Veterans Crisis Line:988, press 1
Veterans Benefits Navigator
If your condition started or worsened in service, VA may pay a monthly amount.
A CVSO is your free, accredited county officer. We will help you find one.
Crisis support is 24/7. Call 988 (press 1) or text 838255.
I already know what I need: go to tools →Mission
Veterans Benefits Navigator is a free, non-commercial tool that helps veterans and their families understand VA benefits well enough to make a decision and have a productive conversation with an accredited representative. We do not file claims, we do not accept fees from veterans.
Every page is built from primary federal sources (Title 38 of the U.S. Code, 38 CFR, and VA.gov), with the questions a CVSO would actually ask as the editorial frame. Where a number, a deadline, or a rule is wrong, the corrections log records the fix.
Last Reviewed
April 2026Signed, the Veterans Benefits Navigator team
See our methodology and what this software will not do.
Three quick questions. Nothing is saved.
VBN is educational. We are not accredited by the VA and do not file claims (38 U.S.C. § 5904). For official help, find a VSO/CVSO. Read the limits of this tool.
What you’ll get
“Research and planning. Your CVSO files the claim.”
Tool Directory
Free tools to help you understand what you may be eligible for. Start with the combined-rating estimator if you have not yet estimated your rating.
All 8 benefit areas
Rating calculators, secondary conditions, PACT, appeals, and claim prep.
13 toolsPriority groups, enrollment eligibility, community care, and copays.
3 toolsGI Bill comparison, entitlement calculator, and VR&E eligibility.
3 toolsVA loan entitlement, COE guide, and adapted housing grants.
3 toolsCrisis resources, treatment options, and Vet Center services.
3 toolsVeteran preference, USERRA reemployment rights, and hiring portals.
3 toolsDIC, CHAMPVA, PCAFC caregiver support, burial, and fiduciary guidance.
5 toolsPre-separation timeline and SGLI to VGLI conversion-window calculator.
2 toolsLooking up a specific condition? Browse the full conditions library →
Every path leads to the same wizard. Pick where you are.
Build a personalized claim strategy with conditions you may not have considered.
StartEnter your current conditions and ratings. We'll identify secondary conditions and calculate your potential combined rating.
StartAnswer a few questions about your denial and explore which appeal path may be most appropriate.
StartEditorial Standards
VBN is designed to be used alongside a County Veterans Service Officer (CVSO) or accredited Veterans Service Organization representative. We are not VA-accredited and do not file claims: this is a planning tool to use with a real advocate, not a replacement for one.
Reviewer roster grows as we earn it. If you are a CVSO or VSOrep who has reviewed this site and would like to go on record, reach out through our contact page. You can also read more about accreditation and why it matters, or see how other veterans use this site.
Reviewer list will appear here
Composite Portraits
(Three composite portraits drawn from CVSO interviews. Not real veterans. Names are fictional.)
Recently separated. Filing his first disability claim from his phone at 2am.
James needs to know what conditions VA may rate, what evidence to gather, and how to hand a clean plan to his CVSO without retyping his story three times.
See James's startAlready rated 50%. Reading at 150% zoom on her kitchen-table laptop.
Maria already has a CVSO appointment. She wants a printed summary of her current rating and what secondary conditions may add. The font has to hold up at zoom.
See Maria's startCounty advocate. Has 8 minutes between appointments to look up SMC tier criteria.
Jackie needs the 38 CFR citation, the rate amount, and the eligibility test in plain English so she can explain it without scrolling. Source links open new tabs.
See Jackie's startFree, private tools that support, not replace, accredited representation.
We are not accredited by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
We do not file claims, provide legal advice, or represent veterans before the VA.
For official claims assistance, contact a Veterans Service Organization (VSO), County Veterans Service Officer (CVSO), or VA-accredited attorney.
Find a VA-accredited representativeVA.gov1-800-827-1000