Sources

VA Disability Compensation

• Rating CalculatorBack Pay VA.gov — 2026 Disability Compensation Rate Tables
• Rating Calculator 38 CFR Part 4 — Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD)
• Rating Calculator 38 CFR § 4.25 — Combined Ratings Table
• Rating Calculator 38 CFR § 4.26 — Bilateral Factor
• Rating Calculator VA.gov — 2026 Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) Rates
• Rating Calculator 38 U.S.C. § 1114 — Rates of Wartime Disability Compensation / SMC
• Back Pay VA.gov — Historical Compensation Rates (2023–2026)
• 100% Guide VA.gov — Eligibility for VA Disability Benefits
• Claim Timeline VA.gov — After You File Your Claim
• Claim Timeline VBA Annual Benefits Report — Claim Processing Times

Military Retirement Pay

• Retirement PayStay vs Retire DFAS — 2026 Military Pay Tables (3.8% increase)
• Retirement Pay DoD — Blended Retirement System (BRS) Overview
• Stay vs Retire DFAS — 2026 Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS) Rates
• Stay vs Retire DoD — BAH Calculator / National Average Rates
• Retirement Pay 10 USC Chapter 71 — Retired Pay for Military Service

TRICARE & Healthcare

• Healthcare Guide TRICARE.mil — 2026 Health Plan Costs
• Healthcare Guide TRICARE — 2026 Costs and Fees Sheet (PDF)
• Healthcare Guide TRICARE — TRICARE For Life
• Healthcare Guide TRICARE — TFL Cost Matrix
• Healthcare Guide TRICARE — Retired Reserve
• Healthcare Guide TRICARE — US Family Health Plan
• Healthcare Guide TRICARE — Young Adult
• Healthcare Guide VA.gov — CHAMPVA Benefits
• Healthcare Guide VA.gov — 2026 VA Healthcare Copay Rates
• Healthcare Guide VA.gov — VA Priority Groups
• Healthcare Guide TRICARE — Using Other Health Insurance (OHI)

Military Buyback (FERS/CSRS)

• Buyback OPM — FERS Service Credit (Military Deposits)
• Buyback OPM — Creditable Service
• Buyback 5 CFR § 842.307 — Deposits for Military Service
• Buyback OPM BAL 25-301 — 2025/2026 Interest Rates for Military Deposits
• Buyback DFAS — Military Service Deposits

State Veteran Benefits

• State Benefits VA.gov — State Departments of Veterans Affairs Directory
• State Benefits Individual state DVA websites (50 states + DC + Puerto Rico)
• State Benefits Military.com — State Veteran Benefits by State
• State Benefits AARP — States That Don't Tax Military Pensions

Long-Term Wealth Projection

• Wealth Projection DFAS — 2026 Military Pay Tables
• Wealth Projection TSP.gov — Thrift Savings Plan
• Wealth Projection SSA — Social Security Retirement Benefit Calculation
• Wealth Projection SSA — Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) Formula and Bend Points (2026)
• Wealth Projection SSA — Online Benefits Calculator
• Wealth Projection BLS — CPI Inflation Calculator (expense inflation baseline)
• Wealth Projection IRS — 2026 Tax Brackets and Standard Deduction

MOS to Civilian Career Translator

• MOS Translator O*NET — Military Crosswalk Search (MOC to SOC)
• MOS Translator O*NET Resource Center — Military Occupational Classification Crosswalk Files (August 2024)
• MOS Translator Department of Labor — Military to Civilian Crosswalk (SOC/O*NET codes)
• MOS Translator BLS — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024
• MOS Translator BLS — Occupational Outlook Handbook
• MOS Translator DoD COOL Portal — Credentialing Opportunities On-Line (all branches)
• MOS Translator Army COOL — MOS to Credential Mapping
• MOS Translator RAND Corporation — Army KSA Research (Military-to-Civilian Occupation Analysis)
• MOS Translator My Next Move for Veterans — DOL/O*NET Career Explorer
• MOS Translator Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC) — Occupational Conversion Index

Tax Calculations

• Retirement PayStay vs Retire IRS — 2026 Federal Income Tax Brackets and Standard Deduction ($15,700)

Veteran Charities

• VetCompass Charity Navigator — Charity Ratings and Financials
• VetCompass GuideStar (Candid) — Nonprofit Profiles and EIN Verification
• VetCompass Individual charity websites and IRS Form 990 data

Military Education Benefits

• VA.gov — Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) Rates 2025-2026
• VA.gov — Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) Future Rates 2026-2027
• VA.gov — Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (Chapter 30) Rates
• VA.gov — VR&E (Chapter 31) FY2026 Subsistence Rates
• VA.gov — Chapter 35 DEA Rates
• VA.gov — Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship
• VA.gov — Yellow Ribbon Program Participating Schools
• VA.gov — Impact of Rudisill Supreme Court Decision
• Rudisill v. McDonough, 601 U.S. ___ (2024) — Supreme Court Opinion
• 38 U.S.C. § 3695(a) — 48-Month Aggregate Benefits Cap
• DTMO — BAH Rate Lookup by ZIP Code

CRDP vs CRSC

• 10 U.S.C. § 1414 — Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay (CRDP)
• 10 U.S.C. § 1413a — Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC)
• DFAS — Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay
• DFAS — Combat-Related Special Compensation

DD-214 Benefits Decoder

• 38 CFR § 3.12 — Character of Discharge
• 38 U.S.C. § 5303 — Certain Bars to Benefits
• VA.gov — Health Care Eligibility
• VA.gov — How to Apply for a Discharge Upgrade
• DoD Memorandum: "Clarifying Guidance to Military Discharge Review Boards" (Hagel Memo, 2014; Kurta Memo, 2017)
• VA policy expansion (March 2017, Secretary David Shulkin) — access to emergency mental health care for veterans with OTH discharges
• VA final rule amending 38 CFR 3.12 (June 25, 2024) — expanded Character of Discharge access with compelling-circumstances exception

