VA Claim Glossary: Terms, Acronyms and Forms in Plain English
A VA claim glossary: plain-English definitions of the VA disability terms and acronyms you will run into, plus a table of the forms used at each stage.
Norman Wong
DIC Survivor Benefits: Who Qualifies and 2026 Rates for Spouses, Children and Parents
DIC is a tax-free monthly payment to survivors of veterans who died from service-connected causes. Eligibility, 2026 rates, and how to apply.
Gulf War Illness Presumptive Conditions: The Full List and How to Claim Them
Gulf War veterans can be compensated for chronic unexplained symptoms without a diagnosis. Who qualifies, what conditions are covered, and how to file.
Agent Orange Presumptive Conditions and Qualifying Locations (2026)
The full list of conditions VA presumes are caused by Agent Orange, every qualifying location and date range, and how veterans and survivors file.
Military Sexual Trauma (MST) VA Claims: Evidence, Markers and Your Rights
You do not need a report to file a VA claim based on military sexual trauma (MST). The evidence VA accepts, including markers, and where to get support.
GERD and IBS VA Ratings: The Criteria Since the 2024 Digestive System Changes
VA changed how it rates GERD and IBS in May 2024. The current criteria for each, what they mean for new and existing ratings, and how to document symptoms.
Knee VA Rating: Flexion, Extension, Instability and How Separate Ratings Work
VA can rate one knee under several diagnostic codes at once. How limited flexion, limited extension, instability and meniscus problems are each rated.
Back Pain VA Rating: Range of Motion, Flare-Ups and Radiculopathy Explained
How VA rates back pain and neck conditions by range of motion, how flare-ups and nerve symptoms add to the rating, and how to prepare for the exam.
Depression and Anxiety VA Ratings: How They Are Rated and How to Claim Them
How VA rates depression, anxiety and other mental health conditions, how to claim them directly or as secondary to chronic pain, and what evidence helps.
VA Rating Reductions: The 5, 10 and 20-Year Rules and How to Respond
When VA can reduce a disability rating, the protections that build up over 5, 10 and 20 years, and exactly what to do if you get a proposed reduction letter.