How to Ask the VA to Move Your Claim to the Front of the Line
If you face homelessness, severe financial hardship, terminal illness, or advanced age, VA Form 20-10207 can expedite your claim. Here is who qualifies and how to file.
Intelligence Brief
Clear guides, original reporting and a closer look at VA claims.
Claims process
69 articles · All sections
Adding Dependents to VA Disability: Forms and 2026 Pay
Learn when spouses, children, and parents qualify for added VA disability pay, which forms to use, and how to check the correct 2026 rate.
VA Claim Steps 1–8: What Each Stage Means and What to Do
Understand all eight VA claim steps, why a claim can move backward, and what to check at each stage. Includes a practical action table.
Supplemental Claim vs. HLR vs. Board Appeal: Compare Options
Compare evidence rules, forms, deadlines, and review options after different VA decisions. Includes examples and a five-line planning worksheet.
Secondary Connection Chains That Actually Hold Up at the Board
Most veterans know the basics of filing a VA disability claim — you connect a condition to your service, submit evidence, and wait. But there's a second layer to the system that doesn't get nearly enough attention: secondary service connection. That's where a
Decoding the BVA: What the VA's Wait Time Data Actually Means for Your Appeal
An Intelligence Brief from Claim Raven
Why Are So Many Veterans Stuck at 90%? (And What the Data Shows About Breaking Through)
As of FY 2024, 621,930 veterans are rated at 90% disability.
The 10 Most Common VA Disability Claims (And Your Statistical Chance of Getting Approved)
78% of all service-connected veterans have tinnitus rated.
What Your EP Code Actually Means (And Why You Should Care)
Your VA claim's EP code identifies the kind of work VA is tracking. It does not determine your wait time or guarantee which office handles your claim. Here's what the common codes mean and how to read them.
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