Guard & Reserve Benefits Navigator

• Reserve Retirement DoD Military Compensation — Reserve Retirement
• Reserve Retirement 10 U.S.C. §§ 12731–12740 — Reserve Retirement Eligibility and Pay Computation
• Reserve Retirement 10 U.S.C. § 12731(f) — Early Retirement Credit for Qualifying Active Duty
• Reserve Retirement NDAA FY2008, Section 647 (Pub. L. 110-181) — Reduced Age for Reserve Retirement
• Reserve Retirement 10 U.S.C. § 12739 — High-3 Computation for Reserve Retired Pay
• Reserve Retirement 37 U.S.C. § 356 — Blended Retirement System (BRS) Continuation Pay
• Reserve Retirement DoDI 1215.07 — Service in the Reserve Components (Points Accrual)
• Reserve Retirement 37 U.S.C. § 206 — Reserve Drill Pay
• Reserve Retirement 10 U.S.C. § 1076e — TRICARE Retired Reserve (TRR) Eligibility
• Reserve Retirement DFAS — 2026 Military Pay Tables (3.8% raise)

VA Debt & Overpayment Guide

• VA Debt Guide VA.gov — Manage Your VA Debt
• VA Debt Guide VA.gov — Options to Request Help with VA Debt
• VA Debt Guide VA.gov — Waivers for VA Benefit Debt
• VA Debt Guide VA Form 5655 — Financial Status Report (PDF)
• VA Debt Guide 38 U.S.C. § 5302 — Waiver of Recovery of Overpayments
• VA Debt Guide 38 C.F.R. § 1.963 — Equity and Good Conscience Standard for Waivers
• VA Debt Guide 38 C.F.R. § 1.962 — Compromise of Claims
• VA Debt Guide 38 C.F.R. § 1.911 — Collection of Debts Owed by Reason of VA Benefits
• VA Debt Guide 38 U.S.C. § 5112 — Effective Dates of Reductions and Discontinuances
• VA Debt Guide 31 U.S.C. § 3716 — Treasury Offset Program
• VA Debt Guide 31 C.F.R. § 901.3 — Demand for Payment (Federal Claims Collection Standards)
• VA Debt Guide 38 U.S.C. § 5302(b) — One-Year Time Limit for Waiver Requests

General References

• Title 38, U.S. Code — Veterans' Benefits
• Title 38, Code of Federal Regulations
• PACT Act (P.L. 117-168) — Toxic Exposure Presumptives
• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
• Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS)
• Office of Personnel Management (OPM)
• Defense Health Agency / TRICARE

VA Home Loan Calculator

• VA.gov — VA Funding Fee and Closing Costs (2026 rates)
• VA.gov — VA Home Loans Program Overview
• VA Pamphlet 26-7, Chapter 8 — Borrower Fees and VA Funding Fee
• VA Pamphlet 26-7, Chapter 4 — Credit Underwriting (Residual Income Tables)
• FHFA — 2026 Conforming Loan Limits ($766,550)
• 38 CFR § 36.4340 — VA Loan Underwriting Standards (DTI and Residual Income)

VA Disability Claim Filing Guide

• VA.gov — How to File a VA Disability Claim
• VA.gov — Evidence Needed for Your Disability Claim
• VA.gov — Intent to File
• VA.gov — Supplemental Claim (VA Form 20-0995)
• VA.gov — Higher-Level Review (VA Form 20-0996)
• VA.gov — Board of Veterans Appeals (VA Form 10182)
• VA.gov — Agent Orange Exposure and Disability Compensation
• VA.gov — The PACT Act and Your VA Benefits
• VA Public Health — Agent Orange Presumptive Conditions List
• M21-1 Adjudication Procedures Manual — VA Claims Processing Procedures
• 38 CFR § 3.307(a)(6) — Presumptive Service Connection for Herbicide Exposure
• Claim Timeline 38 CFR § 3.309(e) — Diseases Associated With Exposure to Certain Herbicide Agents (Vietnam-Era Pathway)
• Claim Timeline PACT Act (Pub. L. 117-168) — Expanded Presumptive Conditions and Locations
• 38 U.S.C. § 5107(b) — Benefit of the doubt: “at least as likely as not” standard of proof
• 38 CFR § 3.102 — Reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the claimant
• 38 CFR § 3.159 — VA's duty to assist in obtaining evidence; role of medical nexus opinions
• 38 CFR § 3.310 — Secondary service connection: proximately due to or aggravated by SC condition
• VA.gov — Disability Benefits Questionnaires (DBQ) library
• M21-1, Part IV, Subpart ii — Weighing medical evidence; adequacy of nexus opinions

Federal Hiring Toolkit

• Federal Hiring OPM — Merit System Hiring Plan (May 29, 2025)
• Federal Hiring USAJOBS — Federal Job Search and Resume Builder
• Federal Hiring Executive Order 14170 — Reforming the Federal Hiring Process (2025)
• Federal Hiring Executive Order 14356 — Four-to-One Hiring Ratio (October 2025)
• Federal Hiring OPM Final Rule — Rule of Many (September 2025)
• Federal Hiring 91 FR 8342 — Schedule Policy/Career Final Rule (February 5, 2026)
• Federal Hiring 5 U.S.C. § 3326 — 180-Day DoD Cooling-Off Period for Military Retirees
• Federal Hiring DoDI 1402.01 — Employment of Retired Members of the Armed Forces
• Federal Hiring OPM — Classification Standards and Job Series
• Federal Hiring Chance to Compete Act (Pub. L. 118-188) — Skills-Based Assessments
• Federal Hiring 5 U.S.C. § 2108 — Veterans' Preference Definitions
• Federal Hiring 5 C.F.R. §§ 307, 315, 330 — Veterans Hiring Authorities (VRA, VEOA, 30% Disabled, Schedule A)

