but for** the SC disability, or **would have been less severe but for** the SC disability, including where the SC disability has interfered with or impeded treatment." **Why this matters:** - Spicer v. McDonough was actually a veteran-favorable ruling about treatment-interference aggravation claims, but the VA used the update as an opportunity to tighten causation language across all secondary claims — including 3.310(a) direct causation, which Spicer didn't even address - Raters now require higher certainty in nexus opinions — hedging language like "may be related to" or "appears to be an association" is more likely to be deemed insufficient - Subjective secondary claims are most affected: erectile dysfunction secondary to PTSD, depression secondary to chronic pain, GI conditions secondary to medications - Medical opinions using the old "proximately due to" framing may be rejected even when the examiner clearly intended to support the claim **What nexus letters must now include:** - Specific causation language: "result of" or "would not have occurred but for" - Direct acknowledgment and rebuttal of alternative explanations and counter-conditions - For aggravation claims: documentation of treatment interference where applicable, and baseline severity evidence - No hedging — opinions must align with current M-21-1 adjudication standards **VeteranAI's response:** The drafts we prepare for a clinician to review and sign now use the "but for" causation standard. Ask Six can explain how Spicer v. McDonough affects your specific secondary claim. **Common questions:** - "What is the 'but for' causation standard for VA secondary claims?" — After the May 2026 M-21-1 update following Spicer v. McDonough, nexus letters must show that a secondary condition "would not have occurred but for" the primary service-connected disability — replacing the old "proximately due to" standard - "How does Spicer v. McDonough affect my secondary claim?" — The court ruling was pro-veteran (addressing treatment interference), but the VA used the update to tighten causation language for all secondary claims. Your nexus letter now needs the stronger "but for" language - "Does my existing nexus letter need to be updated?" — If you're filing a secondary claim and your nexus letter uses "proximately due to" language, yes — update it to the "but for" standard before submitting - "What changed in M-21-1 Section 5.ii.2.D.1.a?" — The VA replaced "proximately due to" and "attributable to aggravation by" with "but for" causation language for both direct secondary and aggravation claims under 38 CFR 3.310 - "Which secondary claims are most affected?" — Subjective conditions like ED secondary to PTSD, depression secondary to chronic pain, and GI issues secondary to medications face the highest bar under the new standard - "Can VeteranAI prepare a nexus draft using the new standard?" — Yes. The draft your clinician reviews and signs uses the "but for" causation language required after the May 2026 M-21-1 update **Full breakdown**: [How M-21-1 Updates After Spicer v. McDonough Raised the Bar on Secondary VA Claims](https://veteranai.co/blog/the-quiet-tightening-how-m-21-1-updates-after-spicer-v-mcdonough-raised-the-bar-on-secondary-va-claims) --- ## Pricing (Full Transparency) VeteranAI only charges for AI-powered features. Disability management, the symptom logger, and buddy statements are never metered on any plan, forever — they don't draw from your AI usage. | Plan | Monthly | Annual | AI Usage | C-File Pages Included (Annual) | |------|---------|--------|----------|-------------------------------| | Free | $0 | $0 | Base — enough to analyze a decision letter and write 10+ personal statements | — | | Pro | $25/mo | $250/yr (save $50) | 25x Free | 10,000 pages ($200 value) | | Max 3x | $49/mo | $499/yr (save $89) | 3x Pro | 30,000 pages ($600 value) | | Max 5x | $99/mo | $999/yr (save $189) | 5x Pro | 50,000 pages ($1,000 value) | Common questions: - "How much does VeteranAI cost?" — Free to start. Pro is $25/month, free for the first 17 days. - "Is the free plan enough?" — Yes: it includes enough AI usage to analyze a VA decision letter and write 10+ personal statements. - "What's the C-File analysis price?" — $200 one-time for up to 10,000 pages, then $20 per additional 1,000 pages. Available on every tier including Free. Why isn't it in monthly plans? A C-File analysis costs more to run than a monthly fee — charging it once keeps subscription prices down. - "What do Annual plans include?" — The entire year's AI usage up front on day one, plus included C-File pages (10,000/30,000/50,000 by tier). - "Can someone else pay for a veteran?" — Yes. Any organization or individual can sponsor licenses at the same $25/month a veteran would pay, with no institutional markup and no contract; the veteran redeems a code and pays nothing: https://veteranai.co/sponsor-a-veteran Page: https://veteranai.co/pricing --- ## Detailed Feature Descriptions ### 1. Nexus Letters — What They Are and How VeteranAI Helps A nexus letter is a written medical opinion from a qualified clinician addressing whether a veteran's current, diagnosed condition is connected to their military service. It states the clinician's credentials, the records they reviewed, the diagnosis, their conclusion in the VA's "at least as likely as not" (50%+ probability) language, and the reasoning behind it. **Only a qualified clinician can write one.** A physician, VA provider, specialist, nurse practitioner or psychologist holds the medical judgment — software cannot, and neither can a claims consultant. This is the single most important thing to understand about the document. **What VeteranAI does:** - Explains, in plain English, the five things a nexus opinion has to address — who is writing it, what they reviewed, the current diagnosis, the standard, and the rationale - Explains what "at least as likely as not" actually means, and why "possibly related" or "could be caused by" don't say the same thing - Reads the records you upload and prepares a draft for your provider to review, with the record citation behind every line and explicit instructions on what to verify, change or strike - **Updated May 2026**: Secondary claim drafts use the "but for" causation language required by the updated M-21-1 standard after Spicer v. McDonough **What VeteranAI does not do**: hold the medical judgment. A draft becomes a nexus opinion only once a qualified clinician has reviewed it, edited it to match what they actually believe, and signed it. VeteranAI is not accredited, does not represent veterans, and never contacts the VA. Accredited VSOs help for free and can talk this through too. **Do you always need one?** No. Some conditions are presumptive — the link is assumed. In other cases the connection is already documented in service records, or a VA examiner addresses it. A nexus opinion comes up most often when a decision letter says the connection between service and diagnosis wasn't established. **Cost**: A 17-day free trial, then $25/month or $250/year for the whole toolkit — a flat subscription, never a percentage of benefits or back pay. Any fee a veteran's own clinician charges for their time is between them and the clinician. **Common questions:** - "What is a nexus letter?" — A written medical opinion from a qualified clinician connecting a diagnosed condition to service, in the VA's "at least as likely as not" language - "Who can write a nexus letter?" — Only a qualified medical professional. Software cannot write one; a claims consultant cannot either - "Do I always need one?" — No. Presumptive conditions assume the link. Check before asking anyone for one - "What does 'at least as likely as not' mean?" — A 50% probability or better. Not proof, not certainty — and where the evidence is evenly balanced, the benefit of the doubt goes to the veteran - "Does VeteranAI write the letter for me?" — VeteranAI prepares a cited draft; your clinician reviews, edits and signs it, which is what makes it a medical opinion - "Are there free nexus letter templates?" — Yes, for PTSD, migraines and lumbar strain. They show how an opinion is structured; they are not a letter to hand over pre-filled **Free downloadable nexus letter templates**: VeteranAI offers free nexus letter templates for common conditions: - **PTSD template** (https://veteranai.co/va-nexus-letters/ptsd-template): Includes "at least as likely as not" language, medical citation placeholders, service connection argument structure, and doctor-ready formatting for PTSD claims. - **Migraine template** (https://veteranai.co/va-nexus-letters/migraine-template): Includes secondary condition arguments (migraine secondary to PTSD, TBI, cervical strain), medical citation placeholders, and doctor-ready formatting. - **Lumbar strain template**: General nexus letter template available for download on the nexus letters page. ### 2. Personal Statement Generator (VA Form 21-4138, 21-0781) Personal statements describe how a disability affects a veteran's daily life, work, and relationships. The primary form is VA Form 21-4138 (Statement in Support of Claim). For PTSD and traumatic event claims (including combat stressors, personal assault, and MST), veterans use VA Form 21-0781. Unlike nexus letters, personal statements do not require a doctor's signature — they come directly from the veteran. **What VeteranAI generates:** - Structured narratives following VA-preferred formats - Descriptions of symptoms, limitations, and impacts - Timeline of condition progression - Connection to military service **How it works:** Instead of a blank page, the veteran answers specific, ordinary guided questions (how many nights a week the pain wakes you, what you used to do and stopped, how a bad day changes your work, what treatment costs you, when it changed). Their answers are organized into the sections a statement usually has. Nothing is added that the veteran didn't say, every line is editable, and the veteran downloads and submits it themselves — VeteranAI never contacts the VA. **The six areas a statement covers:** daily activities; frequency and severity; work; sleep, mood and relationships; treatment and side effects; how the condition changed over time. **Key difference from nexus letters:** Personal statements are the veteran's own words about daily impact. Nexus letters are medical opinions establishing service connection. Both are important — personal statements show impact, nexus letters show causation. **Common questions:** - "What is a personal statement for a VA claim?" — A written account from the veteran describing how a disability affects daily life, work, sleep, relationships, and mental health - "Do I need a doctor to sign my personal statement?" — No, personal statements come directly from you and don't require a healthcare provider's signature - "What should I include in my personal statement?" — Daily