A VA Disability Claims Manual for the Rest of Us
A broad introduction to filing, evidence, C&P exams, appeals, and secondary claims.
Edition details will be confirmed at release
Coming soon · Not yet available to purchase
You Earned It.
Now Learn How to Claim It.
The field manuals, toolkits, and veteran-built resources the VA never gave you.
Written by J. Erickson, a disabled Air Force and Air National Guard veteran and VA benefits educator with years of experience helping veterans navigate the claims process. Grounded in 38 CFR. Written in plain language.
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We will never file your claim for you, never represent you before the VA, and never take a percentage of your back pay. Nobody here gets paid more because your rating went up.
Help from an accredited Veterans Service Officer is free. Always. If a book of ours ever replaces that help instead of preparing you for it, we wrote it wrong.
Choose the depth you need
Explore Books, Field Guides & Bundles
Start with the format that fits how you want to learn. These featured selections introduce the wider library, not a bestseller list.
Coming soon. Purchases are not open. Interactive tools remain free. Book and toolkit downloads require a qualifying purchase.
Books
Understand the bigger picture.
In-depth education on a broader topic.
Browse BooksFeatured Books
The Appeals Playbook
A book-length look at supplemental claims, Higher-Level Reviews, and Board appeals.
Edition details will be confirmed at release
Coming soon · Not yet available to purchase
Field Guides
Focus on one specific step.
Short, task-focused guidance for a particular question.
Browse Field GuidesFeatured Field Guides
Your First Claim, Start to Finish
A field guide focused on the steps of a first VA disability claim.
$9.99 USD · Digital PDF
Coming soon · Not yet available to purchase
Prepare for Your C&P Exam
A field guide focused on preparing for a C&P exam and understanding the exam process.
$9.99 USD · Digital PDF
Coming soon · Not yet available to purchase
Bundles
Keep related resources together.
Reading and practical worksheets organized around one goal.
Explore BundlesFeatured Bundles
PTSD Claim Prep Kit
The PTSD field guide, claim worksheets, and symptom logs together for you to use yourself.
$29.00 USD · Digital kit
Coming soon · Not yet available to purchase
132+
Books & Guides
10
Free Tools
38 CFR
Grounded In
100%
Veteran Written
Understand the Benefits Process Before You File
Veterans lose benefits every year due to avoidable mistakes. Our guides are built on 38 CFR, the same regulations VA raters use.
Denied for Technicalities
Claims denied because of paperwork issues, not your actual condition.
Rated Lower Than You Should Be
Incomplete evidence leads to lower ratings and less monthly compensation.
Confused by VA Jargon
The system is designed to be complex. You deserve a clear playbook.
Based on 38 CFR
Every strategy is grounded in the actual Code of Federal Regulations that VA raters use.
Veteran-Written
Written by J. Erickson, a disabled Air Force and Air National Guard veteran and VA benefits educator with years of experience helping veterans navigate the claims process. Not lawyers selling $5,000 packages.
Actionable Templates
Not theory--practical checklists, templates, and scripts you can use immediately.
See How VA Compensation Is Calculated
Use the free VA combined rating calculator to estimate your monthly compensation. Add your conditions, select your dependents, and see the 2026 pay rate instantly.
Estimates for education only. Confirm current figures at VA.gov.
Coming Soon
The Field Manual for Your VA Claim
A VA Disability Claims Manual for the Rest of Us walks you through the entire process: how to file, what evidence to gather, how to prepare for your C&P exam, and how to appeal a denial. Grounded in 38 CFR. Written in plain language.
- Step-by-step filing strategy for initial claims, increases, and secondaries
- C&P exam preparation with condition-specific checklists
- Appeal lanes explained with decision timelines
- Companion toolkit with templates, worksheets, and scripts
Coming soon
Optional launch notices and the December rate update. Two or three emails a year. Unsubscribe any time.
You Do Not Need a $5,000 Consultant
The VA claims process has rules. When you understand those rules, you stop guessing and build a stronger, better-documented claim. That is what we teach.
Watch out for unaccredited claim consultants
They charge $1,000 to $10,000 for information that is already public. They cannot legally represent you before the VA. And when their generic advice leads to a denial, they keep your money and you start over alone.
How to spot predatory claim companies →Learn the System
132+ books and guides grounded in 38 CFR. Plain language, step-by-step strategy for every claim type.
Build Your Evidence
Checklists, templates, and C&P exam prep. Know what the VA looks for before you file.
Stay in Control
Your claim, your pace. Work with a VSO or go solo. Either way, you will know exactly what you are doing.
Free Tools & Resources
Calculators, guides, checklists, and filing resources. Everything you need to start your claim, for free. No account required.
Explore Free ToolsVA Claims Blog
Practical articles grounded in 38 CFR covering claims strategy, C&P exam preparation, secondary conditions, appeals, and more. Updated regularly with new content.
Read the BlogLearn the Process at Your Own Pace, Starting Today
The sooner you understand the process, the more prepared you will be when you file. The average veteran waits 150+ days for a decision, so it pays to know what the VA is looking for from the start.
Also from J. Erickson
The Rest of Us
A veteran's memoir of life after the uniform. The story behind the mission.
Launch notices and December rate updates
Optional updates, alongside free tools and downloads.
The free tools are free. No credit card required.
No email required to use the tools. Launch updates are optional. Use the calculators and download the checklists right now. If you want to know when the library releases, and when the VA changes its compensation rates each December, leave an email address.
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