By VetsDisabilityClaims.com  | March 2026   Let's get something out of the way first:   Your mental health condition is real. It is valid. And if it's connected to your service, you deserve compensation for it.   Mental health claims are among the most common—and most frequently underrated—VA disability claims. Let's make sure yours is done right. The VA's Approach to Mental Health Ratings   The VA rates all  mental health conditions under the General Rating Formula for Menta

By VetsDisabilityClaims.com  | March 2026   There's a piece of evidence that costs nothing, takes less than an hour to create, and can be the difference between an approval and a denial.   It's called a buddy letter  (formally known as a lay statement  or buddy statement ), and it is one of the most powerful tools in your VA disability claim toolkit. What Is a Buddy Letter?   A buddy letter is a written statement from someone who has personal knowledge of your disability, you

By VetsDisabilityClaims.com  | March 2026   Here's a question most veterans never think to ask:   "Could my service-connected disability be CAUSING other health problems?"   If the answer is yes—and it very often is—you could be entitled to additional compensation through secondary service connection .   This is one of the most powerful and underutilized strategies in VA disability claims. What Is Secondary Service Connection?   A secondary service-connected disability is a c