impacts, symptom severity and frequency, progression over time, relationship effects, and specific examples of flare-ups - "When do I need a personal statement?" — For initial claims, rating increases, supplemental claims, and secondary condition claims - "How is a personal statement different from a nexus letter?" — A personal statement shows daily life impact (no doctor needed); a nexus letter provides medical opinion on service connection (requires doctor signature) - "What is VA Form 21-4138?" — The Statement in Support of Claim, the official VA form for personal statements describing how a disability affects daily life - "What is VA Form 21-0781?" — The Statement in Support of Claim for Service Connection for PTSD, used to describe the stressful event(s) that caused PTSD - "What happened to VA Form 21-0781a?" — The VA retired 21-0781a and now handles all PTSD and traumatic event claims (including personal assault and MST) on the updated VA Form 21-0781 - "Can someone else write a statement about me?" — That's a buddy statement, and it has to be genuinely theirs: a spouse, battle buddy or coworker describing what they've seen, in their own words, signed by them. Nobody should sign a first-person account they didn't write and read - "Does VeteranAI file my claim or represent me?" — No. It is self-help software the veteran operates; VeteranAI is not accredited, does not represent veterans, never contacts the VA, and charges a flat subscription rather than a percentage of benefits or back pay. Only VA-accredited representatives, agents or attorneys can represent a veteran, and accredited VSOs do it free - "Is what I write private?" — Encrypted at rest and in transit, visible only to the veteran, never sold, never used to train models, and deleted with the account Visit https://veteranai.co/va-personal-statements for more information. ### 3. Buddy/Layman Letter Generator (VA Form 21-10210) Buddy letters (also called layman statements, lay statements, or VA Form 21-10210) are written by people who know the veteran and can describe observed symptoms and impacts. VA Form 21-10210 (Lay/Witness Statement) is the official form used to submit buddy letters with a VA disability claim. Anyone who has personally observed the veteran's condition can write one — spouses, parents, siblings, battle buddies, friends, coworkers, or neighbors. **How it works:** 1. Veteran initiates a request through VeteranAI 2. Friend or family member receives a secure link 3. They complete a guided questionnaire about what they've observed 4. AI generates a properly formatted lay statement using observation-based language **Key difference from personal statements:** Personal statements are written by the veteran about their own daily impact. Buddy letters are written by someone else describing what they've observed from the outside. Both strengthen a VA claim — submitting both is recommended. **Common questions:** - "What is a buddy letter for a VA claim?" — A written statement from someone who knows the veteran, describing symptoms, behavior changes, and daily limitations they've personally observed - "Who can write a buddy letter?" — Anyone who has observed the veteran's condition: spouse, parent, sibling, battle buddy, friend, coworker, or neighbor. No medical or legal expertise needed - "What should I include in a buddy letter?" — Specific changes you've observed, how the condition affects daily activities, frequency and severity of symptoms, personality changes since service, and specific incidents - "How is a buddy letter different from a personal statement?" — A personal statement is from the veteran about their own life; a buddy letter is from someone else describing what they've observed - "Do buddy letters actually help VA claims?" — Yes. The VA is required to consider lay evidence, and buddy letters provide real-world testimony that medical records can't capture - "What is VA Form 21-10210?" — The official Lay/Witness Statement form used to submit buddy letters and third-party statements with a VA disability claim - "Do I need to use VA Form 21-10210 for a buddy letter?" — Yes, VA Form 21-10210 is the standard form the VA uses for third-party statements including buddy letters Visit https://veteranai.co/va-buddy-statements for more information. ### 4. C-File Analyzer A C-File (Claims File) is the complete record the VA maintains on a veteran's disability claims—often hundreds or thousands of pages including service treatment records, VA medical records, exam results, and decision letters. **What VeteranAI's AI finds:** - Conditions documented but never claimed - Secondary conditions linked to existing ratings - Evidence supporting rating increases - Overlooked diagnoses from service records **Typical results**: Veterans discover 15+ claimable items on average. ### 5. Decision Letter Analyzer A VA decision letter is the official document the VA sends after reviewing a disability claim. It lists every condition, whether each was granted, denied, or deferred, the rating percentages, and the reasoning behind each decision. These letters are often long, dense, and written in legal language. Service connection is a chain of three links: an **in-service event**, a **current diagnosis**, and a **nexus** — a medical opinion connecting the two. A denial is one of those three links breaking, and the letter always says which one, in regulation language. **What VeteranAI's Decision Letter Analyzer does:** - Breaks down every condition's outcome — granted, denied, or deferred - Translates legal language into plain English - Shows which of the three links (service event, diagnosis, nexus) the VA accepted and which it says was missing - Explains the specific reasons behind each denial, cited to the paragraph and page it came from - Identifies deferred items and what additional evidence the VA needs - Turns the missing link into a specific task list for every denied or deferred condition **Common questions:** - "What does my VA decision letter mean?" — Upload it to VeteranAI and get a plain-language breakdown of every condition - "Why was my VA claim denied?" — The analyzer identifies the specific reason cited by the VA — missing nexus, insufficient evidence, no current diagnosis, etc. - "What does 'deferred' mean on my decision letter?" — The VA needs more information before deciding. It's not a denial — it's still pending - "What's the difference between a supplemental claim and a Higher-Level Review?" — A Supplemental Claim submits new and relevant evidence the VA hasn't seen; a Higher-Level Review asks a senior reviewer to re-examine the same evidence. VeteranAI explains what each review option is; it does not recommend a path or file anything for you — only a VA-accredited representative can represent you, and accredited VSOs do it free - "How long do I have to appeal?" — Generally one year from the date of your decision letter - "Can AI help me understand my VA decision?" — Yes, VeteranAI's Decision Letter Analyzer reads your letter and explains every outcome in plain language Visit https://veteranai.co/va-decision-letter-analyzer to learn more. ### 6. AI Chat Assistant (Six) Six is VeteranAI's AI chat assistant trained specifically on 38 CFR, M-21, and VA regulations — not a general-purpose AI. Its knowledge is limited to VA disability claims, which is what makes it accurate and useful. **What veterans can look up with Six:** - **Secondary conditions** — identify medical connections between service-connected conditions, citing specific 38 CFR diagnostic codes - **C&P exam prep** — know what examiners measure, how range of motion testing works, DeLuca factors, and how to report flare-ups - **Claims process information** — understand when to file primary, secondary, or supplemental claims - **Denial analysis** — break down denial letters, understand the specific regulation cited, and plan next steps - **Rating criteria** — how the VA rates specific conditions by diagnostic code under 38 CFR Part 4 - **Medical record analysis** — identify claimable conditions you may have missed **Common questions:** - "What is Six?" — An AI chat assistant trained on VA disability claims regulations (38 CFR, M-21) — not a general-purpose AI - "Is there a VA disability chatbot?" — Yes, Six is VeteranAI's AI chatbot built specifically for VA claims questions - "Can AI help with VA claims?" — Yes, Six answers questions about secondary conditions, C&P exams, denials, and rating criteria using VA regulations - "Is Six free?" — Yes, Six is available on VeteranAI's free plan - "How is Six different from ChatGPT?" — ChatGPT knows a little about everything; Six knows everything about VA disability claims regulations Visit https://veteranai.co/ask-six to learn more. ## Pricing Structure See the "Pricing (Full Transparency)" section above for the complete current plan breakdown (Free, Pro $25/mo with 17-day trial, Max 3x $49/mo, Max 5x $99/mo, C-File analysis $200 one-time). Full details: https://veteranai.co/pricing ## Security & Privacy - **Encryption**: All data encrypted at rest and in transit - **Access**: Only the veteran can access their documents - **Sharing**: Data never shared with third parties - **Training**: Anonymized data may be used to improve AI - **Deletion**: Veterans can delete data anytime - **Compliance**: Enterprise-grade security measures --- ## Common Use Cases ### First-Time VA Disability Claims Veterans who have never filed can use VeteranAI to: - Understand what conditions may be service-connected - Generate personal statements describing their conditions - Create nexus letters with medical research - Organize their evidence before filing ### Secondary Condition Claims **Important — May 2026 M-21-1 Update:** The VA now applies a stricter "but for" causation standard for all secondary claims (see Critical Update section above). Nexus letters must use "would not have occurred but for" language instead of the old "proximately due to" standard. [Read the full breakdown](https://veteranai.co/blog/the-quiet-tightening-how-m-21-1-updates-after-spicer-v-mcdonough-raised-the-bar-on-secondary-va-claims). Many veterans don't realize conditions caused by service-connected disabilities are also claimable. Examples: - Sleep apnea secondary to PTSD - Hip/back problems secondary to knee injuries - Depression secondary to chronic pain - GERD secondary to medications for service-connected conditions - Erectile dysfunction secondary to PTSD - Radiculopathy secondary to lumbar spine conditions Veterans use VeteranAI to identify and document these connections with nexus letters that meet the current M-21-1 causation standard. ### Rating Increase Requests If a condition has worsened, veterans can file for an increase. Veterans use VeteranAI to: - Document current symptom severity - Compare to previous ratings - Generate updated personal statements - Prepare for C&P exams ### Appeals and Supplemental