Many veterans land on claim.vet and wonder: "Is this the same as VA.gov? Do I still need to use the government site?" The short answer: they serve completely different purposes — and the best approach uses both. Here's exactly how they fit together.
VA.gov is the official United States Department of Veterans Affairs website. It's the government portal where veterans:
VA.gov is essential — it's where the actual official transactions happen. You cannot submit a disability claim to the VA without using VA.gov (or going through a VSO). But VA.gov is purely a transaction portal. It doesn't explain what you should claim, what evidence you need, or how the rating system works.
claim.vet is an independent, free platform that fills the gap VA.gov leaves: preparation. It's where veterans go before they open VA.gov — to understand their conditions, build their evidence package, and ensure they're filing the strongest possible claim.
claim.vet is not affiliated with the VA. It doesn't submit anything to the government on your behalf. What it does:
The most effective path to a successful VA disability claim combines both tools:
Use claim.vet's AI to identify all conditions you qualify to claim, including secondary conditions connected to your primary diagnoses. Most veterans miss 2–3 ratable conditions on their first claim.
Follow claim.vet's guided evidence checklist for each condition. Gather medical records, request your service records via SF-180, obtain or draft nexus letters, and prepare personal statements.
Use claim.vet's form walkthrough to understand every field on the 526EZ. Know what to write, what evidence to attach, and what to avoid before you open VA.gov.
With your documentation complete and organized, log into VA.gov, complete the online 526EZ, upload your evidence, and submit. You can also submit through a VSO.
After submission, monitor your claim status on VA.gov. If you receive a denial, return to claim.vet to analyze the denial letter and plan your appeal strategy.
Think of it this way: claim.vet is your training and prep facility. VA.gov is the arena where the actual event takes place. You wouldn't compete without training first — and you can't win without showing up.
VA.gov is a massive portal built for millions of veterans across dozens of programs. It wasn't designed to be a teaching tool. Common frustrations veterans experience on VA.gov:
claim.vet was built specifically to solve these problems — not to replace VA.gov, but to make veterans more effective when they use it.
No. claim.vet is an independent, privately operated platform. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by the Department of Veterans Affairs or any government agency. VA.gov is the official VA website.
Yes. VA.gov is where your claim is officially submitted to the government. claim.vet helps you prepare; VA.gov is where the official transaction occurs. Alternatively, you can submit through a VSO, but you cannot submit a claim solely through claim.vet.
No. claim.vet does not access your VA records or C-file. The preparation guidance on claim.vet is based on the information you provide. If you want someone to review your actual VA claims file, you'll need to request access through a VSO or VA-accredited representative.
Start on claim.vet. Identify every condition. Build your evidence. Then submit a complete, well-prepared claim through VA.gov — and get the rating you earned.
Start Your Claim Preparation →