Free VA claim education · No fees, ever
Stop guessing.
Build a winnable claim.
Every granted VA claim proves the same three things: a current diagnosis, an in-service event, and a medical link between them. Learn how to prove yours, step by step, for free.
Unlock the Winnable Claim processor browse condition guides →- Built by a Navy veteran
- Every rule cites the regulation
- Not a paid claim shark
- Free VSO help comes first
- 3 thingsevery granted claim proves
- 1 yearan Intent to File protects your effective date
- 3.58Mtinnitus disabilities VA has service-connected
- $0what we charge, now or ever
Sources: VA Intent to File; VBA Annual Benefits Report FY2025.
Free for veterans
Unlock the Winnable Claim process
Members get the step-by-step claim process, every claim type explained, a 10-item checklist that saves your progress, and a Winnability Score for each condition you plan to claim.
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- 🔒 The Winnable Claim process, step by step
- 🔒 Claim types: direct, secondary, presumptive, aggravation
- 🔒 Build a Winnable Claim checklist (saved)
- 🔒 Winnability Score for each claim
Start where you are
Pick the one that sounds like you.
- Sleep apnea
- PTSD & mental health
- Tinnitus & hearing
- Back & spine
- Secondary claims
- Working while rated
- VA debt letters
- 2027 rates
Do I have a claim?
You likely have something worth filing if you can answer yes to all three:
- Do you have a current diagnosed condition?
- Did something happen in service, or is the condition caused by one already service-connected?
- Can a clinician link the two, "at least as likely as not"?
Missing one? Members get the checklist that shows how to get it. Free accredited help: find a VSO.
Top 5 conditions VA grants
And what makes each one winnable. Tap a tile for the full guide.
Noise exposure tied to your duties plus your own statement on onset.
Measured range of motion, pain, flare-ups, and the in-service injury.
Often secondary to the back: radiating symptoms and nerve findings.
4Back or neck strain1,791,869 service-connectedService treatment records plus range of motion and repetitive-use loss.
5PTSD1,760,497 service-connectedDiagnosis, a verifiable stressor, and how it affects work and family.
See all 10 conditions
Must meet the 38 CFR 3.385 thresholds; the nexus explains delayed onset.
Range of motion measured to the point of pain; dominant arm matters.
Often from surgery for a service-connected condition. Measure the area.
A headache log showing how often attacks are prostrating.
Sprains in your records, range of motion, instability.
Source: VBA Annual Benefits Report FY2025, Compensation. Counts are service-connected disabilities, not unique veterans. All condition guides →
Featured Guides & Ideas
Our newest guides and ideas, rotating. All guides →
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Can you work and keep your VA disability rating? Schedular ratings vs. TDIU, the marginal-employment rule, and what to report. Cites 38 CFR 4.16 and 3.343.
IdeaVeterans Day 2026: Oregon Events & Free Claim Checklist
Veterans Day, Nov 11, 2026: Oregon regional observances and a free printable winnable-claim checklist.
IdeaVA Disability Rating & Your VA Home Loan: Funding Fee Refunds, Assumptions
Rated veterans are exempt from the VA funding fee, and a rating with an effective date before closing can mean a refund. Plus how VA loan assumptions work.
VA Updates
Newest first. Tap any item for our plain-English summary and the official source.
- Let's talk stress: A simple conversation is changing care for Veterans
- PatternMD: Between appointments, no Veteran should be alone
- VA opportunities for military spouses
- Reliable access to food can help Veterans build stability when facing homelessness
- Free peer conversations for Veterans after military service
- Rescission of Outdated Veterans Choice Program Regulations
Free official resources
Straight from the source. Free for everyone, no sign-in needed.
Why I built this
I'm Steve, a Navy veteran. I learned the VA system the hard way: denials, Higher-Level Reviews, and C&P exams that missed the point. What finally worked wasn't a trick. It was understanding what VA has to see, and proving it. WinnableClaims is that playbook, free, with the regulation cited every time.Steve O'Connor, U.S. Navy veteran
Straight answers
Before you start.
Do you charge anything or take a cut of my back pay?
No. WinnableClaims is free education. Under 38 CFR 14.636, no one may charge a fee to prepare or file your initial claim.
Do you file claims for me?
No. We teach the process. For free, accredited one-on-one help, use a VSO. You can find one with VA's accredited representative search.
Will you ask for my VA.gov or ID.me login?
Never. Anyone who asks for your login to "help" with a claim is a red flag.
Where does your information come from?
The regulations in Title 38 of the Code of Federal Regulations, VA.gov, the Federal Register, and VA's Annual Benefits Report. Each guide links to its source.
Anchors Aweigh: Plan of the Day
The WinnableClaims newsletter: VA changes, new rules, and claim tips. Sign up below; you'll get a confirmation email first.