Reference

VA terms and acronyms

VA runs on acronyms. Here is what the most common terms actually mean, in everyday language, with a link to the page on this site that goes deeper.

3

38 CFRTitle 38: Title 38 of the Code of Federal Regulations, the rulebook VA uses to decide claims and assign ratings. Part 3 covers eligibility, Part 4 is the rating schedule.Learn more

A

Agent Orange: A tactical herbicide used during the Vietnam era. Veterans with qualifying service have a list of presumptive conditions, where VA presumes the service connection.Learn more
Agent Orange Registry exam: A free VA health evaluation for veterans with qualifying herbicide exposure. It documents exposure concerns and supports research, but it is not a disability exam and is not required for benefits.Learn more
Aggravation: When service, or a service connected condition, makes a preexisting or unrelated condition permanently worse. VA can compensate the degree of worsening.Learn more
Aid and AttendanceA&A: An added benefit for a veteran or survivor who needs the regular help of another person for daily activities. On the compensation side it is a form of Special Monthly Compensation.Learn more
Appeals Modernization ActAMA: The 2017 law that replaced the old appeal process with three review lanes: Higher Level Review, Supplemental Claim, and Board Appeal.Learn more

B

Back pay: Retroactive compensation owed from your effective date to the date VA actually starts paying the correct amount.Learn more
Benefits Delivery at DischargeBDD: A program that lets separating service members file a disability claim 180 to 90 days before separation so a decision can land near their separation date.Learn more
Bilateral factor: An extra 10 percent VA adds when you have ratings affecting both arms, both legs, or paired skeletal muscles, under 38 CFR 4.26. Since April 16, 2023, VA must leave the factor off whenever that produces a higher combined rating.Learn more
Board of Veterans' AppealsBVA: The part of VA where a Veterans Law Judge reviews appealed claims. One of the three AMA review lanes.Learn more
Buddy statement: A lay statement from someone who served with you or knows your situation, used as evidence of an in service event or ongoing symptoms.Learn more

C

Camp Lejeune: A Marine Corps base whose water was contaminated from 1953 to 1987. Qualifying service brings presumptive conditions plus a separate court claim path.Learn more
Clear and Unmistakable ErrorCUE: A specific, undebatable mistake of fact or law in a final VA decision. A successful CUE motion can reopen a decision and pay benefits back to the original date.Learn more
Combat Related Special CompensationCRSC: Tax free pay for military retirees whose disabilities are combat related. You apply to your service branch and choose it or CRDP each year.Learn more
Combined rating: VA does not add ratings; it combines them using a whole person formula, so two 50 percent ratings do not equal 100 percent.Learn more
Compensation and Pension examC&P exam: The medical exam VA uses to evaluate a claimed condition. The examiner records findings on a Disability Benefits Questionnaire.Learn more
Concurrent Retirement and Disability PayCRDP: Restores military retired pay that was offset by VA compensation, for retirees rated 50 percent or higher. Taxable, and applied automatically by DFAS.Learn more
Cost of Living AdjustmentCOLA: The yearly increase to VA compensation, tied to the same percentage as Social Security, effective each December 1.Learn more
Court of Appeals for Veterans ClaimsCAVC: A federal court, outside VA, that reviews Board decisions. The next step after the Board.Learn more
CPAP: Continuous Positive Airway Pressure, the breathing machine prescribed for sleep apnea. A required CPAP supports a 50 percent rating for sleep apnea regardless of how well it controls symptoms.Learn more

D

Deferred: On a rating decision, it means VA needs more development on an issue before deciding it. It is not a denial.Learn more
Dependency and Indemnity CompensationDIC: A monthly tax free payment to eligible survivors of a service member or veteran whose death was service connected.Learn more
Diagnostic codeDC: The four digit code in the rating schedule that identifies how a condition is evaluated, for example 6260 for tinnitus.Learn more
Disability Benefits QuestionnaireDBQ: The standardized form a C&P examiner (or your own provider) fills out to document a condition for rating purposes.Learn more
DLCO: Diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide, a breathing test that measures how well your lungs move oxygen into the blood. It often drives ratings for serious lung conditions.Learn more

E

Effective date: The date your benefits are calculated from, usually the date VA received your claim or intent to file, sometimes earlier.Learn more
Extraschedular rating: A path for an above-normal rating when the standard rating schedule does not capture how much a condition disrupts your work or life. It requires a special referral inside VA.Learn more