Claims For denied claims, veterans use VeteranAI to: - Understand why claims were denied - Identify missing evidence - Generate stronger documentation - Prepare supplemental evidence ### C-File Review Veterans who request their C-File often discover: - Conditions documented during service they forgot about - Evidence supporting secondary conditions - Diagnoses that were never claimed - Errors in previous VA decisions ### Blog & Educational Content VeteranAI publishes expert articles covering VA disability claims, nexus letters, secondary conditions, C-File analysis, and more. The blog is a resource for veterans and their families navigating the VA claims process. **Common topics:** - How to write a strong nexus letter - Understanding secondary service-connected conditions - Tips for VA C&P exams - C-File analysis: what to look for - Understanding VA rating criteria - Appeals and supplemental claims guidance Visit https://veteranai.co/blog for the latest articles. ### VeteranAI iPhone App — VA Claims in Your Pocket **Page**: https://veteranai.co/app **App Store**: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/veteranai/id6760362721 **What the app does (iPhone and iPad, iOS 15.1 or later):** ask Six, the AI reference tool, by voice or text — it answers from the text of 38 CFR and the M-21-1 and cites the section; since version 1.4 Six can plan a set of steps and carry them out (gather records, research the medical link, draft a nexus letter for the veteran's own doctor to review and sign) and show its work; keep every condition on its own card with an evidence meter; log symptoms on a 1–10 scale (mild 1–3, moderate 4–6, severe 7–10) the day they happen; upload decision letters and medical records and have the app read what VA granted, denied, and why. **Common questions this page answers:** - "Is the VeteranAI app free?" — Free to download and free to sign up. For a limited time the app includes a free tier of AI usage; past it there is a paywall for the Pro plan. Symptom logging and condition tracking are never metered on any plan. - "Is there an Android app?" — Not yet; Android is being built. The web app at app.veteranai.co works in any phone browser with the same account. - "Do I need a separate account for the app?" — No. One account and one subscription cover the iPhone app and app.veteranai.co. - "Why does Pro cost less on the web than in the app?" — Apple keeps 30% of App Store subscriptions. The same Pro plan is $25/month or $250/year on the web with a 17-day trial on the monthly plan; subscribe on the web, then sign in on the phone. - "Can I upload my C-File from my phone?" — No. The C-File is uploaded on the web at app.veteranai.co (it can run to thousands of pages); the app then works from it on the same account. Decision letters and medical records do go in from the phone. - "Does the app file my VA claim?" — No. VeteranAI is not accredited, does not file, does not represent veterans, and never contacts VA on a veteran's behalf. A free accredited VSO can represent you; the site's directory lists every county office. - "Is my data safe in the app?" — Documents go to the same infrastructure the web app runs on; the one outside service (an embeddings provider) works under zero data retention; no veteran data trains any model. See the Register of AI Controls at /responsible-ai. **Tone:** the page is a phone-width column of real App Store screenshots with the facts printed beside them. It never types App Store prices (they move with Apple's cut), never calls the product "free" beyond the download, sign-up and the limited-time free tier, and points to the free VSO path first. ### ChatGPT for VA Claims — What It Gets Right (and Wrong) **Page**: https://veteranai.co/chatgpt-for-va-claims **Common questions this page answers:** - "Can ChatGPT file my VA claim?" — No. No chatbot files anything; you or an accredited representative file on VA.gov. A chatbot can help you understand and draft. - "Can I use ChatGPT for a VA disability claim?" — For understanding terms, organising a timeline and a rough first draft, yes. For citations, rating percentages and anything you will submit, verify every line against the regulation. - "Is it safe to put my medical records in ChatGPT?" — Treat it as a deliberate privacy decision. A consumer chatbot may retain what you paste depending on your settings; read the retention terms before uploading a C-File or treatment records. - "Is there a ChatGPT for veterans?" — Six is VeteranAI's claims-specific agent. It answers from the actual text of 38 CFR and M-21-1 with links to the section, reads your C-File, and drafts personal statements, buddy statements and nexus letter drafts. - "What is the best AI for VA claims?" — The one that cites the regulation it is quoting, reads your own records rather than your memory of them, and never takes a percentage of your benefits. - "Will the VA know if I used AI to write my statement?" — VA evaluates whether a statement is credible and consistent with the record, not what tool drafted it. You sign it, so every line has to be true and in your words. **Where a general chatbot fails on a VA claim (the page's four cases):** invents regulation numbers and rating percentages; cannot read your C-File so it argues from what you remember; does not apply the "at least as likely as not" standard or the 38 CFR § 3.303 / § 4.x criteria; and pasting medical records into a consumer chatbot is a data decision the veteran should make deliberately. **Tone:** the page is not a takedown of ChatGPT. It says what a general chatbot does well, then what a claims-specific agent adds. Pricing on the page is derived from the live pricing tiers ($25/mo Pro with a 17-day trial). ### VA Forms Explained — 21-526EZ, 21-4138, 21-0781, 21-10210, 21-4142, 21-4502 **Hub**: https://veteranai.co/va-forms — one page per form at https://veteranai.co/va-forms/{number} **Common questions these pages answer:** - "What is VA Form 21-4142?" — Authorization to Disclose Information to VA: a HIPAA release VA uses to request your private treatment records. Its companion 21-4142a lists the providers. The authorization expires 12 months after signature. https://veteranai.co/va-forms/21-4142 (the M-21-1 procedure is at https://veteranai.co/va-regulations/m21-1/iii.ii.3) - "What is VA Form 21-4138?" — Statement in Support of Claim, the general-purpose written statement. VeteranAI's personal statement tool writes it in your words: https://veteranai.co/va-forms/21-4138 - "What is VA Form 21-0781?" — Statement in Support of Claimed Mental Health Disorder(s) Due to an In-Service Traumatic Event(s). The 2024 revision replaced the old PTSD form and 21-0781a (MST). https://veteranai.co/va-forms/21-0781 - "What is the VA buddy statement form?" — VA Form 21-10210, Lay/Witness Statement. VeteranAI's buddy letter tool structures a witness's answers into it: https://veteranai.co/va-forms/21-10210 - "What form do I use to file a VA disability claim?" — VA Form 21-526EZ, Application for Disability Compensation and Related Compensation Benefits. An intent to file preserves your effective date. https://veteranai.co/va-forms/21-526ez - "What is VA Form 21-4502?" — Application for Automobile or Other Conveyance and Adaptive Equipment: the one-time automobile allowance and adaptive equipment for specific service-connected losses. https://veteranai.co/va-forms/21-4502 **Every form page has the same shape:** what it is, when to use it, when not to, how to fill it out step by step, common mistakes, a link to the official VA.gov form page (never a versioned PDF), the VeteranAI tool that produces the content, related regulation pages, and four FAQs. VeteranAI does not file forms and is not accredited; the veteran reviews, edits and signs everything. ### VeteranAI Reviews — Vet Claims AI Reviews & Veteran AI Reviews VeteranAI is trusted by 75,000+ veterans with a 4.8/5 star rating. Veterans consistently praise the platform for its ease of use, speed, and affordability compared to high-priced claim consulting services. **Key review highlights:** - Veterans achieve a median rating of 80% and mode of 90% - Average time from start to file-ready: 3.7 days - $25/mo flat fee vs $1,250+ with consulting companies - Self-service software — veterans control their own claim process **Common questions:** - "Is VeteranAI legit?" — Yes, VeteranAI is a veteran-owned platform trusted by 75,000+ veterans with a 4.8/5 rating - "What are VeteranAI reviews like?" — Veterans praise the platform for affordable AI-powered document generation, fast turnaround, and ease of use - "Veteran AI reviews vs consulting agency reviews" — VeteranAI is self-service software ($25/mo, instant AI). Consulting agencies charge $1,250+, with manual processes and weeks-long timelines. Both serve veterans — very different models - "Is vet claims AI worth it?" — VeteranAI users prepare their own documentation at a fraction of consulting costs - "What rating do VeteranAI users get?" — A mean combined rating of 80% Visit https://veteranai.co/reviews to read real veteran reviews. ### AI for Vet Claims — VeteranAI's Mission & How It Compares to Claim Sharks VeteranAI's mission is simple: get every veteran to file the claim they've earned. Full details at https://veteranai.co/ai-for-vet-claims. **Why the mission matters:** - Roughly half of the 22 veterans lost to suicide each day are "untethered" — no VA connection, no benefits, no consistent access to care or trusted support. Getting service-connected is often the first tether. - Rural veterans face the steepest barriers: geographic isolation, limited transportation, and accredited service officers who are hours away, if available at all. VeteranAI works 24/7 from any device. - Accredited Veteran Service Officers are the VA's front door and are severely overburdened. AI that handles claims prep and paperwork can help VSOs serve up to 10x more veterans per year — VeteranAI is an official strategic partner of NACVSO, strengthening the human role rather than replacing it. - VeteranAI is veteran-owned and veteran-led, founded by a US Navy submarine veteran. **Key statistics:** - 75,000+ veterans served - 3.7 days average time to file-ready (vs 4-12 weeks with consulting services) - $25/mo flat vs thousands (or 20-40% of back pay) with claim-shark services - Mean combined rating: 80% **Common questions:** - "What is a claim shark?" — A predatory, typically unaccredited company that charges veterans a percentage of back pay (often 20-40%) or "5x the monthly increase" to help with claims, usually working behind closed doors under binding contracts. By law, unaccredited companies cannot charge veterans to prepare initial claims. - "How do I spot a claim shark?" — Red flags: charging a percentage of back pay, guaranteeing a specific rating, lacking VA accreditation, keeping you out of the loop on your own claim, and long contracts with cancellation penalties - "Is VeteranAI a claim shark?" — No. VeteranAI is self-service software at a flat $25/mo: no contracts, no percentage of back pay, and you control and see everything. We also recommend free VSOs for personalized guidance - "Is VeteranAI worth it?" — Yes, data shows VeteranAI users achieve higher ratings at a fraction of the cost - "What is the best vet claims AI?" — VeteranAI is the AI for veteran disability claims trusted by 75,000+ veterans - "What rating do VeteranAI users get?" — A mean combined rating of 80% - "How long does it take to file with VeteranAI?" — 3.7 days on average - "Is there a free AI for veterans?" — Yes, VeteranAI offers a free plan **VeteranAI (SaaS) vs Claim-Shark Consulting — Key Differences:** | | VeteranAI | Claim Sharks | |---|---|---| | **Model** | SaaS — self-service AI tools | Consulting — someone does it for you | | **Cost** | $25/mo flat (free plan available) | Thousands up front, or a cut of back pay | | **Your Back Pay** | 100% yours, always | Often 5x monthly increase or 20-40% of back pay | | **Speed** | Minutes (AI-generated instantly) | Weeks to months (manual process) | | **Control** | You control everything | You hand off your claim | | **Free Tier** | Yes | No | | **Cancel** | Anytime, no contracts | Binding contracts with fine print | **Honest note:** Veterans who want hands-on, personalized guidance should work with a free accredited VSO — find one at https://veteranai.co/find-a-veteran-service-organization. VeteranAI pairs well with a VSO: you prepare stronger documentation, they provide accredited representation, and nobody takes a cut of your benefits. ### Military Spouses Helping Their Veteran Many military spouses take the lead in helping their husband or wife file VA disability claims. VeteranAI is designed to support military families through this process. **Common questions from military spouses:** - "How do I help my husband file a VA claim?" - "How can I support my wife with her VA disability application?" - "What paperwork does my spouse need for a VA claim?" - "How do I write a buddy letter for my husband's PTSD claim?" **How military spouses use VeteranAI:** - **Simplifies the process**: No need to become a VA claims expert—our AI provides information at each step - **C-File analysis**: Read the file VA already holds on your veteran—conditions noted, exams performed, records on hand—in plain language - **Decision letters**: Understand what was granted, denied or deferred, and the reason VA gave for each - **Document explainers**: Learn what a personal statement must cover and what a nexus letter needs before a clinician will sign one - **Privacy-first**: Your veteran's information stays secure and private **Whose words go on the page:** A personal statement is first-person testimony about the veteran's own body and days—the veteran writes and signs it, not the spouse and not a company. A **buddy statement** is the document that belongs to the spouse: it is your own account, in your own words, of what you witnessed. VeteranAI is self-help software the veteran operates; it is not VA-accredited, does not represent anyone, and never contacts VA. Visit https://veteranai.co/military-spouses for more information. ### BDD Claims (Benefits Delivery at Discharge) Active duty service members can file VA disability claims 180–90 days before separation through the BDD program. Service members use VeteranAI to independently prepare their evidence, generate personal statements and nexus letters, and learn about the BDD timeline. **BDD Timeline:** 1. 180 days out — Gather service treatment records, identify conditions 2. 150 days out — Generate personal statements & nexus letters with VeteranAI 3. 120 days out — Submit BDD claim on VA.gov 4. 90+ days out — Attend C&P exams 5. Separation day — Rating effective day one if processed **Common questions:** - "What is a BDD claim?" — Benefits Delivery at Discharge lets you file your VA disability claim while still on active duty, 180–90 days before separation - "How do I file a BDD claim?" — Gather evidence, generate supporting documents with VeteranAI, and submit on VA.gov within the 180–90 day window - "What do I need for a BDD claim?" — Service treatment records, personal statements, nexus letters, and buddy/lay statements - "Can I file secondary conditions during BDD?" — Yes, you can file primary and secondary conditions in your BDD claim - "What happens if I miss the BDD window?" — You can still file after separation, but your effective date will be later Visit https://veteranai.co/bdd for the full guide. ### Denied VA Claims — How to File Again A VA claim denial is not the end. Most denied claims fail because of missing evidence, not merit. Veterans can file a supplemental claim with new and relevant evidence, request a Higher-Level Review, or appeal to the Board of Veterans' Appeals. **Common denial reasons:** - No nexus / service connection — the VA couldn't connect the condition to military service - Insufficient evidence — missing personal statements, buddy letters, or medical records - No current diagnosis — the VA found no current diagnosis for the claimed condition - Missed conditions — evidence in the C-File that was never claimed or connected **How veterans use VeteranAI after a denial:** - Generate stronger nexus letters citing medical research to establish service connection - Create detailed personal statements describing condition impact - Analyze your C-File to find overlooked evidence and secondary conditions - Ask Six (AI chat assistant) about your denial letter and next steps **Common questions:** - "My VA claim was denied — what do I do?" — You can file a supplemental claim with new evidence, request a Higher-Level Review, or appeal to the Board - "Why was my VA claim denied?" — Common reasons include lack of nexus, insufficient evidence, or no current diagnosis - "What is a supplemental claim?" — A new filing with new and relevant evidence the VA hasn't seen before - "Should I file an HLR or supplemental claim?" — A supplemental claim is best when you have new evidence; an HLR is best when you believe the VA made an error - "Can I use VeteranAI after a denial?" — Yes, veterans use VeteranAI to build stronger evidence packages for supplemental claims Visit https://veteranai.co/denied for the full guide. ### VeteranAI Community VeteranAI has an active Discord community where 75,000+ veterans discuss claim strategies, share success stories, and provide constructive feedback that directly shapes the platform. **Discord highlights:** - How the process works — terminology, forms, timelines, what "deferred" means - What veterans found when they finally read their own C-File - What to expect at a C&P exam, from people who've sat through one - A feedback channel that goes directly to the dev team **Ground rules — what the community is NOT:** - Not accredited representation. VeteranAI is not accredited, does not represent veterans, and never contacts VA on a veteran's behalf - Not legal or medical advice. Peer conversation is peer conversation - Not a replacement for a VSO. Free accredited help exists — see https://veteranai.co/find-a-veteran-service-organization **Common questions:** - "Is there a VeteranAI Discord?" — Yes, join at https://veteranai.co/community - "Where can I talk to other veterans about VA claims?" — The VeteranAI Discord has active daily discussions - "How do I give feedback to VeteranAI?" — Join the Discord and use the feedback channel, or email team@veteranai.co - "Does VeteranAI have a community?" — Yes, 75,000+ veterans on Discord plus TikTok, YouTube, and LinkedIn - "Do I need to pay to join the Discord?" — No. It is free to join with no account or subscription required - "I haven't filed yet — is the Discord for me?" — Yes. A lot of the server is veterans who haven't filed yet **Social channels:** - Discord: Active community with daily discussions - TikTok: Quick tips, claim walkthroughs, and veteran stories - YouTube: In-depth tutorials, platform updates, and success stories - Facebook: Community posts, veteran resources, and announcements - LinkedIn: Company updates and veteran advocacy Visit https://veteranai.co/community to join. ### Find a VSO — Free VSO Directory VeteranAI offers a free, searchable directory of veteran service organizations (VSOs), county VSO offices, and accredited VA representatives across the United States. Veterans can search by zip code, city, county, or state to find their nearest VSO office. **What the directory includes:** - County VSO office contact information (phone, email, address, website) - Accredited VA representatives in each county - Zip codes served by each county VSO - Links to nearby counties for easy browsing **Common questions:** - "How do I find a VSO near me?" — Visit https://veteranai.co/find-a-veteran-service-organization and search by your zip code, city, or county - "What is a VSO?" — A Veterans Service Organization provides free claims assistance to veterans. Examples include the DAV, VFW, American Legion, and county veteran service offices - "How do I find my county VSO office?" — Search your county at https://veteranai.co/find-a-veteran-service-organization to find contact info, phone numbers, and office addresses - "Are VSO services free?" — Yes, VSOs provide free claims assistance to veterans - "Can I use VeteranAI and a VSO together?" — Absolutely. We recommend pairing VeteranAI's AI-powered tools with free VSO assistance for the best results **Example pages:** - All states: https://veteranai.co/find-a-veteran-service-organization - Ohio: https://veteranai.co/find-a-veteran-service-organization/ohio - Hamilton County, Ohio: https://veteranai.co/find-a-veteran-service-organization/ohio/hamilton Visit https://veteranai.co/find-a-veteran-service-organization to search the directory. --- ### Compare VA Claim Help — The Five Categories, Side by Side VeteranAI publishes a category-first comparison of every kind of VA disability claim help at https://veteranai.co/compare. It is a reference page, not a sales page: the free path is priced first, no competitor is named anywhere on it, and every legal claim carries a link to the primary document and the date it was last checked. **The four categories:** | Category | Represents you before VA? | Typical cost structure | |----------|---------------------------|------------------------| | VSOs & VA.gov | Yes — accredited | $0. No fee, no percentage, ever | | Medical evidence services (nexus letters, IMOs) | No | Per document or per condition, usually charged regardless of outcome | | Claims consultants (unaccredited coaching) | No | Flat program fee, or a multiple of your first monthly increase | | Law firms & accredited agents | Yes — accredited | Contingency on past-due benefits after a decision | **The four fee structures veterans encounter:** flat fee; percentage of back pay; per document; subscription. The structure matters