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Congress this week passed the PACT Act, which might be the most significant piece of VA benefits legislation in years. In short, the PACT Act makes it so that the VA presumes certain cancers and respiratory conditions are considered automatically related to service for Gulf War and post-9/11 veterans. The PACT Act also expands the […]

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A claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU or IU) hinges on whether a service-connected disability or disabilities render a veteran unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. What does substantially gainful employment mean? Understanding Substantially Gainful Employment 38 C.F.R. § 4.16 does not define the term substantially gainful employment, […]

If you are the surviving spouse, surviving child, or surviving parent (as defined by the VA) of a veteran who died due to a service-connected injury or illness, you may qualify for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits. You may also qualify if the veteran was totally disabled (100% rating or individual unemployability) for the […]

The difference between a TDIU and a 100% schedular combined rating can be confusing. Here is a breakdown of each rating and how they work. A Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability A total disability rating based on individual unemployability (abbreviated as TDIU or IU) is where the VA pays a veteran at the […]

Service members may suffer from a variety of mental health problems following their time in the military. Veterans might experience mental illnesses such as PTSD, anxiety, anger and irritability, panic attacks, depression, and memory loss, which can affect the daily life and well-being of a veteran. While physical illnesses are generally easy to evaluate, symptoms […]

In 2018, the VA Office of Inspector General (VA OIG) released a report that revealed the VA schedules and conducts unnecessary reexaminations for disabled veterans. The report revealed that the VA would waste an additional $100 million in five years on these unwarranted reexams if left unchecked. So, what should you do when you find […]

Once service connection is in effect for a disability, a veteran can file a claim for increased rating at any time. Once a veteran requests an increased rating, the VA will schedule them for a C&P examination, and after the examination, the VA will issue a rating decision that either increases the rating or continues […]

The VA established the Benefits Delivery at Discharge (BDD) program to help eligible veterans receive their VA disability compensation benefits as soon as possible after they are released from active duty. In short, the BDD program allows a service member to apply for their VA benefits while they are still on active duty so that […]

Whether you’re retiring, filing a claim for VA benefits, or requesting a discharge upgrade, you will want a copy of your military medical and personnel records. Download and Print the SF-180 Form In order to request a copy of your military records, you need to complete a SF-180 form and mail it to the appropriate […]