Learn the system
How the VA disability system actually works
A vet who understands the system never needs Trajector. The tools on this site give you results; these articles give you the framework. Read in any order.
How VA disability claims actually work
The 5-step claim path from filing to award letter. What the rater is doing at each stage. Why "Evidence Gathering" can take 4 months and "Preparation for Notification" 6 weeks.
Combined ratings explained — why 60 + 30 ≠ 90
The "VA math" that frustrates every veteran. The whole-person theorem, the bilateral factor, how the rounding rule actually works, and why your fifth condition might not move the needle.
The 5 reasons VA claims with valid diagnoses get denied
Weak nexus. Missing in-service event. Inconsistent statements. Wrong appeal lane. Failure to prosecute. The denial patterns that show up in 80% of rating decisions.
How to read your VA denial letter — what each section actually means
Reasons for Decision, Evidence Considered, Effective Date, the rating table. Which paragraph contains the real why, and which lines tell you whether HLR or Supplemental is the right appeal lane.
VA denial letter sample — what a real rating decision looks like
A composed-but-realistic VA denial letter walked block-by-block. Decision table, Evidence Considered, Reasons for Decision, what each section actually tells you, and the exact appeal strategy that fits the facts.
How to appeal a VA disability denial — the 3 AMA paths
One-year clock, three lanes (Higher-Level Review, Supplemental Claim, Board appeal). When to pick which, what each requires, realistic timelines, and the filing mistakes that burn your effective date.
What is an HLR? VA Higher-Level Review explained
Same record, senior reviewer, no new evidence. When HLR is the right lane, the informal conference most veterans skip, and the exact form (20-0996) to file within one year of the decision.
VA timeline reality check — what to actually expect
Median 100-150 days for a standard claim. 6-12 months if the rater orders a C&P exam. 2-7 years for a Board appeal. Month-by-month what is happening behind the scenes.
Evidence to gather before you file
STRs, private medical records, lay statements, photos, employment records, prior claim files. What the rater needs in hand to grant on the first read.
PACT Act deep dive — what it actually changed
Burn pits. Hypertension under Agent Orange. Camp Lejeune. Radiation. Effective dates. The conditions added, the eligibility doors opened, and the deadlines that still matter.
Camp Lejeune Justice Act — the tort pathway, what you can still do
Lejeune claims run on two separate tracks: VA disability (38 CFR 3.309(f), still open, no deadline) and federal court tort (filed in E.D.N.C., 8/10/2024 window closed). What each path is, who can still file, and what to do if you missed the deadline.
VA jargon glossary
NOD, HLR, BVA, CUE, RAMP, DRO, EAJA, C&P, DBQ, FDC, P&T, TDIU, CRSC, CRDP, VR&E, PCAFC. Every acronym a vet hits, in plain English.