Survivor Benefits Guide

• Survivor Guide VA.gov — 2026 DIC Rates for Surviving Spouses and Children
• Survivor Guide VA.gov — 2026 DIC Rates for Parents
• Survivor Guide 38 U.S.C. §§ 1310–1318 — Dependency and Indemnity Compensation
• Survivor Guide 38 C.F.R. §§ 3.5, 3.10, 3.22 — DIC Eligibility and Rates
• Survivor Guide 38 U.S.C. §§ 1541–1543 — VA Survivors Pension
• Survivor Guide 38 C.F.R. § 3.23 — Maximum Annual Pension Rate (MAPR)
• Survivor Guide 10 U.S.C. § 1447 et seq. — Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP)
• Survivor Guide 38 U.S.C. § 5121 — Accrued Benefits
• Survivor Guide 38 C.F.R. § 3.1010 — Substitution for Pending Claims
• Survivor Guide 42 U.S.C. § 402 — Social Security Survivor Benefits
• Survivor Guide 38 U.S.C. Chapter 33 — Fry Scholarship (Post-9/11 Survivor Education)
• Survivor Guide 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35 — Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA)
• Survivor Guide 38 U.S.C. § 1781 — CHAMPVA
• Survivor Guide 10 U.S.C. § 1072 et seq. — TRICARE Survivor Coverage
• Survivor Guide 38 U.S.C. § 3701 et seq. — VA Home Loan Guaranty (Surviving Spouse Eligibility)
• Survivor Guide 38 U.S.C. § 1965 et seq. — SGLI / FSGLI
• Survivor Guide 10 U.S.C. § 1478 — Death Gratuity
• Survivor Guide 38 U.S.C. §§ 2301–2308 — Burial and Memorial Benefits
• Survivor Guide 10 U.S.C. § 1491 — Military Funeral Honors
• Survivor Guide 38 U.S.C. § 1783 — Bereavement Counseling
• Survivor Guide FY2023 NDAA — Gold Star Families Act Provisions
• Survivor Guide DoD Instruction 1300.18 — Casualty Assistance
• Survivor Guide PACT Act (Pub. L. 117-168) — Expanded DIC Eligibility for Toxic Exposure
• Survivor Guide 37 U.S.C. §§ 551–558 — Missing Persons Act (pay continuation for POW/MIA)
• Survivor Guide 26 U.S.C. § 112 — Combat Zone Tax Exclusion (captivity tax exemption)
• Survivor Guide 38 CFR § 3.309(c) — POW Presumptive Conditions
• Survivor Guide Hostage Relief Act of 1980 (P.L. 96-449) — Hostage family protections

A Veteran's Guide to What You've Earned

• About VA — U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
• Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
• Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA)
• National Cemetery Administration (NCA)
• 38 U.S.C. Chapter 11 — Compensation for Service-Connected Disability
• 38 C.F.R. § 4.25 — Combined Ratings Table
• TRICARE — Department of Defense Health Insurance
• 38 U.S.C. Chapter 33 — Post-9/11 Educational Assistance (GI Bill)
• 38 U.S.C. Chapter 37 — VA Home Loan Guaranty
• 10 U.S.C. Chapter 71 — Computation of Retired Pay
• 10 U.S.C. §§ 1413a, 1414 — CRDP and CRSC
• 38 U.S.C. Chapter 13 — Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC)

Separation & Retirement Timeline

• DoD Transition Assistance Program (TAP)
• VA Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment (VR&E / Chapter 31)
• 10 U.S.C. § 1142 — Pre-Separation Counseling
• 10 U.S.C. § 1145(a) — Transitional Health Care (TAMP — 180 Days)
• VA BDD (Benefits Delivery at Discharge) — 180–90 Days Pre-Separation
• 10 U.S.C. § 1448 — Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) Election
• 38 U.S.C. § 1967 — SGLI Coverage and VGLI Conversion (240-Day Window)
• GI Bill Transfer of Entitlement — Must Be Approved While Serving
• Branch-specific TAP names: Army SFL-TAP, Navy/Marines TRS, Air Force TAP, Coast Guard TRS, Space Force TAP

TDIU Eligibility Estimator

• 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a) — Schedular TDIU Criteria (one condition at 60%+ or combined 70% with one at 40%+)
• 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b) — Extraschedular TDIU (referral to Director of Compensation Service)
• VA.gov — Individual Unemployability (TDIU)
• VA Form 21-8940 — Veteran's Application for Increased Compensation Based on Unemployability
• VA Form 21-4192 — Request for Employment Information in Connection with Claim for Disability Benefits
• 2026 Marginal Employment Threshold: $15,960/year (Federal Poverty Guideline, single individual)
• 38 C.F.R. § 3.951 — Protection of TDIU After 20 Years
• 2026 TDIU Monthly Rate: $3,938.58 (100% single, no dependents)

Presumptive Conditions Lookup

• 38 C.F.R. §§ 3.307–3.309 — Presumptive Service Connection (Agent Orange, Radiation, POW, Camp Lejeune)
• 38 C.F.R. § 3.309(e) — Agent Orange / Herbicide Presumptive Conditions
• 38 C.F.R. § 3.309(d) — Radiation-Exposed Veterans Presumptive Conditions
• 38 C.F.R. § 3.309(f) — Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Presumptive Conditions
• 38 C.F.R. § 3.309(c) — Former POW Presumptive Conditions
• 38 C.F.R. § 3.317 — Gulf War Illness and Undiagnosed Chronic Illnesses
• 38 C.F.R. § 3.320 — PACT Act Concessions for Airborne Hazards and Burn Pit Exposure
• PACT Act (Pub. L. 117-168, Aug. 10, 2022) — Largest Expansion of Presumptive Conditions in VA History
• VA.gov — The PACT Act and Your VA Benefits