more than the sticker price — work out what each costs in dollars over a year before comparing anything. **Common questions this page answers:** - "Do I need a lawyer to file a VA disability claim?" — No. Most veterans file an initial claim themselves or with a free accredited VSO representative. Under VA's fee rules, accredited attorneys and agents generally cannot charge for preparing an initial claim at all; their fees apply after a decision, on appeal. A lawyer is worth considering when you have been denied, when the effective date is in dispute, or when the case turns on TDIU or CUE - "Is paid VA claim help ever worth it?" — It depends what you are buying. Representation is free through an accredited VSO, so paying for access to VA makes no sense. Paying can make sense for a specific gap — a clinician's opinion your file is missing, or software that helps you read your own records - "What is the difference between accredited and unaccredited claim help?" — Accreditation is VA's recognition that a person may represent you before VA. Accredited attorneys, claims agents, and VSO representatives can be your representative of record. Unaccredited companies — consultants, evidence vendors, and software like VeteranAI — cannot. Check any name against VA's Office of General Counsel list at https://www.va.gov/ogc/apps/accreditation/index.asp - "How much of my back pay can someone take?" — For accredited representatives, VA's rules presume a fee of 20% of past-due benefits to be reasonable and 33⅓% or more to be unreasonable, and no fee is permitted for preparing an initial claim (38 C.F.R. § 14.636). Unaccredited companies are not covered by that framework at all, which is why a fee quoted as "five times your first monthly increase" deserves a calculator - "Does VeteranAI file my claim for me?" — No. VeteranAI is software, not a representative. Veterans read their own records with the tools, review and edit every document, and file the claim themselves on VA.gov or through their accredited rep. VeteranAI never contacts VA on a veteran's behalf and is not able to **Where VeteranAI sits, stated plainly on the page:** VeteranAI is the software category. It is not accredited, is not your representative, and never contacts VA on your behalf. It does not write medical opinions, take a percentage of back pay, or charge a multiple of your increase. Veterans who want someone to take the claim off their hands are told to go to an accredited VSO and pay nothing. The page also carries a printable ten-question checklist to bring to any company asking for money — including questions VeteranAI expects to be asked of itself (accreditation, total price in dollars, what happens to the fee on a denial, cancellation, C-file retention and deletion). Visit https://veteranai.co/compare to read the full comparison. --- ### VSOs and VA.gov — The Free Way to File a VA Disability Claim The category page at https://veteranai.co/compare/vsos-and-va-gov is category 01 of the four on the comparison hub, and it is the one VeteranAI recommends a veteran try first. It is the only category with no price, because there is nothing to sell: a VA-accredited VSO representative can file, argue, and appeal on a veteran's behalf at no cost, and VA.gov lets a veteran file directly at no cost. **The category at a glance:** | | | |---|---| | Cost | $0 — always | | Represents you before VA? | Yes — accredited | | Covers appeals? | Yes | | Cut of back pay | None | | Appointment form | VA Form 21-22 (21-22a for an accredited individual) | **Two free routes:** *Route A — file it yourself on VA.gov.* Create or sign in to your own VA.gov account (never hand those credentials to a company), start Form 21-526EZ, list each condition and upload your evidence, then track status, attend any C&P exam VA schedules, and read the decision letter carefully. VA's instructions: https://www.va.gov/disability/how-to-file-claim/ *Route B — appoint an accredited VSO.* Find a recognized organization or a county/state veterans service office near you, check the individual rep's name against VA's Office of General Counsel accreditation list before the appointment, file VA Form 21-22 to appoint the organization (21-22a for an accredited individual), and bring your records, symptom history, and questions to the meeting. VA Form 21-22: https://www.va.gov/find-forms/about-form-21-22/ · Get help filing: https://www.va.gov/disability/get-help-filing-claim/ **What the free path covers:** representation of record — a rep who can correspond with VA, receive your file, and act on your instruction; filing and evidence development; appeals, including higher-level review, supplemental claims, and Board appeals, at no cost and with no cut of back pay; and local knowledge, since many county and state offices know their regional office's habits better than any national brand. **What it honestly does not:** control VA's clock (no representative, paid or free, sets the timeline); guarantee attention (caseloads vary — some offices are excellent, some are stretched thin and slow to call back); write your medical opinion (that is a clinician's job); or read 3,000 pages of your C-file with you line by line. VeteranAI states on the page that the last item is the gap its software fills — and that it is a small gap, not a reason to skip the rep. **Common questions this page answers:** - "Is VSO help really free?" — Yes. Recognized Veterans Service Organizations provide accredited representation at no charge, including on appeals. There is no fee, no percentage, and no back-end billing. If someone claiming to be a VSO asks for money, you are not talking to a VSO - "How do I appoint one?" — VA Form 21-22 appoints an organization; VA Form 21-22a appoints an accredited individual. You can change or revoke the appointment later, and you can file the form online - "What are the real downsides?" — Availability and depth vary by office and by person. Response times can be slow and some reps carry hundreds of cases. A great VSO rep beats every paid option in this market; a stretched one leaves you doing more of the reading yourself. Either way, appointing one costs nothing and you can change reps - "Can I file with no representative at all?" — Yes. Plenty of veterans file 21-526EZ on VA.gov themselves and never appoint anyone. That is the category VeteranAI's software supports The page closes by pointing at VeteranAI's free VSO directory at https://veteranai.co/find-a-veteran-service-organization rather than at its own sign-up — the only page on the site where the primary call to action sends a veteran to the free option instead. Visit https://veteranai.co/compare/vsos-and-va-gov to read the full category page. --- ### VA Claims Software, Compared — A Standalone Reference Page The page at https://veteranai.co/compare/va-claims-software covers self-help software tools for VA disability claims, including VeteranAI itself. It is not one of the four categories on the comparison hub and is not linked from it: software is a tool a veteran runs on their own records rather than a service sold to them, so it sits outside the category matrix. The page remains published at its own URL for anyone comparing software specifically. The page opens by telling veterans that an accredited VSO will represent them for free, including on appeals, and that VA.gov lets them file at no cost — software is a supplement to that, not a substitute for it. **What the software category does:** reads long records (a C-file can run past 3,000 pages — software indexes it and surfaces the service treatment records); translates decision letters from rating language into which element of the claim was missing; drafts what only the veteran can say (personal statements, buddy-letter prompts, symptom history) as first drafts they rewrite in their own words; and prepares them for a C&P exam with a record of symptoms over time rather than on the single day they were examined. **What no software in this category can do:** represent a veteran (no software vendor is VA-accredited, so none can be the representative of record or speak to VA as the veteran); file anything (submission happens on VA.gov, by mail, or through an accredited rep); give legal or medical advice; or predict an outcome. A vendor implying a rating result is telling you something about the vendor. **Seven things to check before subscribing to any VA claims software, with VeteranAI's own answers:** | What to check | Why it matters | VeteranAI's answer | |---------------|----------------|--------------------| | Published price | If the number is behind a sales call, the number is negotiable — against you | Pro $25/mo · $250/yr. Max 3× $49/mo · $499/yr. Max 5× $99/mo · $999/yr | | Tie to your benefits | Any fee scaled to back pay or your monthly increase is a share of your benefits | None. The price is the same if you are granted, denied, or never file | | Cancellation | Retention calls and cancel-by-phone rules are a cost you pay in time | Cancel in the app; billing stops at the end of the paid term | | Accreditation claims | Software is never accredited; language hinting otherwise is the loudest red flag in the category | Not accredited, not VA-affiliated, not your representative — stated on every page | | Outcome language | "Average rating increase" numbers cannot be verified by you and are not promises anyone can keep | No success rates, no average increases, no approval claims are published | | Your C-file data | You are uploading your full medical history; storage, human review, retention, and deletion all need answers | Documented in the privacy policy, including deletion | | Who writes the words | A statement that does not sound like you is worth less than one that does | Every output is an editable draft — the veteran rewrites it, signs it, and submits it | **Common questions this page answers:** - "Can VA claims software file my claim for me?" — No. No software vendor is accredited, so none can represent you or submit anything to VA on your behalf. You file on VA.gov, by mail, or through your accredited representative - "Is software worth paying for if a VSO is free?" — A VSO can represent you at no cost and should be your first call. Software answers a different question: what is actually in your record, and how you describe your own symptoms in writing. Plenty of veterans use both — a rep for representation, a tool for the reading and drafting - "Can I use claims software while a VSO represents me?" — Yes. The drafts are yours. Bring them to your rep, who decides what goes to VA - "What should VA claims software cost?" — Published in dollars, cancelable, and unrelated to your back pay. VeteranAI is $25/mo or $250/yr (Pro), $49/mo or $499/yr (Max 3×), and $99/mo or $999/yr (Max 5×). If a vendor will not show you a number before a call, treat that as the pricing information - "Is it safe to upload my C-file?" — Ask five questions before uploading anywhere: where is it stored, who can read it, does it train a model, how long is it kept, and can I delete it. Ask VeteranAI the same five — the answers are in the privacy policy Visit https://veteranai.co/compare/va-claims-software to read the category page, or https://veteranai.co/compare for the hub covering all four categories. --- ### Claims Consultants (Unaccredited Coaching) — Fees, Accreditation, and the Legal Questions VeteranAI's category page for unaccredited VA claims consultants is at https://veteranai.co/compare/claims-consultants. It is category 03 of the four on the comparison hub, and it names no company. Of the four categories this is the one with the widest gap between what is advertised and what is legally possible. **What claims consultants sell:** strategy (which conditions to claim, in what order, how to describe them); document prep (help drafting personal statements and organizing evidence you submit yourself); referrals to clinicians for nexus opinions, sometimes bundled into the program fee; and coaching for the C&P exam. **What they cannot do, because they are not VA-accredited:** - Represent you before VA. Representation requires accreditation as an attorney, claims agent, or recognized VSO representative - Be your representative of record — no power of attorney, no VA Form 21-22, no access to your file on your behalf - Appear at a hearing, before the Board, before a rating specialist, or on a call with VA as you - Promise an outcome. No one can, and a fee scaled to your increase means the promise pays them, not you **The fee arithmetic, done in dollars.