G

Gulf War Illness: Chronic, often unexplained symptoms in Gulf War veterans. Certain undiagnosed and multisymptom illnesses are presumptive under 38 CFR 3.317.Learn more

H

Higher Level ReviewHLR: An AMA lane where a senior reviewer takes a fresh look at the same evidence. No new evidence is added.Learn more

I

Intent to FileITF: A notice that you plan to file a claim. It can lock in an earlier effective date while you gather evidence, valid for one year.Learn more

M

M21-1: VA's Adjudication Procedures Manual, the internal playbook raters use to decide claims.Learn more
Maryland CNC: The specific recorded word-recognition test VA requires for hearing loss claims, given by a licensed audiologist alongside a tone test. A civilian hearing test without it usually cannot be used.Learn more
Maximum Annual Pension RateMAPR: The income ceiling that sets a pension or survivors pension amount. Your payment is the MAPR minus countable income.Learn more
METs: Metabolic Equivalents, a measure of how much physical exertion brings on heart or breathing symptoms. Lower METs means less activity is tolerated, which raises the rating for many heart conditions.Learn more

N

Nexus: The medical link between your current condition and your service (or a service connected condition). A nexus letter is a provider's opinion establishing that link.Learn more
Notice of DisagreementNOD: The form that started an appeal under the old (legacy) system. Under the AMA, you use one of the three review lanes instead.Learn more

P

PACT Act: The 2022 law expanding benefits for burn-pit and toxic exposure, adding many presumptive conditions for Gulf War era and post 9/11 veterans.Learn more
Permanent and TotalP&T: A 100 percent rating that VA considers permanent and not expected to improve. It also makes dependents eligible for extra benefits like Chapter 35 education.Learn more
Presumptive condition: A condition VA presumes is connected to service for veterans with qualifying service or exposure, so you generally do not have to prove the link.Learn more
Prostrating: An attack, usually a migraine, severe enough that you have to stop what you are doing and lie down. VA rates migraines largely on how often prostrating attacks occur.Learn more

R

Rating decision: VA's written decision granting or denying a claim and assigning a percentage. It explains the evidence and the reasons.Learn more
Residuals: The lasting effects a condition or its treatment leaves behind, such as scars, lost motion, or organ damage. VA often rates these residuals rather than the original event.Learn more

S

Secondary service connection: When a service connected condition causes or aggravates another condition. The second condition is rated and paid on its own.Learn more
Section 1151 claim: A claim for additional disability caused by VA hospital care, medical treatment, an examination, or a vocational rehabilitation program, under 38 U.S.C. 1151. When granted, VA pays it as if the disability were service connected.Learn more
Service connection: VA's recognition that a disability is linked to military service. It requires a current diagnosis, an in service event, and a nexus.Learn more
Special Monthly CompensationSMC: Added compensation above the basic rates for severe disabilities such as loss of use, the need for aid and attendance, or being housebound.Learn more
Supplemental Claim: An AMA lane where you submit new and relevant evidence for a fresh decision.Learn more

T

Total and Permanent Disability dischargeTPD: A Department of Education program that discharges federal student loans for veterans with a 100 percent permanent and total rating or a TDIU finding. Approval is usually automatic through a data match with VA.Learn more
Total Disability based on Individual UnemployabilityTDIU: Pays at the 100 percent rate when service connected conditions prevent you from holding substantially gainful work, even if your combined rating is below 100.Learn more
Toxic Exposure ScreeningTES: A free 5 to 10 minute screening every veteran enrolled in VA health care receives at least once every five years under the PACT Act. It records potential exposures in your health record. Ask any VA facility for the TES Navigator.Learn more

V

VA Form 21-526EZ: The main application for disability compensation. Used to file or refile a claim, including presumptive conditions.Learn more
VET-HOME: The Veterans Exposure Team for Health Outcomes Military Exposures, VA's national hub for military exposure questions and remote environmental exposure assessments.Learn more
Veteran Readiness and EmploymentVR&E: Chapter 31, a program that helps veterans with a service connected disability train for and find suitable work, often more generous than the GI Bill.Learn more
Veterans Service OrganizationVSO: An accredited organization (such as DAV, VFW, or American Legion) whose representatives help veterans file claims at no cost.Learn more

W

Whole person concept: The idea behind combined ratings: a person can never be more than 100 percent disabled, so each rating applies to the remaining 'whole' after the prior ones.Learn more

This glossary is educational and simplified. The controlling definitions live in Title 38 of the U.S. Code and the Code of Federal Regulations. We do not give case specific advice.