Caregiver Eligibility Navigator

• 38 U.S.C. § 1720G — Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC)
• 38 C.F.R. Part 71 — PCAFC Implementing Regulations
• MISSION Act (Pub. L. 115-182, 2018) — Expanded PCAFC to All Service Eras (Effective Oct 1, 2020)
• VA Caregiver Support — Program Information and Application
• VA Form 10-10CG — Application for the PCAFC and General Caregiver Support Services
• 38 U.S.C. § 1720G(b) — General Caregiver Support Services
• Caregiver Support Line: 1-855-260-3274
• 2026 GS-4 Step 1 Hourly Rate: $19.32 (OPM General Schedule, basis for stipend calculation)
• Stipend Ranges: Level 1 (~$1,400–$2,900/mo), Level 2 (~$2,900–$3,900/mo) — tax-free

VA Healthcare Eligibility & Travel Pay

• 38 C.F.R. § 17.36 — VA Healthcare Enrollment and Priority Groups
• 38 U.S.C. § 1710 — Eligibility for VA Hospital, Nursing Home, and Domiciliary Care
• VA.gov — Health Care Eligibility
• VA Priority Groups 1–8: 38 C.F.R. § 17.36(b)
• Enhanced Enrollment for Combat Veterans: 38 U.S.C. § 1710(e) (5 years; extended to 10 years under PACT Act for toxic-exposed)
• 38 C.F.R. § 70.10 — Beneficiary Travel (Mileage Reimbursement)
• 2026 VA Beneficiary Travel Rate: $0.415/mile
• Travel Deductible: $3 per one-way trip ($6 round trip); waived for 30%+ SC care, income-eligible, VA pension recipients
• BTSSS (Beneficiary Travel Self-Service System) — Online filing within 30 days of appointment
• VA Enrollment Line: 1-877-222-8387

Life Insurance (SGLI → VGLI → VALife)

• 38 U.S.C. §§ 1965–1980A — Servicemembers' and Veterans' Group Life Insurance (SGLI/VGLI)
• 38 U.S.C. § 1922B — Veterans Affairs Life Insurance (VALife, effective Jan 1, 2023)
• VA.gov — Life Insurance Programs
• VGLI Conversion: 240-day guaranteed-issue window from separation (no medical exam)
• VGLI Premiums: Based on age bracket, increase every 5 years (OSGLI rate tables)
• VALife: Up to $40,000 whole life; guaranteed acceptance for veterans with any SC disability (0%+); no health questions
• OSGLI Contact: 1-800-419-1473

MEB / PEB & IDES Process

• MEB/PEB Guide DoDI 1332.18 — Disability Evaluation System (DES)
• 10 U.S.C. Ch. 61 — Retirement or Separation for Physical Disability
• 38 C.F.R. Part 4 — Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD)
• DoDI 1332.38 — Physical Disability Board of Review (PDBR)
• IDES Timeline: Goal ~295 days; Referral → MEB → VA C&P Exams → PEB → Disposition
• PDRL: DoD rating ≥30%, permanent & stable — full military retiree benefits
• TDRL: DoD rating ≥30%, condition not stable — re-evaluated every 18 months (max 3 years on TDRL if placed after Jan 2017; 5 years if before)
• Medical Separation: DoD rating <30% (<20 YOS) — disability severance = 2 × base pay × YOS (min 3 years; 6 if combat-related; max 19)
• Severance recoupment: VA withholds monthly disability payments until severance amount recovered (unless combat-related)
• Health.mil — IDES Information
• VA.gov — C&P Exam Information

Burial & Memorial Benefits

• 38 U.S.C. §§ 2301–2308 — Burial Benefits and Allowances
• 38 C.F.R. § 38.620 — Burial Allowance Rates
• 10 U.S.C. § 1491 — Military Funeral Honors
• 2026 Burial Allowance Rates: SC death ($2,000 burial + $948 plot), Non-SC VA hospitalized ($948 + $948), Non-SC ($377 + $377)
• VA Form 21P-530 — Application for Burial Allowance (2-year filing deadline; no limit for SC deaths)
• National Cemetery Scheduling Office: 1-800-535-1117

Appeal Path Decision Helper

• 38 C.F.R. § 3.2501 — Supplemental Claims (new and relevant evidence)
• 38 C.F.R. § 3.2601 — Higher-Level Review (senior reviewer, no new evidence)
• 38 U.S.C. § 7104 — Board of Veterans' Appeals (3 dockets: Direct, Evidence, Hearing)
• 1-Year Deadline: All three appeal lanes must be initiated within 1 year of the rating decision
• VA.gov — Decision Reviews and Appeals

IRRRL / VA Refinance

• 38 U.S.C. § 3710(a)(8) — Interest Rate Reduction Refinancing Loan (IRRRL)
• VA.gov — IRRRL (VA Streamline Refinance)
• IRRRL Funding Fee: 0.5% of loan amount (exempt for SC disability)
• Requirement: Must currently have a VA loan; net tangible benefit test applies

Women Veterans Benefits & Healthcare Guide

• VHA Directive 1330.01(5) — Women Veteran Program Manager (WVPM) responsibilities
• 38 U.S.C. § 1786 — Newborn care coverage (7 days after birth)
• P.L. 116-171 (COMPACT Act, 2020) — Community maternity care when VA cannot provide
• PACT Act (P.L. 117-168), Section 201 — Extended postpartum coverage to 12 months
• 38 U.S.C. § 1788 — Fertility counseling and IVF for SC-related infertility
• 38 U.S.C. § 1720D — MST-related care: free for all veterans regardless of rating, enrollment, or discharge
• 38 CFR § 3.304(f)(5) — Relaxed evidence standard for MST-related PTSD claims
• VHA Directive 2010-033 — MST Coordinators at every VAMC
• VA.gov — Women Veterans Health Care
• Women Veterans Call Center: 1-855-VA-WOMEN (829-6636)
• DoD Safe Helpline (MST): 1-800-995-8387