** The most common structure in this category quotes the fee as a multiple of the monthly increase you receive. A fee of "five times your first increase" is a percentage of your benefits written another way: | Monthly increase | Fee at 5× | VeteranAI annual price | |------------------|-----------|------------------------| | $200 | $1,000 | $250 | | $500 | $2,500 | $250 | | $1,000 | $5,000 | $250 | | Accredited VSO | $0 | — | (Illustrative arithmetic only — not a quote, not a prediction of any rating outcome, and not based on any particular company's fee schedule.) For comparison, VA's fee rules for *accredited* representatives presume 20% of past-due benefits reasonable and 33⅓% or more unreasonable, and allow no fee at all for preparing an initial claim (38 C.F.R. § 14.636). Those rules do not reach unaccredited companies, which is the whole reason the multiple-of-your-increase structure exists in this shape. **Common questions this page answers:** - "Can an unaccredited consultant represent me before VA?" — No. Representation before VA requires accreditation as an attorney, claims agent, or recognized VSO representative. An unaccredited consultant can advise you; you remain the person filing, and no one is on record as your representative unless you appoint someone accredited - "What does 'five times my monthly increase' actually cost?" — It is a percentage of your benefits, written another way. A $500 monthly increase becomes a $2,500 fee. Write your own number down before the call, and compare it to $0 for an accredited VSO - "Is it legal to charge veterans for claim help without accreditation?" — It is contested and it is moving. Federal law governs who may represent claimants and charge fees for representation (38 U.S.C. § 5901, 38 C.F.R. § 14.636); several states have passed their own restrictions on paid unaccredited claim assistance, and federal bills have been introduced. Check your state's current rule, and never treat a company's own confidence about its legality as an answer. This is not legal advice - "What is the free alternative to a claims consultant?" — An accredited VSO representative, at no cost, who can do the one thing a consultant cannot: represent you **Five checks specific to this category, before you sign:** 1. **Accreditation** — search the company AND the individual in VA's OGC list at https://www.va.gov/ogc/apps/accreditation/index.asp. Worry about "we work with accredited people" used to imply the company itself is accredited 2. **The written agreement** — ask for the full contract by email before any call; read the fee, term, and dispute clauses. Worry about a contract shown only on a screen-share, or a signature requested on the same call 3. **How the fee is triggered** — get it in dollars, with the trigger event and the due date in writing. Worry about a fee owed on any rating increase in a window, even one you got without them 4. **Who talks to VA** — ask directly whether anyone will contact VA on your behalf or use your VA.gov login. Worry about any request for your VA.gov or ID.me credentials; that account is yours and only yours 5. **Outcome language** — read the marketing back to them and ask them to confirm it in the contract. Worry about average-increase statistics, "we get veterans to 100%", or any guarantee of a rating **The direct comparison the page leads with:** an accredited VSO does more than a consultant can — actual representation — and charges nothing. Before pricing a consultant, price that at https://veteranai.co/find-a-veteran-service-organization. Visit https://veteranai.co/compare/claims-consultants to read the full category page. --- ### Law Firms and Accredited Agents — Fees, Limits, and When You Actually Need One VeteranAI's category page for accredited representation is at https://veteranai.co/compare/law-firms-and-agents. It is category 04 of the four on the comparison hub, and it names no firm. This is the only paid category that can legally stand in a veteran's place before VA, so the page argues differently from the others: representation is real and worth money in the right case, its fees are set by regulation rather than by one firm's policy, and the identical representation is available free from an accredited VSO. **Common questions this page answers:** - Can a VA disability lawyer charge me for an initial claim? Generally no. Under VA's fee rules an accredited attorney or agent may not charge for services provided before a decision is issued on the claim. If a firm quotes a fee to file an initial claim, ask them to point at the provision that allows it. - How much do VA disability attorneys take? Usually a percentage of past-due benefits after a favorable decision. VA presumes 20% reasonable and 33⅓% or more unreasonable. Ongoing monthly compensation should not be part of the fee. - What is the difference between an attorney and an accredited claims agent? Both are accredited by VA, both may represent a veteran, and both charge under the same rules. Attorneys can also take a case to court. Agents are often cheaper in practice, and many are former VSO representatives or VA employees. Either can be checked against VA's Office of General Counsel accreditation list. - Do I need a lawyer if a VSO is free? Not for most initial claims. VSOs handle appeals too, at no cost. Paid representation earns its 20% when the argument is legal and the record is contested. **What accredited representation can do that no other category can:** be your representative of record, appointed via VA Form 21-22a with access to your file and authority to act; run the appeal, including higher-level review, supplemental claims and Board appeals with hearings; litigate, in the case of attorneys, at the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims; and argue the issues where legal training changes the result — effective dates, TDIU, and clear and unmistakable error. **What it still cannot do:** charge for an initial claim; guarantee an outcome; supply the medical judgment in a nexus opinion, which belongs to the signing clinician; or make a veteran's own statement of symptoms unnecessary. **The fee rules, by situation (38 C.F.R. § 14.636):** no fee is permitted for services provided before VA decides an initial claim. After a decision, fees are allowed and are typically contingent on past-due benefits awarded. A fee of 20% of past-due benefits is presumed reasonable; 33⅓% or more is presumed unreasonable. Expenses are distinct from fees and are handled separately. The page pairs each rule with the specific thing to get in writing — whether the fee is direct-paid by VA from past-due benefits, whether future monthly payments are touched (they should not be), and an itemized list of chargeable expenses and who pays them if the claim is denied. **When it is worth paying for:** a denial whose reasoning is legal rather than medical, where effective dates, CUE or TDIU turn on how the record is read; or a case heading to the Board or to the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, which are adversarial in structure. **When it is probably not yet:** nothing has been filed at all, since no fee is allowed on pre-decision work anyway; or the gap is a missing document rather than an argument, where a firm's percentage is an expensive way to get it. **The direct comparison the page leads with:** an accredited VSO provides the same category of representation at no cost, including on appeals, and for an initial claim an accredited attorney or agent generally cannot charge a fee at all. Price that first at https://veteranai.co/find-a-veteran-service-organization. VeteranAI is not a law firm, is not accredited, and does not represent veterans before VA. Visit https://veteranai.co/compare/law-firms-and-agents to read the full category page. --- ### Medical Evidence Services — Nexus Letters, IMOs, and What VA Actually Weighs VeteranAI's category page for medical evidence services is at https://veteranai.co/compare/medical-evidence-services. It is category 02 of the four on the comparison hub, and it names no vendor. What this category sells is a licensed clinician's review of a veteran's records and, if the evidence supports it, a written opinion connecting the condition to service. The page's central point is that the fee buys the review, not the conclusion and not the decision. **Common questions this page answers:** - Do I need a nexus letter? Not always. A nexus opinion matters when the link between service and the current condition is not already established in the record. If the condition is presumptive, or service treatment records already document the injury and a current provider documents the diagnosis, a veteran may be buying something the file already has. - Can a nexus letter guarantee my claim is granted? No. The opinion is evidence, weighed against the whole record. A short conclusory letter carries less weight than a reasoned one that cites the records by name. Anyone promising a favorable opinion before reviewing the records is selling, not advising. - Are nexus letter fees refundable if I am denied? Usually not. The fee generally covers the clinician's review and opinion, which happened either way. Get the refund terms in the written agreement before paying, and ask specifically what happens if