Guides
The VA Bilateral Factor Explained: How 38 CFR §4.26 Works
How the VA bilateral factor under 38 CFR §4.26 adds 10% to combined bilateral ratings for both arms, both legs, or paired skeletal muscles.
Higher-Level Review vs. Supplemental Claim: Which to File
HLR uses the same record; supplemental requires new evidence. Deadlines, forms, duty to assist, and what to do if you lose each lane explained.
How the VA Calculates Combined Disability Ratings
The VA uses a whole-person efficiency formula, not simple addition, to combine multiple disability ratings. Here is how the math works and why it matters.
VA Disability Back Pay: How It Works
VA back pay is months of retroactive compensation from your effective date. How effective dates are set, how the amount is determined, and how reviews affect it.
VA Claim Denied: What to Do Next
Read the decision letter, find the failure mode, then pick the right AMA lane. A plain walkthrough of supplemental claims, HLR, and Board appeals.
VA Disability Claim Process: Timeline and Steps
The VA processes disability claims through 8 steps. What happens at each stage, how long it takes, and what your decision letter's rating math means.
Why Your VA Rating Is Not Adding Up
A 60% and 50% rating should equal 110%—except the VA doesn't add them. Here is the math behind combined ratings and why the result always feels too low.