Discharge Upgrade Guide

• 10 U.S.C. § 1553 — Discharge Review Board (DRB) authority and procedures
• 10 U.S.C. § 1552 — Board for Correction of Military/Naval Records (BCMR/BCNR)
• 38 U.S.C. § 5303 — Character of discharge bar to VA benefits
• 38 CFR § 3.12 — Character of discharge determinations
• DoD Instruction 1332.28 — Discharge Review Board procedures
• Secretary of Defense Memorandum, September 3, 2014 (Hagel Memo) — Liberal consideration for PTSD
• Under Secretary of Defense Memorandum, August 25, 2017 (Kurta Memo) — Expanded to all mental health, TBI, MST, and sexual orientation/DADT
• Under Secretary of Defense Memorandum, July 25, 2018 (Wilkie Memo) — Guidance to military discharge review boards and BCMR/BCNR on equity, injustice, and clemency determinations
• VA.gov — How to Apply for a Discharge Upgrade
• DD Form 293 (DRB application); DD Form 149 (BCMR/BCNR application)

Rural Veterans — MISSION Act Community Care

• P.L. 115-182 (MISSION Act, 2018) — VA community care access standards
• 38 CFR § 17.4040 — Access standards: 30/60-minute drive time, 20/28-day wait time
• VA.gov — Community Care
• VA Video Connect (VVC) — Telehealth for rural veterans

Benefits Eligibility Finder

• All 38 benefits in the finder database are sourced from the individual tool sources listed on this page
• Eligibility logic based on discharge characterization (38 CFR § 3.12), disability rating, years of service, and service component

VA Nexus Guide

• 38 CFR § 3.303 (Principles relating to service connection — direct)
• 38 CFR § 3.310 (Disabilities that are proximately due to or aggravated by service-connected disease or injury — secondary)
• 38 CFR § 3.306 (Aggravation of pre-service disability)
• 38 CFR § 3.304(f) (Service connection for PTSD — stressor verification and MST provisions)
• 38 CFR § 3.309 (Disease subject to presumptive service connection)
• 38 CFR § 3.317 (Compensation for certain disabilities occurring in Persian Gulf veterans — undiagnosed illness)
• 38 CFR § 3.385 (Service connection for hearing loss)
• 38 U.S.C. § 1111 (Presumption of sound condition)
• 38 U.S.C. § 1110 (Basic entitlement — wartime disability compensation)
• P.L. 117-168 (PACT Act — toxic exposure presumptive conditions)
• VA Adjudication Procedures Manual (M21-1) — nexus opinion requirements
• VA.gov — Public Disability Benefits Questionnaires (DBQs)

Deployment Guide

• 26 U.S.C. § 112 (Combat Zone Tax Exclusion — CZTE)
• 37 U.S.C. § 310 (Hostile Fire / Imminent Danger Pay)
• 37 U.S.C. § 427 (Family Separation Allowance)
• 10 U.S.C. § 1035 (Savings Deposit Program — SDP, 10% annual return)
• DFAS — Savings Deposit Program
• 5 U.S.C. § 8432 (TSP contributions and combat zone annual additions limit)
• TSP.gov — Contribution Limits and Combat Zone
• 50 U.S.C. §§ 3937–3938 (SCRA — interest rate cap, deployment protections)
• DoD Instruction 6490.03 (Post-Deployment Health Assessment — PDHA)
• DoD Instruction 6490.12 (Post-Deployment Health Reassessment — PDHRA)
• 38 U.S.C. § 1967 (SGLI — coverage and beneficiary designation)
• 10 U.S.C. § 1044 (Legal assistance — wills, POA, advance directives)
• American Red Cross Emergency Communication: 1-877-272-7337

Your First 90 Days

• 38 U.S.C. § 3011 (Montgomery GI Bill — Chapter 30 enrollment)
• 38 U.S.C. § 1967 (SGLI — automatic coverage and beneficiary designation)
• 5 U.S.C. § 8432 (Thrift Savings Plan contributions and matching)
• TSP.gov — Making Contributions (BRS matching rules)
• DoD Blended Retirement System fact sheets (automatic enrollment, matching schedule)
• 50 U.S.C. §§ 3937–3938 (SCRA — 6% interest rate cap)
• SGLV 8286 (SGLI beneficiary designation form)
• 10 U.S.C. § 1044 (Legal assistance for military members — wills, POA)

Essential Military & VA Documents

• National Archives — eVetRecs / Request Military Service Records
• SF-180 — Request Pertaining to Military Records (PDF)
• VA.gov — Download VA Letters (Benefits Summary)
• VA.gov — Disability Benefits Questionnaires (DBQs)
• VA.gov — Certificate of Eligibility (COE) for VA Home Loan
• Joint Services Transcript (JST)
• DFAS myPay — LES and Retiree Account Statements
• 5 U.S.C. § 552 (FOIA); 5 U.S.C. § 552a (Privacy Act)
• DD Forms: 149 (BCMR), 293 (DRB), 2656 (Retired Pay/SBP), 2656-10 (Former Spouse SBP)
• VA Form 26-1880 (COE Request); SF-180 (Military Records Request)

How Veterans Benefits Become Law

• PACT Act (P.L. 117-168, Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our PACT Act, signed Aug 10, 2022)
• Agent Orange Act of 1991 (P.L. 102-4)
• National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine — Gulf War and Health series
• Szema et al., “Military burn pit exposure and airway disease,” Annals of the American Thoracic Society (2023)
• Smith et al., “Burn Pit Exposure Assessment,” Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (2012)
• VA Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry (established 2014, 300,000+ participants)
• RAND Corporation, “Lessons from 9/11 for Supporting Veterans Exposed to Military Environmental Hazards” (2025)
• Congress.gov — H.R. 3967 legislative history
• House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs (HVAC); Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs (SVAC)