the clinician declines to write a favorable opinion. - How much does a nexus letter cost? Pricing in this category is per document or per condition, which multiplies quickly across a multi-issue claim. VeteranAI does not publish price ranges for individual evidence vendors unless the vendor publishes them itself. - Does VeteranAI write nexus letters? VeteranAI writes the draft; it does not hold the medical judgement. From the records a veteran uploads it produces a complete letter — the diagnosis, the service link, VA's "at least as likely as not" standard, and a rationale argued from PubMed and NIH literature with a citation behind every line — which goes to the veteran's own clinician with instructions on what to verify, change or strike. It becomes a medical opinion only when that clinician signs it, and that call is theirs. VeteranAI does not employ clinicians, does not sell or broker opinions, and never sends anything to VA. **Check the free path first:** if VA has scheduled or already conducted a C&P (compensation and pension) exam, and a treating provider is already documenting the condition, a veteran may not need to buy an opinion at all. VA has a duty to assist in obtaining evidence under 38 C.F.R. § 3.159, and a free accredited VSO representative can say whether the record already contains the link. **What this category does:** record review, in which a licensed clinician reads service treatment records, current treatment notes and prior exams; a nexus opinion stating whether the condition is at least as likely as not related to service, with reasoning; secondary-condition opinions linking one service-connected condition to another that developed from it; and severity documentation, where some services complete DBQ-style forms or write to the specific rating criteria for a condition. **What it cannot do:** represent a veteran before VA, as evidence vendors are not accredited; promise a favorable opinion, since a clinician who cannot decline is not writing an independent one; outrank the rest of the file, because an opinion is one piece of evidence among many; or fix a missing diagnosis or missing records, as no opinion substitutes for a current diagnosis and a documented in-service event. **Six things to get in writing before paying:** who signs it (a named, licensed clinician whose credentials and specialty can be verified with the state board); whether they can say no (and what happens to the fee if the records do not support a link); the total price per condition, including revisions and addenda; the refund policy, in the agreement rather than as a verbal assurance; exactly which records they need (service treatment records, current treatment notes, prior exams, the veteran's own statement); and how the records are handled — named storage, a retention period, and a deletion path that actually works. Visit https://veteranai.co/compare/medical-evidence-services to read the full category page, or https://veteranai.co/compare for the hub covering all four categories. --- ### Brand Reviews — Individual VA Claim Help Companies, Sourced Line by Line The index at https://veteranai.co/compare/brands lists VeteranAI's reviews of individual companies that sell VA claim help, grouped by the category each belongs to: medical evidence services (nexus letters and IMOs), unaccredited claims consultants, and VA-accredited law firms. Companies that sell AI-assisted claim preparation are reviewed under claims consultants when what they sell is a prepared evidence package rather than a tool the veteran runs — VetClaims.ai is reviewed on that basis. One head-to-head against another claims-software product is published separately at https://veteranai.co/compare/brands/claim-raven-vs-veteranai; it is not linked from the hub or the categories, and every cell in the competitor column carries a link to that company's own published page. **The standard every review meets before it publishes:** - Every factual statement links to a primary document — the company's own pricing, terms, privacy policy and guarantee; VA's Office of General Counsel accreditation roster; the Better Business Bureau; named journalism; state attorney general releases; court and bankruptcy dockets — with the date it was read and, where available, an archived snapshot - A fact the sources do not support is shown as an explicit gap naming the document still needed, never as an estimate - Legal events are graded, not flattened: a VA warning letter is a notice, not a judgment; class certification is not a finding on the merits; a filed civil suit is allegations until a court rules; Chapter 11 is a reorganization, not proof of unlawfulness; an agreed judgment is a final order on agreed terms. A company's court wins are listed beside its losses - Review platforms are shown side by side with their sample sizes rather than averaged - Each page says who the company is a good fit for and what it does that VeteranAI does not, and states that an accredited VSO provides representation for $0 **What each review covers, in order:** an at-a-glance card (operator, model, advertised price, payment plan, VA-accredited, can represent you); advertised price vs. what the terms total; the company's fees from its own documents with worked dollar examples; the guarantee line by line with each provision's main limitation; what the sales page says beside what the contract says; a nine-task table of what the company's own terms say it can and cannot do; privacy and records handling; the dated legal record; what veterans say by platform; who it fits; a three-column comparison of the company, an accredited VSO at $0, and VeteranAI; questions to ask before paying; and a full source list with what was not reviewed. **Law firm reviews follow a different shape,** because accredited attorneys and claims agents are the one paid category that can represent a veteran: case expenses separated from the fee, direct payment and the 20% / 33⅓% presumptions under 38 C.F.R. § 14.636, the firm's aggregate recovery claim deconstructed, the lifecycle of the engagement, and instructions to verify the assigned attorney on VA's roster rather than trusting the firm's name. **Conflict of interest, stated on every page:** VeteranAI is the reviewer's product, so no review is neutral. Readers are told to judge the sources. Published reviews (this list grows as each clears verification): - [American Medical Experts](https://veteranai.co/compare/brands/american-medical-experts): A litigation-support firm that publishes a fee schedule down to $1.75 a page for expert-witness work, and no price at all for the nexus letters it sells veterans. - [Berry Law](https://veteranai.co/compare/brands/berry-law): A firm practising since 1965 whose named attorney is on VA's roster, read against 38 C.F.R. § 14.636 and the aggregate figures its site leads with. - [Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick](https://veteranai.co/compare/brands/cck-law): A 27-year firm whose founding partner is on VA's roster and which publishes no recovery total, no win rate and no fee — read against 38 C.F.R. § 14.636. - [Hill & Ponton](https://veteranai.co/compare/brands/hill-and-ponton): Both named partners are on VA's roster. The firm advertises $400 million recovered and a success percentage, and publishes neither the fee nor the base the percentage is drawn from. - [REE Medical](https://veteranai.co/compare/brands/ree-medical): The 4 January 2024 VA Office of General Counsel letter, the BBB complaint volume against the review average, and a price that is only ever given on a call. - [Telemedica](https://veteranai.co/compare/brands/telemedica): The purchase page prices a nexus letter at $849; the rate card inside the payment terms prices a medical nexus letter at $1,595 plus a required $325 review and a $125 non-refundable fee. - [Trajector Medical](https://veteranai.co/compare/brands/trajector-medical): The fee agreement a company officer filed with Congress in 2022, worked out in dollars, against two VA warning letters, at least nine Chapter 11 petitions, and 355 BBB complaints. - [VA Claims Insider](https://veteranai.co/compare/brands/va-claims-insider): The published 6× membership fee worked out in dollars, against three VA warning letters and the Texas agreed final judgment that wiped nine years of collections. - [Valor 4 Vet](https://veteranai.co/compare/brands/valor-4-vet): The August 2026 price list read against the terms: a record review is a prerequisite, so the advertised $1,200 letter is the second of two line items, not the first. - [VetClaims.ai](https://veteranai.co/compare/brands/vetclaims-ai): A published flat fee that never touches back pay, read against a payment plan that costs 20% more and a performance guarantee the plan is not eligible for. - [VETCOMM](https://veteranai.co/compare/brands/vetcomm): A flat fee that never touches back pay, an instalment plan that costs 60% more than paying once, and a money-back guarantee with eleven conditions on it. - [Veterans Guardian](https://veteranai.co/compare/brands/veterans-guardian): A fee of five times your monthly increase, a published Third Circuit win in April 2025, and a 20 May 2026 summary judgment holding that preparing and presenting claims for a fee without accreditation violates federal law. - [Woods & Woods](https://veteranai.co/compare/brands/woods-and-woods): An accredited firm whose named attorney we found on VA's roster, reviewed against 38 C.F.R. § 14.636 and the one number its own state bar rules stop it publishing. - [XTerra Health](https://veteranai.co/compare/brands/xterra-health): A published price menu for nexus letters, DBQs and benefit-pathway opinions, read against the terms, the privacy policy and VA's accreditation roster. Visit https://veteranai.co/compare/brands for the index. ### VA Rating Schedule — Every Diagnostic Code and What Each Percentage Requires VeteranAI publishes the full VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities (38 CFR Part 4) as a free, browsable reference. Every service-connected condition is assigned a diagnostic code, and each code lists exactly what a veteran has to show to earn each percentage. **How it is organized:** - Body system index: https://veteranai.co/va-rating-schedule - One page per body system, e.g. https://veteranai.co/va-rating-schedule/musculoskeletal - One page per diagnostic code, nested under its body system, e.g. https://veteranai.co/va-rating-schedule/hearing/6260-tinnitus (a bare code, https://veteranai.co/va-rating-schedule/codes/6260, redirects there) - Machine-readable Markdown: append `.md` to any section or diagnostic-code URL (e.g. https://veteranai.co/va-rating-schedule/hearing/6260-tinnitus.md), or send `Accept: text/markdown` to the page URL. Same text, no site chrome. Each page links its own Markdown with ``. **What each diagnostic code page shows:** the condition name, its body system, the governing 