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Understanding Your Claims

New to VA disability claims? Start here. This plain-language guide covers what every claim has to prove and the 4 ways to connect a condition to your service: direct, secondary, presumptive and aggravation. It has step-by-step examples for physical and mental health conditions. You'll learn how to file an Intent to File, gather evidence, prepare for your C&P exam, read your decision, and file before you leave the military with BDD. There's no deadline to file, and that includes Gulf War undiagnosed illness under the PACT Act. Download our free Understanding Your VA Claim guide (PDF), a printable guide with real-life examples in every chapter, presumptive condition lists, effective date and back pay rules, deadlines, forms, a glossary, a claim checklist, and a full list of official VA sources.