Military Campaigns & Associated Benefits

• PACT Act (P.L. 117-168, Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our PACT Act of 2022)
• 38 CFR § 3.309(c) — POW Presumptive Conditions
• 38 CFR § 3.309(d) — Radiation Exposure (Atomic Veterans)
• 38 CFR § 3.309(e) — Agent Orange Presumptive Conditions
• 38 CFR § 3.316 — Mustard Gas/Lewisite Exposure
• 38 CFR § 3.317 — Gulf War Undiagnosed Illness
• Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act (P.L. 116-23, 2019)
• Camp Lejeune Justice Act (PACT Act Title VIII, 2022)
• VA — The PACT Act and Your VA Benefits
• VA — Hazardous Materials Exposure
• DoD campaign medal authorization records
• GAO-17-511 — Gulf War Illness: Improvements Needed for VA to Better Understand, Process, and Communicate Decisions on Claims (June 2017)

Military Working Animals & Service Dogs

• H.R. 5314 (Robby’s Law, P.L. 106-446) — Military Working Dog Adoption
• 10 U.S.C. § 2583 — Military Animal Adoption and Transfer
• 38 CFR § 17.148 — VA Service Dog Benefits
• P.L. 117-61 (PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act, 2021)
• H.R. 2605/S. 1441 (SAVES Act, pending)
• VA Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service — Service Dog Benefits
• Assistance Dogs International (ADI)
• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) — Service Animal definitions
• Fair Housing Act — Emotional Support Animal accommodations

Military Spouse Guide

• TRICARE — If You’re Married to a Service Member
• Military.com — DEERS Overview
• Military OneSource — SCRA
• Military Spouses Residency Relief Act (MSRRA), P.L. 111-97
• 10 U.S.C. § 1447 et seq. (Survivor Benefit Plan)
• 38 U.S.C. § 3319 (Post-9/11 GI Bill transfer)
• MySECO — Military Spouse Employment Partnership

SCRA & MLA Guide

• 50 U.S.C. §§ 3901–4043 (Servicemembers Civil Relief Act)
• 10 U.S.C. § 987 (Military Lending Act)
• 32 CFR Part 232 (MLA implementation)
• CFPB — SCRA Guide
• DOJ — Know Your Rights: SCRA
• Military OneSource — SCRA
• OCC Comptroller’s Handbook — SCRA (March 2021)

TSP for Military Members

• TSP.gov — Contribution Limits
• TSP.gov — Individual Fund Options
• 5 U.S.C. § 8432 (Thrift Savings Plan authority)
• 26 U.S.C. § 112 (Combat Zone Tax Exclusion)
• 26 U.S.C. § 72(t) (early distribution penalty and exceptions)
• IRS Publication 3 (Armed Forces Tax Guide)
• DoD Blended Retirement System fact sheets
• DFAS 2026 military pay tables and TSP contribution guidance

Veteran Homelessness

• HUD 2024 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report (AHAR) Part 1
• VA Homeless Programs
• HUD-VASH Program — VA Homeless Programs
• SSVF Program Overview — VA Homeless Programs
• Grant and Per Diem (GPD) Program — VA Homeless Programs
• HUD-VASH — HUD.gov

Returning to Service — Benefits & Eligibility Guide

• VA.gov — VA Disability Payments and Return to Active Duty
• 38 U.S.C. § 5304(c) (prohibition on concurrent military pay and VA comp)
• 38 CFR § 3.654 (VA comp suspension during active duty)
• Military.com — VA Disability Rating and Military Service
• 37 U.S.C. § 203(b) (O-1E/O-2E/O-3E prior-enlisted officer pay rates)
• DoDI 6130.03 (Medical Standards for Military Service)
• DFAS 2026 Pay Tables (officer and enlisted basic pay)
• DoDI 7000.14-R Vol. 7A (DoD Financial Management Regulation — military pay)

Veterans Overseas Benefits Guide

• VA.gov — Veterans Living Overseas
• VA Foreign Medical Program (FMP)
• TRICARE Select Overseas
• TRICARE Overseas Program — Plans & Programs
• VA.gov — GI Bill at Foreign Schools
• SSA.gov — International Programs & Totalization Agreements
• 38 U.S.C. § 1110 (disability compensation); 10 U.S.C. § 1401 (retired pay)
• VA Form 10-7959f-1 (FMP Registration); VA Form 24-0296a (International Direct Deposit)

VSO & VA Accredited Representatives Guide

• VA.gov — Get Help from a VA Accredited Representative
• VA OGC Accreditation Search — Verify Representative Credentials
• VA.gov — Accredited Representative FAQs
• VA Office of General Counsel — Accreditation, Discipline, & Fees Program
• 38 C.F.R. § 14.629 — Requirements for Accreditation of Service Organization Representatives, Agents, and Attorneys
• 38 U.S.C. § 5904 — Limitation on Fee Charged by Agents and Attorneys
• VA Form 21-22 — Appointment of VSO as Claimant’s Representative
• VA Form 21-22a — Appointment of Individual as Claimant’s Representative

Top VA Disability Claims — VASRD Rating Criteria Decoder

• Top Claims 38 CFR Part 4 — Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD)
• M21-1 Adjudication Procedures Manual (rating criteria application)
• 38 CFR 4.40, 4.45 — DeLuca factors (functional loss, pain, weakness, fatigability)
• VAOPGCPREC 23-97 (separate knee ratings for instability and limitation of motion)
• VAOPGCPREC 9-2004 (separate ratings for flexion and extension of the same knee)
• 38 CFR 4.71a — General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine
• 38 CFR 4.130 — General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders
• 38 CFR 4.97 — Respiratory system (PFT-based criteria)
• 38 CFR 4.104 — Cardiovascular system (METs/ejection fraction criteria)
• 150 diagnostic codes covering 11 body systems, current through March 2026

