Articles
Analysis of VA disability law, health care policy, and how the VA system actually operates under federal law.
-
Why Many Veterans Think They Don’t Qualify for a Mental Health Rating (But Do)
A lot of veterans don’t have a VA mental health rating—not because the symptoms aren’t there, but because they never think they qualify. Why? Because they are: Still working. Still functioning. Still getting through the day. So they assume it doesn’t count. And the system moves forward without ever capturing it. Related VA Articles: There…
-
The Law Says the VA Should Favor Veterans. So Why Does the System Often Feel Adversarial?
Federal law governing the Department of Veterans Affairs was designed with a clear principle in mind. When evidence is uncertain, the system is supposed to favor the veteran. Courts have repeatedly recognized this pro-veteran structure. Yet many veterans who interact with the VA system describe a very different experience. When Americans send service members into…
-
With AI Reviewing 15 Years of DBQs, a Little-Known VA Directive Matters More Than Ever
Recent reporting indicates the Department of Veterans Affairs may begin using artificial intelligence tools to review large numbers of Disability Benefits Questionnaires (DBQs) submitted in disability claims. According to reporting on testimony before a House VA subcommittee, the Department of Veterans Affairs is developing an automated fraud-detection tool that could review more than one million…
-
“Don’t Poke the Bear”: Fact or Myth in VA Disability Claims?
Have you ever heard another veteran say: “Don’t poke the bear.” The phrase appears constantly in veteran communities. It is usually offered as friendly advice: if you already have a VA disability rating, be careful about filing new claims or requesting increases because it might trigger a review and lead to a reduction. What to…
-
Backlog Pressure: Are VA Decisions Keeping Pace With the Law?
This raises an important question that goes beyond any individual claim: If claims are moving faster, are VA decisions still providing the explanations required by law? Federal law does not simply require the VA to decide claims — it requires the VA to explain how the evidence led to that decision.