56 essential terms decoded — P&T, TDIU, SMC, MEB/PEB, CRDP, CRSC, VA math, the bilateral factor, presumptive conditions, nexus letters, and the 38 CFR diagnostic codes.
Educational reference only — not legal, medical, or VA advice. Cross-references to current Page 214 tools and 38 CFR / 38 USC where applicable.
Last updated May 1, 2026 · FY2026 rates · AMA-aligned
Bottom line up front
Veterans benefits run on acronyms, and not knowing what they mean costs people money and benefits every day. This glossary defines 56 terms in plain English — from the everyday (P&T, TDIU, SMC, MEB/PEB, CRDP/CRSC) to the structural (VA math, the bilateral factor, presumptive conditions, nexus letters, the 38-CFR diagnostic codes) to the procedural (PMR, ACE, HLR, supplemental claims, CUE). Search by term, filter by category (Claims, Healthcare, Pay & Retirement, Family Support, Process), or browse alphabetically. Most entries cross-link to the Page 214 tool that handles that concept — so if you see “TDIU” here you can jump straight to the TDIU Estimator. If a VA letter, regulation citation, or VSO recommendation uses a term you don’t recognize, look it up here first — understanding the language is the first step to working the system.
This glossary was built by Em, a retired U.S. Navy Commander (Medical Service Corps, 20+ years). Page 214 is free, privacy-first, and entirely client-side. Definitions cited here track the underlying statutes and regulations: combined ratings (“VA math”) at 38 C.F.R. § 4.25; the bilateral factor at 38 C.F.R. § 4.26; SMC tiers at 38 U.S.C. § 1114 and 38 C.F.R. § 3.350; TDIU at 38 C.F.R. § 4.16; Permanent & Total at 38 C.F.R. § 3.327; presumptive conditions at 38 C.F.R. §§ 3.307–3.318; nexus and direct service connection at 38 C.F.R. § 3.303; the relaxed evidence standard for personal trauma / MST at 38 C.F.R. § 3.304(f)(5); the Intent to File preserving rule at 38 C.F.R. § 3.155; CRDP at 10 U.S.C. § 1414; CRSC at 10 U.S.C. § 1413a; the AMA-era appeal pathways (Supplemental Claim, Higher-Level Review, Notice of Disagreement) at 38 U.S.C. Chapter 51 as amended by the Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2017 (effective Feb 19, 2019); MEB/PEB and DoDI 1332.18 governing the IDES; the BRS/Legacy retirement system distinction at the FY2016 NDAA Section 631; and Clear and Unmistakable Error (CUE) at 38 C.F.R. § 3.105(a). Definitions are starting points, not legal authority — for any specific situation, work with a VA-accredited representative or attorney and consult the cited statute or regulation directly.
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