claim.vet Editorial Team

About the claim.vet Editorial Team

The claim.vet editorial team is a group of writers, researchers, and editors dedicated to demystifying the VA disability claims process for U.S. veterans. We believe every veteran deserves clear, accurate, and free access to information about benefits they have earned through their service.

Our team researches VA policy, federal regulations, and published case law so veterans can approach the claims process with confidence — without needing to pay for basic guidance.

What We Cover

Our guides focus exclusively on the VA benefits and claims process. Topics include:

• VA disability ratings — how they work, how they are combined, and how to appeal
• Compensation & Pension (C&P) exams — what to expect and how to prepare
• VA appeals — Notice of Disagreement, Board of Veterans Appeals, CAVC
• Disability Benefits Questionnaires (DBQs) — how to use them to support your claim
• PACT Act — presumptive conditions, burn pit exposure, toxic exposure eligibility
• Secondary service-connected conditions — how to link them to a primary condition
• State veterans benefits — property tax exemptions, education benefits, housing programs
• Veterans law fundamentals — 38 CFR, 38 U.S.C., M21-1 Adjudication Procedures Manual

Editorial Standards

Every guide published on claim.vet is researched against primary sources. We do not cite secondary summaries when the authoritative source is available. Our primary references include:

• 38 CFR (Code of Federal Regulations, Title 38) — the federal regulatory law governing VA benefits
• VA.gov official policy pages — published rates, eligibility criteria, and program descriptions
• VA OGC Accreditation Database (va.gov/ogc/apps/accreditation) — for accreditation-related content
• VBA Circulars and Fast Letters — VA internal guidance that shapes adjudication decisions
• Published case law — Board of Veterans Appeals decisions and CAVC opinions

Fact-Check and Update Policy

Every article on claim.vet shows a "Last updated" date. VA policy changes frequently — disability compensation rates update every December 1, GI Bill rates update every August 1, and Congress periodically adds new presumptive conditions through legislation like the PACT Act.

When VA policy changes, we update affected posts within 30 days of the effective date. Rate changes are reflected within 14 days. When we update a post, the "Last updated" date is revised so readers know the content reflects current policy.

If you find information that appears out of date, email us at matt@claim.vet and we will review within 5 business days.

What We Are Not

We want to be clear about this, because clarity matters when veterans are making decisions about their claims.

• We are not VA-accredited attorneys, claims agents, or VSO representatives.
• We do not represent claimants or provide case-specific advice.
• We do not guarantee any specific claim outcome.
• Our content is informational only and is not legal advice.
• Reading an article on claim.vet does not create an attorney-client relationship of any kind.

Corrections Policy

We take accuracy seriously. If you find an error — a wrong dollar amount, an outdated regulation cite, or a factual mistake — please email matt@claim.vet with the article URL and the specific error.

We will review every correction request within 5 business days. If the correction is valid, we will update the article and revise the "Last updated" date. Significant corrections are noted with a visible edit notice within the article.