Benefits & Compensation
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11 results in Benefits & Compensation
Benefits & Compensation
After Hamill v. Collins: How to Find a VA Claim That Was Never Actually Decided
The Federal Circuit says a claim the VA never explicitly decided is still pending. Here is how to read your decisions since 2019, spot an unaddressed issue, and act on it.
M21-1 Update: VA Revises Genitourinary Rating Guidance for Vets
The VA revised its M21-1 manual section governing how raters evaluate genitourinary disabilities. If you have a kidney, bladder, urinary, or reproductive system claim pending or planned, this internal guidance shift affects how your evidence gets read.
M21-1 Shin Splints Update: What Veterans Need to Know
The VA has revised its M21-1 adjudication manual section covering musculoskeletal disabilities of the extremities and spine, specifically updating shin splints rating guidance. If you have a pending or planned claim involving lower-leg pain, this change affects how raters review your file.
VA M21-1 Update: Mustard Gas and Lewisite Claim Procedures Revised
The VA has revised the M21-1 manual section governing how raters handle claims for disabilities linked to mustard gas and Lewisite exposure. If you or a family member served in an era with documented chemical warfare agent testing or exposure, this update affects how your claim is processed.
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M21-1 Update on SMC(t) After Laska v. McDonough: What Veterans Need to Know
The VA revised M21-1, Part VIII, Subpart iv, Chapter 4, Section A to incorporate the CAVC decision in Laska v. McDonough and clarify how adjudicators establish entitlement to Special Monthly Compensation under subsection (t). If you have a severe traumatic brain injury claim or any SMC issue under review, this matters.
38 CFR 4.59: VA Painful Motion and Functional Loss
How VA applies 38 CFR 4.59 to painful motion, minimum compensable ratings, flare-ups, functional loss, and the evidence a joint exam should capture.
VA Attorney Fee Rule Update: 38 CFR 14.636 Changes April 2025
The VA amended 38 CFR 14.636, the rule governing payment of fees to accredited agents and attorneys representing veterans before Agencies of Original Jurisdiction and the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The substantive change took effect April 1, 2025. Here's what it means for your claim.
VA Pension Rule 38 CFR 3.17 Update Effective February 2026
The VA finalized a substantive amendment to 38 CFR 3.17, the regulation defining wartime service periods for pension eligibility, with an effective date of February 23, 2026. If you or a surviving spouse rely on wartime service to qualify for VA pension, this rule directly affects you.
VA Apportionment Rule 38 CFR 3.452 Updated for 2026: What Veterans Need to Know
The VA has issued a substantive amendment to 38 CFR 3.452, the regulation that governs when a veteran's benefits can be apportioned to dependents or estranged family members. The change takes effect February 9, 2026. Here's a plain-English breakdown of what it means for your claim.
VA Rule 38 CFR 3.1000 Update: Accrued Benefits Changes for 2026
The VA published a substantive amendment to 38 CFR 3.1000 — the rule that governs who can collect benefits owed to a veteran or beneficiary who died before payment. The change takes effect February 23, 2026. Here's what survivors and dependents need to know.
VA Death Benefits Rule Update: 38 CFR 3.152 Changes Jan 2026
The VA is amending 38 CFR 3.152, the regulation governing claims for death benefits, with the change taking effect January 22, 2026. If you are a surviving spouse, child, or parent who may file for DIC or related survivor benefits, this update affects how your claim is processed.
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