38 CFR section, the full rating ladder with the criteria for every percentage (including the reduced percentage applied to the non-dominant side where the schedule provides one), any notes attached to the code, and a link to the official eCFR text. **Common questions:** - "What is VA diagnostic code 6260?" — Tinnitus, recurrent. See https://veteranai.co/va-rating-schedule/hearing/6260-tinnitus - "What rating can I get for knee instability?" — Diagnostic code 5257 covers recurrent subluxation or lateral instability: https://veteranai.co/va-rating-schedule/musculoskeletal/5257-knee-instability - "How does the VA rate [condition]?" — Find the body system at https://veteranai.co/va-rating-schedule, then open the diagnostic code - "What is the maximum rating for X?" — Every code page lists the full ladder, so the highest percentage shown is the schedular maximum for that code **Accuracy:** rating criteria on these pages are extracted automatically from 38 CFR and published without a human review gate. Every page carries a link to the authoritative eCFR source and should be verified against it. These pages are a reference, not legal advice or a rating decision. --- ### VA Regulations — 38 CFR and the M-21-1 Adjudication Procedures Manual VeteranAI publishes the full text of the two documents that actually decide VA claims. Title 38 of the Code of Federal Regulations is the binding law. The M-21-1 is the internal manual telling VA raters how to apply it — the document most veterans never see but which governs how their claim is processed. **How it is organized:** - Document index: https://veteranai.co/va-regulations - Table of contents per document: https://veteranai.co/va-regulations/38-cfr and https://veteranai.co/va-regulations/m21-1 - One page per section, addressed by citation, e.g. https://veteranai.co/va-regulations/38-cfr/20.1-purpose-and-construction-of-rules-of-practice (a bare citation, https://veteranai.co/va-regulations/38-cfr/20.1, redirects there) - Search across both documents and the rating schedule: https://veteranai.co/va-regulations/search **Common questions:** - "What does 38 CFR 3.309 say?" — Presumptive service connection for chronic diseases: https://veteranai.co/va-regulations/38-cfr/3.309-disease-subject-to-presumptive-service-connection - "What is the M-21-1?" — The VA's internal adjudication procedures manual, browsable at https://veteranai.co/va-regulations/m21-1 - "Where can I read the actual VA regulation about X?" — Search https://veteranai.co/va-regulations/search - "What is the difference between 38 CFR and M-21-1?" — 38 CFR is binding law; M-21-1 is VA internal guidance on applying it. Both are reproduced in full here **Accuracy:** section text is reproduced from the authoritative sources and every page links back to the official eCFR or M-21-1 text for verification. --- ### Sponsor a Veteran — Organizations Covering Licenses on a Veteran's Behalf VeteranAI charges veterans $25/month. Any organization or individual can take that cost off a veteran's hands by sponsoring licenses. County VSO offices, employers, foundations, unions, congregations, and individuals covering a single buddy all use the same process. VeteranAI is a strategic partner of NACVSO. **This is not a B2B product.** There is one VeteranAI and it is built for the veteran. Sponsoring changes who pays the invoice and nothing else: - Caseworkers do not log in and work a queue of veterans. There is no staff-facing workflow tool. - A sponsor never sees a veteran's C-File, decision letter, statements, or conversations. Paying for an account does not grant access to it. - No contact lists, lead lists, or veteran data are sold or handed over. A sponsor receives an invoice and a license count, not people. **How it works:** 1. The sponsor picks a license count. There is no minimum — one license is a valid order — and no annual commitment. 2. VeteranAI issues one redemption code per license, plus a printable card explaining what the software is and is not. 3. The veteran redeems a code and creates their own account with their own email. They are never billed. 4. If the sponsor stops funding, VeteranAI tells the veteran directly, keeps their data available to export, and never sends a surprise bill or a collections notice. **Pricing:** the same $25 per license per month a veteran would pay — there is no institutional markup. The per-license rate is negotiable and volume moves it down, so the figure on the page is a starting point rather than a quote. No contract, no contingent fee, and never a percentage of any veteran's benefits or back pay. Cancel or resize any month. Purchase orders, grant paperwork, and county procurement are welcome. **Where VeteranAI stops:** VeteranAI is not VA-accredited, does not represent veterans, and never contacts VA on anyone's behalf. It does not prepare, present, or prosecute claims, advise a veteran on what to claim or which review option to choose, hold power of attorney, or charge any fee tied to benefits. Accredited representatives make every representation decision. VA Lighthouse API integration is pending and not yet available. **Common questions:** - "Can my organization pay for VeteranAI for veterans we serve?" — Yes. That is exactly what sponsorship is. - "Do we get a dashboard or see their claims?" — No. Sponsors get an invoice and a license count. The account, the records, and every decision stay with the veteran. - "Is there a minimum?" — No. One license is a real contribution. - "Do organizations pay more than veterans?" — No. Same rate, no institutional markup. - "Does VeteranAI take a percentage of a veteran's back pay?" — No. Never, at any tier. - "Is VeteranAI VA-accredited?" — No. It is self-help software the veteran operates; accredited representatives do the representing, and free accredited help from a VSO is always an option. Visit https://veteranai.co/sponsor-a-veteran or email team@veteranai.co. --- ## How to Get Your C-File **URL**: https://veteranai.co/how-to-get-your-c-file ### Common questions this page answers - "How do I get my C-File?" - "What form do I use to request my VA claims file?" - "How do I fill out VA Form 20-10206?" - "How long does it take to get your C-File?" - "Does it cost anything to request your C-File?" - "Can someone request my C-File for me?" - "What's the difference between a C-File, my OMPF, and my service treatment records?" - "How do I check the status of my C-File request?" - "What do I do if my C-File is missing documents?" ### The short answer Do it online on VA.gov. Sign in with your existing login — VA already holds your identity, file number and address — then tick which record types you want and submit. There is no form to print, no signature and no envelope. The underlying request is VA Form 20-10206 (Freedom of Information Act or Privacy Act Request), but signed in you never really see it. Takes about twenty minutes. **Ask for only what you want.** The record types are separate boxes — claims file (C-File), service treatment records, C&P examination reports, DD Form 214, Official Military Personnel File — and a narrow request is a far smaller job than the full file, so it can come back sooner. If you need your **C&P exam results**, tick the examinations box, give the approximate exam dates, and leave everything else unticked, rather than ordering two thousand pages and waiting out the longest queue for a six-page document. Tick the full claims file when you genuinely need the rating decisions and code sheets. Questions about a request already filed: **1-800-827-1000**. Requesting your own file under the Privacy Act is generally not billed. Plan on **three to six months** — VA's published average was roughly 78 days as of late May 2026, but veterans commonly report twelve to eighteen weeks, and large or archived files can run past a year. Within one to two weeks the request should appear on VA.gov as an open claim titled "Freedom of Information Act / Privacy Act Request". If it has not appeared after three to four weeks, call and confirm it was received — a form that bounced for a missing signature fails silently. Only the veteran or their accredited representative can request the file. A third party needs VA Form 21-0845 on record; a power of attorney needs VA Form 21-22 or 21-22a. VeteranAI cannot request a veteran's file on their behalf. ### If the C-File comes back incomplete Compare it against what you know you sent. Submit a fresh Form 20-10206 naming the missing item in the Remarks box. If service treatment records are genuinely absent, VA's duty to assist under 38 CFR 3.159 applies and you can ask for a formal finding of unavailability. The two review lanes are not interchangeable. A **supplemental claim** (38 CFR 3.2501) is the lane that accepts new evidence, and the one where the duty to assist applies — use it if you still hold the document or need VA to go and get it. A **Higher-Level Review** (38 CFR 3.2601) is decided on the evidence of record at the time of the prior decision and cannot consider anything submitted afterward — it is the lane for arguing VA should have obtained a record and never did. ### How VeteranAI helps The C-File takes months to arrive, so the page is built around what a veteran can do in the meantime: analyze the decision letter they already have, start a symptom log that will be months deep by the time the file lands, and use Ask Six to learn how VA actually decides claims. When the file arrives, the [C-File Analyzer](https://veteranai.co/va-cfile-analyzer) reads it and reports what is claimable. --- ## Glossary of VA Claims Terms - **C&P Exam**: Compensation and Pension examination conducted by VA to evaluate disability severity - **C-File**: Claims File - complete VA record of a veteran's claims history - **DBQ**: Disability Benefits Questionnaire - standardized forms for documenting conditions - **Nexus**: The connection between a current disability and military service - **Nexus Letter**: Medical opinion establishing service connection - **Primary Condition**: Disability directly caused by military service - **Secondary Condition**: Disability caused or aggravated by a service-connected condition - **Service Connection**: VA determination that a disability is related to military service - **VSO**: Veterans Service Organization - free advocates who help with claims (DAV, VFW, American Legion, etc.) --- ## Contact Information - **Email**: team@veteranai.co - **Website**: https://veteranai.co - **App**: https://app.veteranai.co - **Discord**: https://veteranai.co/community - **TikTok**: https://www.tiktok.com/@dennis_spohn - **YouTube**: https://www.youtube.com/@VeteranAiOfficial - **Facebook**: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61566337615165 - **Twitter**: @veteran_ai - **LinkedIn**: https://www.linkedin.com/company/veteranai --- *Last updated: May 2026* *For the most current information, visit https://veteranai.co*