The PACT Act is the largest expansion of VA health care and disability benefits in decades, and it fundamentally changes how veterans with toxic exposure claims establish service connection. Signed into law in August 2022, the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act added more than 20 new presumptive […]

Blast Exposure TBIs and the VA Claims Process Not all traumatic brain injuries look the same in a VA file. A veteran who sustained a TBI in a car accident, a fall, or a sports collision typically has something concrete to point to: a medical record, an emergency room visit, a documented loss of consciousness. […]

VA rates all mental health conditions, including PTSD, depression, anxiety, and adjustment disorders, under the same framework: the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders at 38 C.F.R. § 4.130. The formula assigns ratings of 0%, 10%, 30%, 50%, 70%, and 100% based on the level of occupational and social impairment the condition causes. For most […]

The landscape of veterans’ benefits is continually evolving, with changes aimed at better serving the needs of those who served our nation. One area that has seen recent updates is the policy surrounding Total Disability Ratings based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU). Understanding these changes is crucial for veterans who rely on these benefits or are […]

Most veterans who research TDIU learn the schedular requirements quickly: one service-connected disability rated at 60% or more, or a combined rating of 70% with at least one condition rated at 40%. If they don’t meet those thresholds, many assume they’re disqualified. That’s wrong. Under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b), VA is required to consider TDIU […]

The effective date on your VA disability award determines when your benefits start, and it controls how much retroactive pay you receive. A veteran who wins a 70% rating with an effective date of January 2020 gets back pay from that date forward. Move that effective date back to January 2018, and the veteran collects […]

Most veterans who look into TDIU benefits quickly run into the same two numbers: 60 and 70. The standard eligibility requirements state that a veteran needs either one service-connected disability rated at 60% or more, or a combined rating of at least 70% with at least one condition rated at 40% on its own. If […]

If VA denied your TDIU claim, you’re not alone — and the denial may not be correct. TDIU claims are among the most frequently denied benefits in the VA system, and the reasons follow a pattern. VA raters apply the wrong legal standard, ignore relevant evidence, or rely on C&P exam opinions from examiners who […]

Receiving a Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) award is a significant milestone for many veterans. But a common and understandable concern follows shortly after: can the VA take it away? The short answer is yes, under certain conditions. Understanding those conditions is the first step toward protecting what you have earned. How the […]

When the VA approves your disability claim, you might receive a lump sum payment covering months or even years of benefits. This retroactive pay, often called back pay, can amount to thousands of dollars depending on your rating and how long your claim took to process. Understanding how the VA calculates this payment helps you […]