Articles
Plain-language explanations of VA rating criteria and claim rules, sourced from the regulations.
Things Veterans Should Know Before Filing Their VA Claim
Why a C&P exam won't diagnose you, how a new mental health claim can put your existing PTSD or anxiety rating back on the table, and other mistakes to avoid before you file.
Read the articleSupplemental Claim vs. Higher-Level Review vs. Board Appeal: Which One, and When Your Deadline Hits
Each review lane fixes a different problem. How to choose, what you can do after each decision, and the one-year rule that protects your back pay.
Read the articleHow VA Combined Ratings Are Calculated (and Why 50% + 30% = 70%)
VA doesn't add ratings, it combines them. How the combined ratings table and the bilateral factor work, with worked examples.
Read the articleGERD VA Rating in 2026: What the May 2024 Rewrite Actually Requires
Since May 19, 2024, VA rates GERD on documented esophageal stricture, not heartburn. What that means for new claims, existing ratings, and pending ones.
Read the articleVA Claims Field Guide is a private educational publisher. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or any government agency. We do not prepare, present, or prosecute claims for VA benefits and we are not a substitute for a VA-accredited representative, whose services are free. Nothing here is legal or medical advice, and no outcome is guaranteed.
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