If you’re here because you or someone you love is tangled up in the VA system, take a breath. You’re in the right place, and you are not the first person to feel completely lost in it.
What this site is (and isn’t)
I’m Kara. I spent 18 months helping my cousin win the VA disability rating he earned, and it was one of the hardest bureaucratic fights of my life — and untangling complicated systems is literally my day job. This site is where I write down what I learned, in plain English, so the next person has an easier time than we did. More about me here.
What it isn’t: a replacement for a real, accredited representative. I’m not accredited yet (the honest details are here), so nothing on this site is advice about your specific claim.
If you need help right now
The best help is free. Accredited Veterans Service Organizations — like the DAV, VFW, and American Legion — and your county or state Veterans Service Office can represent you before the VA at no cost. If you do just one thing today, contact one of them. I’ll never ask you to sign with me to get that help.
Where to start reading
New to all of this? Start with VA Basics, where I break down how the system actually works. Fighting a decision you already got? Appeals & Increases is for you. Just want to follow along as I work toward accreditation? That’s The Journey.
Glad you’re here. — Kara