Nexus & Service Connection Guide

• Nexus Guide 30 conditions, 46 connection pathways
• 38 U.S.C. 5107(b) — Benefit of the doubt
• 38 CFR 3.102 — Reasonable doubt
• 38 CFR 3.159 — Duty to assist
• 38 CFR 3.385 — Hearing loss thresholds
• 38 CFR 3.304(f)(5) — MST marker evidence (relaxed standard)
• 38 U.S.C. § 1117 — Gulf War presumptives; amended by PACT Act § 405 (Aug 10, 2022) to “manifest to any degree at any time” — no deadline, no 10% threshold. Implementing regulation 38 CFR 3.317 still prints a superseded December 31, 2026 date (VA proposed removal in 2024); the statute controls.
• M21-1 V.iii.2.B.3.b — Tinnitus lay evidence standard
• VA.gov DBQ forms library
• BVA decision A25014545 (Jan 2025) — GERD secondary to NSAIDs
• GERD DC updated May 2024: DC 7346 → DC 7206 (new criteria)

Aid & Attendance & Elderly Care

• Aid & Attendance 38 CFR 3.351–3.352 — Aid & Attendance and Housebound criteria
• 38 U.S.C. Chapter 17 — VA healthcare and geriatric services
• VA.gov 2026 pension rates (Aid & Attendance, Housebound)
• 38 CFR 3.655 — Consequences of failure to report for C&P examination
• National Association of State Veterans Homes (160+ facilities)
• VA Geriatrics and Extended Care program descriptions (VA.gov/geriatrics)
• PACE program information (Medicare.gov)

PCS Entitlements Checklist

• PCS Entitlements Joint Travel Regulations (JTR) — Chapters 5 (PCS Travel), 6 (Temporary Lodging), 8 (Household Goods)
• DLA rates: DTMO MAP 72-25(I), effective January 1, 2026 (3.8% ECI increase)
• MALT rate: DTMO MAP 73-25(I), $0.205/mile, effective January 1, 2026
• Pet transportation: JTR par. 050107, effective January 1, 2024; alternate location policy effective February 21, 2025. CONUS $550, OCONUS $2,000, high-risk $4,000
• HHG weight allowances: JTR Table 5-37
• TLE: JTR Chapter 5, up to 14 days CONUS combined
• TLA: DTMO Temporary Lodging Allowance rates, up to 60 days OCONUS
• PPM reimbursement: JTR par. 051202, 100% of Government Constructed Cost (2026)
• move.mil — Defense Personal Property System (claims, tracking)

Life Events Checklist

• Life Events 8 life events, 72 checklist items
• DEERS enrollment: DoDI 1000.13 (Identification Cards for Members of the Uniformed Services)
• SGLI/FSGLI: 38 U.S.C. Chapter 19; SGLV 8286, SGLV 8286A
• SBP: 10 U.S.C. Chapter 73; DD Form 2656
• TRICARE Qualifying Life Events: 32 CFR 199
• DIC rates 2026: VA.gov DIC survivor rates, $1,699.36/month base, effective December 1, 2025 (2.8% COLA)
• VA dependent pay: VA Form 21-686c; 38 CFR 3.4(b)(2)
• Burial allowances: VA Form 21P-530EZ; $2,000 SC, $1,002 non-SC (deaths on/after Oct 1, 2025)
• USFSPA: 10 U.S.C. 1408
• MSRRA: P.L. 111-97 (Military Spouses Residency Relief Act)
• Fry Scholarship: 38 U.S.C. 3311(b)(9)
• TSP: 5 U.S.C. Chapter 84; TSP.gov participant guidance

Military Pay Calculator 2026

• Pay Calculator DFAS 2026 Military Pay Tables (3.8% raise, NDAA FY2026, effective January 1, 2026)
• BAS 2026: Enlisted $476.95/mo, Officers $328.48/mo (2.4% increase). DFAS BAS Rates
• BAH 2026: DTMO BAH Rate Lookup (4.2% avg increase)
• OHA: DTMO OHA Rate Lookup
• Overseas COLA: DTMO Overseas COLA Lookup
• Special & Incentive Pays: 37 U.S.C. Chapter 5
• Combat Zone Tax Exclusion (CZTE): 26 U.S.C. 112
• Executive Schedule pay caps: Level II $18,808.20/mo (O-7+), Level V $15,258.30/mo (O-6 and below)
• Federal tax brackets: 2026 IRS marginal rates

