Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. VA accreditation is required to represent a veteran before the VA — to prepare, present, or prosecute a claim on their behalf. We do none of those things. We provide pre-filing education and records analysis only: we review your records, help you understand what your file shows, and hand you a written findings report. You file your own claim on VA.gov. Because we never act as your representative and never take a contingency on your award, the rules that govern accredited representation don't apply to what we do.

VSOs (Veteran Service Organizations) are accredited, free, and valuable — but they're also overloaded. A typical VSO representative may juggle hundreds of cases at once, which leaves little time for the deep, document-by-document record review that uncovers missed and under-rated conditions. We do one thing: build the most complete intelligence picture of your claim before you file. Many of our clients use both — they bring our findings report to their VSO, or simply file themselves on VA.gov with it in hand. We're not a replacement for a VSO; we're the preparation a busy VSO usually can't do for you.

An accredited claims agent or attorney can represent you before the VA and submit claims on your behalf — and they're often paid a percentage of your backpay when an appeal succeeds. We're different by design. We don't represent you, we don't submit anything, and we never take a cut of your award. Instead, we charge one flat $750 fee for a pre-filing consultation and a written findings report, and you keep 100% of any backpay. Because we focus on education and analysis rather than representation, we can spend as much time as your records require helping you understand your own file.

No. Because we never contact the VA, never submit anything, and never appear in your file, the VA has no record of our involvement and no reason to treat your claim any differently. From the VA's perspective, you're a veteran who filed a well-prepared, well-documented claim. You remain the sole point of contact on your claim at every step. Nothing about our consultation changes your standing, your existing ratings, or your eligibility for VSO or accredited representation if you want it later.

Once we have your complete records, your written findings report is delivered within 5–7 business days. After you've had a chance to read it, we schedule your 45-minute Zoom walkthrough at a time that works for you. The biggest variable in the timeline is usually how quickly you can gather your records — if you already have your service treatment records, medical records, and VA decision letters on hand, we move fast. From there, how quickly you file on VA.gov is entirely up to you.

The core three are your service records (including service treatment records and your DD-214), your relevant medical records (VA and private), and any prior VA rating decision letters. These let us reconstruct your history, see what's already service-connected, and spot what's been missed or under-rated. The more complete the picture you give us, the sharper the analysis. We send a simple checklist after you book so you know exactly what to gather.

That's common, and it's not a dealbreaker. Part of our process is identifying which records are missing and showing you exactly how to request them — from the National Archives, the VA, or your private providers. We can work with what you have and flag the gaps that matter most to fill before you file. In many cases, knowing which records to chase down is itself one of the most valuable outcomes of the consultation.

No — and you should be skeptical of anyone who does. The VA makes the final decision on every claim, and no consultant, agent, or attorney can guarantee an outcome. What we guarantee is the work: a thorough review of your records, an honest assessment of what we find, and a clear, evidence-based findings report you can act on. Our goal is to make sure that when you file, you file with the strongest, most complete picture possible — not to make promises about a number only the VA controls.

Because it's better for you and it keeps our incentives honest. A flat $750 fee means you keep every dollar of any backpay or future compensation — we never take a cut. It also means we have no reason to inflate or chase a bigger number; our only incentive is to be accurate and thorough. You know the full cost before any work begins: no percentage, no hidden fees, no recurring charges.

Right after checkout you'll complete a short intake form and receive a secure link to upload your records, along with a checklist of what to gather. Once we have your complete records, we begin the review and deliver your written findings report within 5–7 business days. Then we schedule your 45-minute Zoom walkthrough. After that, you have everything you need to file your own claim on VA.gov whenever you're ready.

If you've paid but we haven't yet started reviewing your records, reach out and we'll make it right. Once the deep record review and findings report are underway, the work itself is what you're paying for, so refunds at that stage are limited. Our aim is for the discovery call to set clear expectations before you ever pay — so you only move forward when you're confident it's the right fit. If you ever feel something wasn't handled right, contact us directly and we'll talk it through.

After you pay, we send you a secure upload link — no need to email sensitive documents back and forth. You can upload scans or clear photos of your records straight from your phone or computer. We handle your records carefully and use them solely to build your findings report. If you have questions about a specific document or format, just ask and we'll point you in the right direction.

A nexus letter is a statement from a medical provider linking your condition to your service — typically using the VA's “at least as likely as not” standard (a 50% or greater probability). It can be the difference between a grant and a denial when service connection isn't obvious from your records. Whether you need one depends on your situation: presumptive conditions often don't require a nexus letter, while secondary or less-obvious conditions usually do. Part of our findings report is mapping exactly where a nexus letter would strengthen your claim and what it should say — so you can bring that guidance to your provider.

A C&P (Compensation & Pension) exam is the medical exam the VA uses to evaluate your claimed conditions and assign a disability rating. A VA examiner or contracted provider assesses your condition and documents its severity, and their findings heavily influence your rating. Knowing what to expect — and how to clearly and honestly describe how a condition affects your daily life — makes a real difference. That's why every consultation includes a C&P exam prep guide tailored to your specific conditions, so you walk in prepared rather than caught off guard.

A denial isn't the end of the road — veterans have several options, including a Higher-Level Review, a Supplemental Claim with new evidence, or an appeal to the Board of Veterans' Appeals. Because our findings report maps the evidence and regulations behind each condition, it gives you a clear starting point for understanding why a decision came back the way it did and what evidence might strengthen a follow-up. For formal representation in an appeal, an accredited claims agent, attorney, or VSO can act on your behalf — and the findings report you already have can help them get up to speed quickly. We're always glad to talk through what we're seeing.