Sources

Where our information comes from.

Every calculator, rating page, and education article on this site cites at least one of the primary sources below. We monitor each for changes, and an editor approves every material update before it goes public.

Reviewed quarterlyEvery link verified by an editor. 500 sources in the registry.

respiratorysleep-apnea

VerifiedReviewed Jul 5, 2026

Electronic Code of Federal Regulations

38 CFR Part 4 Schedule for Rating Disabilities

rating-criteriadiagnostic-codes

VerifiedReviewed Jul 5, 2026

newslettergulf-warpost-9-11toxic-exposure

VerifiedReviewed Jul 5, 2026

VA Office of Women's Health

PACT Act FAQ for Women Veterans

women veteranspact actpresumptive

VerifiedReviewed Jul 5, 2026

combat veteran1154(b)in service incurrence

VerifiedReviewed Jul 5, 2026

recordsreconstruction

VerifiedReviewed Jul 5, 2026

Health Effects of Jet Fuels Used by Armed Forces, congressionally mandated report (PACT Act section 510)

jet-fuelpact-actmandated-reporttoxic-exposure

VerifiedReviewed Jul 5, 2026

U.S. Congress (GovInfo / GPO)

Public Law 112-260, Dignified Burial and Other Veterans' Benefits Improvement Act of 2012 (creating the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry)

burn pitsairborne hazardsregistry

VerifiedReviewed Jul 5, 2026

exposurerecordsevidence

VerifiedReviewed Jul 5, 2026

Defense Centers for Public Health, Aberdeen (U.S. Army)

Periodic Occupational and Environmental Monitoring Summaries (POEMS) Library

exposuredeploymentmonitoringevidence

VerifiedReviewed Jul 5, 2026

researchmedical-literaturenexus

VerifiedReviewed Jul 5, 2026

National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine

PubMed Central (PMC) Free Full Text Archive

researchfull-textnexus

VerifiedReviewed Jul 5, 2026

change-archivepact-act-implementation

Verified

benefit-access-indexRI

© 2026 The Veteran Benefit Desk. The laws and records linked above are public domain; our selection, monitoring, and review notes are our own work. Reuse of this compiled directory is subject to our Terms of Use.

This is an educational estimate and not a guarantee of benefits, ratings, or back pay. VA makes all final determinations. We are not a law firm, VSO, accredited claims agent, or VA representative. We provide educational information only and encourage veterans to seek accredited help for individual claim advice. The Veteran Benefit Desk™ is a veteran founded independent digital publication and education platform that helps veterans understand VA disability claims, ratings, evidence, and appeals using clear explanations, original research, and cited public sources.

Where our information comes from.

Electronic Code of Federal Regulations

38 CFR 1.911, Collection of debts owed by reason of participation in a benefits program

38 CFR 1.965, Standards for waiver of indebtedness (equity and good conscience)

38 CFR 14.629, Requirements for accreditation of representatives, agents, and attorneys

38 CFR 14.636, Payment of fees for representation before VA

38 CFR 17.161, Authorized VA outpatient dental treatment (the dental eligibility classes)

38 CFR 17.46 to 17.49, VA nursing home and hospice care eligibility

38 CFR 3.102, Reasonable Doubt (Benefit of the Doubt)

38 CFR 3.104 Finality of Decisions and Binding Nature of Favorable Findings

38 CFR 3.105(a), Clear and unmistakable error (CUE), revision of final decisions

38 CFR 3.105(e) Revision of decisions, reduction in evaluation, compensation

38 CFR 3.12, Character of discharge

38 CFR 3.150, Forms to be furnished (complete claims and the fully developed claim process)

38 CFR 3.155, How to file a claim (intent to file, complete claim, and the one year period to perfect a claim)

38 CFR 3.156(c), Service department records and reopening prior decisions

38 CFR 3.159 Department of Veterans Affairs assistance in developing claims

38 CFR 3.1600, Burial benefits, general

38 CFR 3.22, DIC benefits for survivors of certain veterans rated totally disabled at time of death

38 CFR 3.274, Net worth and asset limits for Veterans Pension

38 CFR 3.3, Pension (the definition of improved Veterans Pension)

38 CFR 3.303 Principles relating to service connection

38 CFR 3.304 Direct service connection; wartime and peacetime

38 CFR 3.304(d), Direct service connection, combat (satisfactory lay or other evidence of an injury or disease incurred in combat is accepted if consistent with the circumstances of service)