Active Duty Benefits & Total Compensation

• Active Duty Benefits DFAS 2026 Military Pay Tables (3.8% raise, NDAA FY2026)
• Active Duty Benefits DTMO BAH Rate Lookup (2026 rates, +4.2% avg)
• Active Duty Benefits BAS 2026: Enlisted $476.95/mo, Officers $328.48/mo. DFAS BAS Rates
• Active Duty Benefits Combat Zone Tax Exclusion (CZTE): IRS Combat Zones · 26 U.S.C. § 112
• Active Duty Benefits TRICARE Prime (Active Duty): 10 U.S.C. § 1076 · TRICARE Prime
• Active Duty Benefits Healthcare premium benchmark: KFF 2024 Employer Health Benefits Survey (employee contribution figures)
• Active Duty Benefits SGLI: 38 U.S.C. §§ 1965–1980A · $500K coverage @ $0.06/$1,000/mo = $30.00 base + $1 TSGLI = $31/mo. VA SGLI
• Active Duty Benefits TSP / BRS Match: 5 U.S.C. § 8432 · 37 U.S.C. § 356 · TSP Booklet — Summary of the Thrift Savings Plan
• Active Duty Benefits BRS Continuation Pay: 37 U.S.C. § 356 · DoD Blended Retirement System
• Active Duty Benefits Tuition Assistance: DoD Instruction 1322.25 ($250/SH, $4,500/yr cap)
• Active Duty Benefits SkillBridge: DoD SkillBridge Program (up to 180 days)
• Active Duty Benefits COOL (Credentialing Opportunities On-Line): DoD COOL Portal
• Active Duty Benefits PCS Entitlements (DLA, TLE, MALT, DITY/PPM): Joint Travel Regulations (JTR)
• Active Duty Benefits Family Separation Allowance: 37 U.S.C. § 427 · DD Form 1561
• Active Duty Benefits VA Home Loan eligibility: 38 U.S.C. Chapter 37 · 90 days active service threshold
• Active Duty Benefits SCRA (Servicemembers Civil Relief Act): 50 U.S.C. § 3901 et seq. (6% interest cap, lease termination)
• Active Duty Benefits Military Lending Act (MLA): 10 U.S.C. § 987 (36% MAPR cap)
• Active Duty Benefits Commissary savings: DeCA published average (~22% vs civilian grocers)
• Active Duty Benefits Parental Leave (12 weeks): DoD Instruction 1300.26 (effective 2024)
• Active Duty Benefits Military OneSource (counseling, MilTax, MFLC): militaryonesource.mil · 1-800-342-9647
• Active Duty Benefits Space-A Travel: AMC Passenger Travel · DoD 4515.13-R

Transition Skills Matrix

• Skills MatrixTransition ProgramsActive Duty Benefits SkillBridge (DoW): skillbridge.mil · Military OneSource — About DoW SkillBridge · up to 180 days, command approval + completed TAP, 3,000+ partner organizations
• Skills Matrix Hiring Our Heroes (US Chamber of Commerce Foundation): hiringourheroes.org · Corporate Fellowship Program (12wk SkillBridge), Career Forward (Google Career Certificates), Career Accelerator (12wk paid spouse fellowship — permanent DoW program effective Jan 1, 2026 per FY2025 NDAA), Salesforce Fellowship Program, Skilled Trades Academy, Amplify, IBM SkillsBuild
• Skills Matrix FourBlock Veteran Career Readiness Program: fourblock.org · 10–11 week semester cohort, weekly host-company engagement, 1:1 Career Readiness Coaches, CareerFlow AI tools
• Skills Matrix Warrior-Scholar Project: warrior-scholar.org · 1–2 week academic bootcamps at top-tier universities (Yale, Harvard, MIT, Princeton, Columbia, Notre Dame, UCI); enlisted (E1–E9) without bachelor's degree; Humanities, STEM, and Business & Entrepreneurship tracks
• Skills Matrix USO Pathfinder Transition Program: uso.org/programs/uso-pathfinder-transition-program · 1:1 USO Transition Specialist + personalized Action Plan; 12 months pre-separation through 12 months post; AD/RG/SP; worldwide via USO network
• Skills Matrix IVMF Syracuse (D'Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families): ivmf.syracuse.edu · Onward to Opportunity (O2O, 30+ industry certs · SkillBridge program); Boots to Business (with SBA); Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans (EBV); EBV-F (Families); EBV Accelerate (growth track); V-WISE (women-focused entrepreneurship); STRIVE; Coalition for Veteran-Owned Business (CVOB)
• Skills Matrix American Corporate Partners (ACP): acp-usa.org · 12-month 1:1 mentoring with Fortune 500 corporate professionals; post-9/11 vets (180+ days AD), surviving spouses, AD spouses, recent vet spouses; ACP Ventures (entrepreneurship track, launched 2024); AdvisorNet free networking platform
• Skills Matrix MSEP (Military Spouse Employment Partnership): myseco.militaryonesource.mil/portal/msep · msepjobs.militaryonesource.mil · 950+ partner employers committed to recruit, hire, promote, and retain military spouses; SECO career coaching included
• Skills Matrix EO 13832 — Enhancing Noncompetitive Civil Service Appointments of Military Spouses: Executive Order 13832 (May 9, 2018) · federal hiring authority for military spouses
• Skills MatrixSpouse Guide MyCAA Scholarship Program: mycaa.militaryonesource.mil · Military OneSource — About MyCAA · up to $4,000 over 2 years for licenses, certifications, associate degrees in portable career fields; pay-grade eligibility cited from official portal — verify directly before applying
• Skills Matrix Service to School (S2S): service2school.org · free admissions counseling for veterans and transitioning AD applying to undergrad and graduate programs (MBA, JD, MPA, MPP, etc.); VetLink — ~50 top-tier partner colleges with 70%+ graduation rate
• Skills Matrix Coverage research methodology: each program mapped to 19 civilian-life skills (5 clusters: Getting Hired, Money & Mindset, Going Federal, Starting a Business, Running a Business) using ✓ direct / ~ adjacent / ♦ vehicle-delivered notation; researched directly against each program's official materials. Last verified May 9, 2026.

Glossary

• 74 terms defined from VA.gov, 38 U.S.C., 38 CFR, 10 U.S.C., DoD publications, and OPM regulations
• Cross-linked to relevant Page 214 tools

Crisis Resources

• Veterans Crisis Line: 988 (press 1)
• DoD Safe Helpline (MST): 1-800-995-8387
• Vet Centers: 1-877-WAR-VETS (927-8387)
• National Call Center for Homeless Veterans: 1-877-4AID-VET (424-3838)
• SAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-662-4357
• National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233
• VA Caregiver Support Line: 1-855-260-3274
• All numbers verified against VA.gov and respective organization websites, March 2026