Is this an official VA website?

Overview

No. Claim Raven is an independent third-party service. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or an official service of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or any other government agency. A VA connection is not VA endorsement VA allows veterans to authorize certain third-party apps to receive specified VA data. VA also says these apps are not created by VA and that an app-directory listing is for information only, not an endorsement or recommendation.

Keep the roles separate

A data connection, educational tool, and accredited representative are different things. Role What it means What it does not mean VA and VA.gov VA provides official benefit information, forms, notices, claim systems, and benefit decisions. A third-party explanation does not replace a current VA notice, form instruction, receipt, or decision. Claim Raven An independent software service that can provide educational information, organize user-provided material, and offer separately described data tools. Claim Raven is not VA, does not make VA benefit decisions, cannot represent you or modify VA records, and is not made official by using an authorized VA connection. VA-accredited representative An individual or organization with current VA-recognized accreditation who may provide claim assistance or representation within an authorized appointment. Using Claim Raven does not appoint a representative, and a software company or staff member is not accredited merely because an app connects to VA data.

What a connected app permission means

You choose whether to connect a third-party app to your VA.gov profile. Before authorizing access, review the exact information and permissions the app requests. The app can receive only the VA information covered by the permission you approve, but the app's own privacy policy governs data it has already received. Disconnecting an app in VA.gov stops new profile information from being shared; it may not delete information the app already stored. VA API access or an informational directory listing does not make the app part of VA and does not mean VA recommends it. Use VA for official claim actions Use the complete VA notice and current VA.gov instructions to confirm forms, deadlines, evidence rules, submission routes, receipts, and benefit decisions. Saving, organizing, or downloading work in Claim Raven is not a VA filing or VA confirmation.

How to verify what you are looking at

Open the current VA source directly Use VA.gov for official benefit information, forms, notices, account permissions, submissions, and claim status. Confirm the complete address before entering account information. Read the permission screen When connecting a third-party app, read the requested data and permissions before approving them. A familiar VA sign-in step does not turn the destination app into a VA service. Read the private service's policies Review its terms, privacy policy, storage, deletion, support, and fee information separately from VA's policies. Verify representation separately If a person or organization offers claim representation, use VA's accreditation resources and appointment instructions. Do not infer accreditation from an app, company name, directory listing, or VA data connection.

What Claim Raven does not become

A VA office, VA employee, or government contractor acting as VA for your claim. A VA-accredited representative merely because you use the software. The source of an official VA deadline, filing receipt, rating, or decision. An official submission route unless a specific feature, current VA authorization, and completed receipt explicitly establish that route.

Official sources

Official sources Official VA.gov home page https://www.va.gov/ VA: Connected apps FAQs https://www.va.gov/resources/connected-apps-faqs/ VA: Find apps you can use https://www.va.gov/resources/find-apps-you-can-use/ VA Lighthouse API platform: About https://developer.va.gov/about VA: Get help from an accredited representative or VSO https://www.va.gov/get-help-from-accredited-representative/ VA Office of General Counsel accreditation search https://www.va.gov/ogc/apps/accreditation/

Related guidance

Related guidance Learn how Pathfinder works and what you control /help-center/getting-started/faq-what-is-claim-raven Verify current official sources /help-center/getting-started/static-source-verification Choose VA-accredited help by choice /help-center/getting-started/static-accredited-help-choice Read Claim Raven's privacy policy /privacy-policy Read Claim Raven's terms of service /terms-of-service

More information

Use VA.gov for official VA actions Open the current VA source directly when you need an official form, notice instruction, account permission, submission route, receipt, claim status, or decision. Open VA.gov https://www.va.gov/

Common questions