Words to know

VA uses a lot of special words. Here's what they mean in plain English. In the steps, tap any underlined word to see its meaning.

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55 words

Accredited representative: A person VA has approved to help with claims: a VSO representative, attorney or claims agent.
ACE (Acceptable Clinical Evidence): When VA decides it can rate you from your records without an in-person exam.
Aggravation: A problem you had before service that service made worse.
Back pay (retro): Money VA owes you from your effective date to the day it decided your claim.
Benefit of the doubt: If the evidence is about even, VA must decide in the Veteran's favor.
Bilateral factor: A small bonus VA adds when both arms, both legs or paired muscles have ratings.
Blue Button: The tool in your VA.gov health account that lets you download your VA medical records.
Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA): VA's appeals board, where Veterans Law Judges decide appeals.
Buddy statement: A written statement from someone who saw what happened or sees your symptoms, often on VA Form 21-10210.
C-file (claims file): Your full VA claim folder with everything VA has, including exam reports. Ask for it with VA Form 20-10206.
C&P exam: Compensation and Pension exam: a medical exam VA uses to decide your claim. The examiner doesn't treat you.
CAVC: The U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, a court outside VA. You have 120 days after a Board decision to appeal there.
Claim status: The VA.gov page or app screen that shows where your claim is in VA's 8 steps.
Claims Intake Center / Evidence Intake Center: VA's mail centers at PO Box 4444, Janesville, WI 53547-4444, where paper claims and evidence go.
Combined rating: Your overall rating after VA combines each condition's percent using whole-person math.
CVSO (County Veterans Service Officer): A county employee who helps Veterans with claims for free.
D-S-T: Diagnosis, Symptoms, Treatment: a simple check of what evidence a condition has.
DBQ (Disability Benefits Questionnaire): A VA form doctors fill out to describe a condition the way VA rates it.
DD-214: Your discharge papers. They show your service dates, job and type of discharge.
Decision letter: The letter VA sends with what it decided, your ratings, pay and reasons.
Decision review: A request for VA to look at a decision again: Supplemental Claim, Higher-Level Review or Board Appeal.
Direct service connection: The condition started in, or was caused by, something in service.
Duty to assist: VA's legal duty to help you get evidence, like federal records and exams.
Effective date: The date your benefits start counting from.
Favorable finding: A fact VA has agreed with in your decision letter.
Fiduciary: A person or organization VA appoints to manage VA payments for someone who can't manage them.
Fully Developed Claim (FDC): A claim filed with all evidence at once, which VA aims to decide faster.
Higher-Level Review (HLR): A review by a senior VA reviewer of the same evidence, looking for mistakes. No new evidence.
Increase claim: A claim saying a condition VA already rates has gotten worse.
Intent to File (ITF): A notice to VA that you plan to file. It can save your start date for one year.
Lay evidence / lay statement: Evidence from regular people (not doctors) about what they saw or experienced.
M21-1: VA's internal claims processing manual, published on KnowVA.
MST (Military Sexual Trauma): Sexual assault or harassment during service. VA has special rules for these claims.
Nexus: The link between your condition and your service.
Nexus opinion (medical opinion): A doctor's written opinion on whether your condition is linked to service, with reasons.
Noncompensable (0%): Service connected, but rated 0%, so no monthly pay for that condition alone.
PACT Act: A 2022 law that added many presumptive conditions for burn pits, Agent Orange and other toxic exposures.
Permanent and total (P&T): A 100% rating VA doesn't expect to improve. It unlocks some family benefits.
Personal statement: Your own written description of your condition and how it affects you, often on VA Form 21-4138.
Power of attorney (POA) for VA: Naming an accredited representative to act for you with VA, using VA Form 21-22 or 21-22a.
Presumptive condition: A condition VA assumes is tied to service if you served in certain places or times.
Priority processing: Faster handling for Veterans in hardship, terminal illness, homelessness, age 85+ and some others (VA Form 20-10207).
Rating: The percent (0% to 100%) VA gives each condition based on how much it limits you.
Rating decision: The part of VA's decision that explains each rating and the reasons.
Secondary service connection: A new condition caused or made worse by a condition VA already connected.
Section 1151 claim: A claim for harm caused by VA health care or VA training.
Service connection: VA agreeing a condition is tied to your military service.
SMC (Special Monthly Compensation): Extra pay above the usual rates for serious losses, like loss of use of a limb or needing daily help.
STRs (Service Treatment Records): Your medical records from while you were in the military.
Supplemental Claim: A review lane where you send new and relevant evidence after a denial.
TDIU (Individual Unemployability): Pay at the 100% rate when service-connected conditions keep you from steady work.
Toxic exposure screening: A short VA health care check-in about possible toxic exposures.
VA Form 21-526EZ: The main application for VA disability compensation.
VSO (Veterans Service Organization): A group like the American Legion, VFW or DAV. Their accredited reps help with claims for free.
Whole person theory: VA's way of combining ratings so the total never goes over 100%.

Checked against VA.gov and federal rules on October 30, 2026.