The Field Guide Blog
No fluff. No fear. Just straight answers on toxic exposure claims — written by the accredited agent in the room, not a content farm.
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Burn Pit Exposure, Sinus Issues, and VA Respiratory Claims
A plain-English guide to how burn pit exposure may connect to sinus and respiratory VA claims under the PACT Act, and what evidence can help.
The PACT Act: What It Actually Changed and Why Most Veterans Still Have Not Filed
Signed in August 2022, the PACT Act is the largest expansion of toxic exposure benefits in VA history. Here is what it really did, what it did not do, and the three misunderstandings that keep eligible veterans from filing.
The Bilateral Factor: The Rating Bump Most Veterans Never Claim
38 CFR § 4.26 adds 10 percent of the combined value of your paired-limb disabilities before that figure gets combined with everything else. It is not a flat 10 percent on your overall rating — and knowing the difference is worth real money.
The VA Burn Pit Registry: What It Is, What It Is Not, and Why You Are Probably Already In It
Veterans are still being told to "sign up" for the burn pit registry. Since August 1, 2024 enrollment has been automatic from deployment records. Here is what the registry actually does — and the much more useful thing you should be asking VA for instead.
TDIU: How to Get Paid at the 100 Percent Rate Without a 100 Percent Rating
Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability pays at the 100 percent rate when your service-connected conditions keep you from holding substantially gainful employment. Here are the 38 CFR § 4.16 thresholds, what actually decides these cases, and the mistakes that sink them.
Bad C&P Exam? Here Is How to Fight It, Step by Step
A fifteen-minute exam with a contractor who never opened your file can cost you a decade of benefits. VA is required to provide an adequate exam. Here is how to document what went wrong and which decision-review lane actually fixes it.
AFFF and PFAS: Forever Chemicals, and the Claim Almost Nobody Is Filing Correctly
Firefighting foam soaked hundreds of military installations for decades. There is currently no VA presumption for PFAS exposure — which means these claims have to be built on direct service connection. Here is how that is actually done.
DIC, CHAMPVA, and DEA: What Surviving Family Members Are Actually Entitled To
Three separate programs, three separate eligibility tests, and almost no overlap in how you apply. Here is who qualifies for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, CHAMPVA health coverage, and Chapter 35 education benefits — and the provisions families miss.
The Nexus Letter: What It Must Say, Who Can Write It, and How to Get One That Works
A nexus letter is not a favor from your doctor. It is a reasoned medical opinion that has to reach a specific legal standard. Here is the anatomy of one that survives review — and the six sentences that get letters thrown out.
Intent to File: The One-Page Form Worth Thousands in Back Pay
Under 38 CFR § 3.155, an Intent to File locks your effective date for up to 12 months while you gather evidence. It takes minutes, costs nothing, and it is the highest-return ten minutes in the entire VA claims process.
Agent Orange Today: Who Is Still Missing Out, and What the Presumptive List Now Covers
The PACT Act added hypertension and MGUS to the Agent Orange presumptive list, and the Blue Water Navy Act restored coverage for offshore Vietnam service. Large numbers of eligible veterans — and their survivors — still have not filed.
Stay ahead of every VA policy change
New presumptives, rating schedule revisions, and court decisions that change what your claim is worth — written up plainly, when they actually happen.