38 CFR 3.304(f)(5) PTSD claims based on in-service personal assault (Military Sexual Trauma)

38 CFR 3.306 Aggravation of Preservice Disability

38 CFR 3.307 Presumptive Service Connection for Chronic, Tropical, or POW-related Disease

38 CFR 3.309 Disease Subject to Presumptive Service Connection

38 CFR 3.310 Disabilities That Are Proximately Due to or Aggravated by Service Connected Disease or Injury

38 CFR 3.311 Claims Based on Exposure to Ionizing Radiation

38 CFR 3.317 Compensation for Certain Disabilities Due to Undiagnosed Illnesses (Gulf War)

38 CFR 3.318 Former Prisoner of War Presumptive Conditions

38 CFR 3.320 Camp Lejeune Veterans and Family Members

38 CFR 3.321, General rating considerations (the extra-schedular provision)

38 CFR 3.327, Reexaminations (when VA may schedule a future examination)

38 CFR 3.340, Total and permanent total ratings and unemployability

38 CFR 3.343, Continuance of total disability ratings

38 CFR 3.344 Stabilization of disability evaluations

38 CFR 3.350, Special Monthly Compensation Ratings

38 CFR 3.351, Aid and attendance and housebound rates

38 CFR 3.356, Permanent incapacity for self-support before age 18 (helpless child provision)

38 CFR 3.400 Effective Dates

38 CFR 3.401, Effective dates for additional compensation for dependents

38 CFR 3.450, General apportionment of benefits

38 CFR 3.451, Special apportionment (without causing the veteran undue hardship)

38 CFR 3.5 Dependency and Indemnity Compensation

38 CFR 3.6, Duty periods (active duty, active duty for training, inactive duty training)

38 CFR 3.665, Incarcerated beneficiaries and fugitive felons (compensation)

38 CFR 3.666, Incarcerated beneficiaries (pension)

38 CFR 3.700, Recoupment of separation and severance pay from VA compensation

38 CFR 3.808, Automobile Allowance and Adaptive Equipment

38 CFR 3.809, Specially Adapted Housing

38 CFR 3.810, Annual Clothing Allowance

38 CFR 3.814, Monetary allowance under 38 U.S.C. chapter 18 for an individual suffering from spina bifida whose biological father or mother is or was a Vietnam veteran

38 CFR 3.815, Monetary allowance for an individual suffering from a covered birth defect whose biological mother is or was a Vietnam veteran; identification of covered birth defects

38 CFR 3.816, Awards under the Nehmer Court Orders for disability or death from a herbicide related condition

38 CFR 3.951, Preservation of disability ratings (the 20 year rule that protects a continuously held evaluation)

38 CFR 3.957, Service connection (service connection is protected after 10 years)

38 CFR 38.620, Eligibility for burial in a national cemetery

38 CFR 4.10 Functional Impairment

38 CFR 4.104 Schedule of Ratings, Cardiovascular System

38 CFR 4.114 Schedule of Ratings, Digestive System

38 CFR 4.115b Genitourinary Ratings

38 CFR 4.116 Gynecological Conditions and Disorders of the Breast

38 CFR 4.117 Schedule of Ratings, Hemic and Lymphatic Systems

38 CFR 4.118, Schedule of Ratings, Skin

38 CFR 4.119 Schedule of Ratings, Endocrine System

38 CFR 4.124a Schedule of Ratings, Neurological Conditions and Convulsive Disorders

38 CFR 4.130 Mental Disorders General Rating

38 CFR 4.14, Avoidance of pyramiding

38 CFR 4.150 Schedule of Ratings, Dental and Oral Conditions

38 CFR 4.16 Total Disability Ratings for Compensation Based on Unemployability of the Individual

38 CFR 4.20, Analogous ratings (rating an unlisted condition by analogy)

38 CFR 4.21, Application of the rating schedule

38 CFR 4.25 Combined Ratings Table

38 CFR 4.26 Bilateral Factor

38 CFR 4.27, Use of diagnostic code numbers (built up codes that end in 99 for an unlisted condition)

38 CFR 4.28, Prestabilization Ratings

38 CFR 4.29, Ratings While Hospitalized

38 CFR 4.30, Convalescent Ratings