Where to find the truth, straight from the source.
Trust drift is the biggest enemy of a VA claim. Information that sounds right but isn't official can cost you a rating. Below are the resources we use — the official VA portal, VA's own news + podcast, and the actual federal regulations that govern your benefits. Bookmark them.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' main portal — file a claim, check status, manage benefits, request records. Authoritative source for everything VA-related.
VA's weekly newsletter for veterans and their families. New benefits, program updates, deadlines, and outreach events delivered to your inbox.
VA's official podcast network — interviews with VA leadership, veteran stories, mental-health support, and benefits education in audio form.
VA's official news site. Policy changes, program launches, regulatory updates, and stories from the veteran community.
The Code of Federal Regulations, Title 38. The full, current text of the rules that govern VA benefits, accreditation, and claims procedure. Citations like 38 C.F.R. § 14.629 live here.
Veteran Claims USA libraries
Free education
Short explainers. No jargon. No marketing.
From intake to decision — what happens at each stage and how long it takes.
Combined ratings math, why 30+30 isn't 60, and the bilateral factor.
Your Claim File is the record VA decides from. Order it before you file new evidence.
When VA accepts a presumed link between your service and a condition, you skip the nexus step.
How a well-written lay statement from someone who served with you can rebuild a missing record.
Veteran newsletter
A note on these links
These are external resources. Veteran Claims USA does not control or operate them. The VA can and does update its programs — always confirm timelines, eligibility, and procedures on the official site directly. If you find a conflict between something you read elsewhere and what VA.gov or 38 C.F.R. actually says, the official sources win.
Have a question about how a regulation applies to your case? That's what we're here for. Start your claim or call 1-833-VHA-1776.