Your VA claim and benefits, start to finish.
Tell us where you are and we'll show you the next step. You file on VA.gov yourself. We never file for you, never charge, and never ask for your VA.gov login.
Where are you with your claim?
Pick the closest fit. Each one takes you straight to the right tool.
- I haven't filed yetLock in your start date with an Intent to File, then build your claim one step at a time.Start my claim →
- I filed and I'm waitingGet ready for your C&P exam, keep a symptom log and practice with an AI examiner.Prep for my exam →
- I was denied or rated too lowUpload your decision letter to see why, then pick your path. Most options must be filed within one year. A Supplemental Claim can be filed any time, but filing within a year protects your back pay.Understand my decision →
- I have a rating. What do I get?See every federal and state benefit your rating unlocks, including Special Monthly Compensation.What do I qualify for? →
- I'm a family member or survivorSurvivor pay (DIC), CHAMPVA health coverage, burial benefits, caregiver support and adding dependents for more monthly pay.See family benefits →
Every claims tool, in one place
Use them in any order. Education only. VA makes the final decision.
- Start hereClaim NavigatorFile your claim step by step, with a guide beside you.
- Start hereClaims CopilotAIAsk anything about your claim in plain English. Answers cite VA rules.
- Disability calculatorYour combined rating, monthly pay and the VA math behind it.
- What do I qualify for?Every benefit your rating unlocks, federal and state.
- Back pay calculatorEstimate what VA may owe you from your effective date.
- Condition lookupHow VA rates your condition, secondary conditions and the research behind them.
- Evidence builderAIYour evidence checklist, plus buddy letter, personal statement and medical opinion templates.
- Decision letter readerUpload your decision letter and see in plain English what VA decided and why.
- Doctor packetA packet to bring your doctor when you ask for a medical opinion.
- C&P exam prepAIWhat they'll ask, a symptom log and a practice exam with an AI examiner.
- Exposure checkerBurn pits, Agent Orange, Gulf War, Camp Lejeune and conditions linked to your military job.
- Claims roadmapEvery step and VA form from Intent to File to decision, plus a deadline tracker.
- Get your recordsHow to get your DD214, service treatment records and your VA claim file.
Does one of these sound like you?
These claims have their own rules. Many Veterans never hear about them.
- I can't work because of my conditionsIndividual Unemployability (TDIU) can pay you at the 100% rate even if your rating is lower.Learn more on VA.gov (opens in a new tab)
- My condition caused another oneSecondary conditions: find what's linked to a condition you're already rated for.Open the tool →
- Burn pits, Agent Orange or the PACT ActPresumptive conditions mean you don't have to prove what caused it.Open the tool →
- I need help with daily livingPension, Aid and Attendance and Housebound pay for wartime Veterans and survivors with limited income.Learn more on VA.gov (opens in a new tab)
- Military sexual trauma (MST)Your claim can use other kinds of evidence, like changes in behavior. Free MST care is available even without a claim.Learn more on VA.gov (opens in a new tab)
- I'm still in uniformFile a pre-discharge claim 180 to 90 days before you separate, and you can get your rating sooner.Learn more on VA.gov (opens in a new tab)
- My discharge isn't honorableYou may still qualify for some VA benefits, and you can apply for a discharge upgrade.Learn more on VA.gov (opens in a new tab)
- VA says I owe moneyOverpayment letters can be disputed, waived or paid in a plan. Act quickly to stop collections.Learn more on VA.gov (opens in a new tab)
- Other special claimsHarmed by VA care (1151), clothing allowance, housing and car grants, temporary 100% after surgery.Learn more on VA.gov (opens in a new tab)
Want someone to help you file?
Most county Veterans Service Officers are accredited by VA and can review and file your claim with you, for free. Before you share anything, check that your helper is accredited on VA's official search. Not sure who to call? Call us and we'll point you to the right office.
Never pay to file a claim
Filing with VA is free, and accredited service officers are free. Be careful of "claim consultants" who charge fees or ask for your VA.gov password. No one may charge you to help file your first claim. Accredited attorneys and claims agents can charge only after VA decides your claim, and anyone who isn't accredited can never charge you. Sharing your login puts your benefits at risk.
Think you've been targeted? Report it at VSAFE.gov (opens in a new tab).
Benefits you may have earned
Health care, education, home loans, family benefits and more, explained without the government language.
- Eligibility basicsDischarge status, service period and length of service decide which doors are open to you. Understanding them first saves months of guessing.
- Disability compensationA monthly, tax-free payment for conditions connected to your service. The rating is about how much the condition limits you, not how severe it feels.
- VA health careEnrollment puts you in a priority group, and that group decides what you pay. Many Veterans who assume they do not qualify actually do.
- Work and educationEducation benefits and employment support are separate programs that often work together. Choosing the wrong one first can cost you months of entitlement.
- HousingThe VA home loan is the benefit most Veterans know about. The emergency housing programs are the ones that get missed when they matter most.
- Family and survivorsSpouses, children, caregivers and survivors have benefits in their own right. Many go unclaimed because families never hear about them.
- Community and connectionIsolation is the problem Veterans name most often and the one no form solves. Connection is a benefit too, even though nobody issues it.
- Veteran ID cardsThe four kinds of Veteran ID, which one you need and how to get it.
Common questions
Does Helping The Brave file my claim?
No. We are an education and connection resource. You file on VA.gov yourself, or with a VA-accredited representative. That help is free through your county Veteran service office and most Veteran service organizations.
Is any of this affiliated with the VA?
No. Helping The Brave is independent and Veteran founded. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by or accredited through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
What does it cost?
Nothing. Every guide, tool, resource listing, event and podcast episode on this site is free.
Can you tell me what rating I should get?
No. Ratings depend on your record and current medical evidence, and only VA decides them. Our tools explain how VA rates conditions so you can have a better conversation with an accredited representative.
Where do I start if I have never filed anything?
Start with an Intent to File to protect your start date, then use the Claim Navigator. Your county Veteran service office is free and can review your record with you.
I am in crisis right now. What do I do?
Call 988 and press 1, or text 838255, to reach the Veterans Crisis Line, any hour of any day. You do not need to be enrolled in VA care to use it.
Helping The Brave provides education and community connection. We are not attorneys, claims agents or VA-accredited representatives, we do not prepare, present or prosecute claims for VA benefits, and we are not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Nothing here is legal, medical or financial advice. Free claims help is available from your county Veteran service office and other accredited representatives.