Jimmy, 17
Thinking about enlisting. Reading this site for his father, who has a bad knee and has never filed a claim.
Read Jimmy's story→Who uses this site
Eight portraits of the people we build for. Pick the one whose situation sounds closest to yours — each card links to the section of the site that best fits their path.
Darnell, 26
Getting out of the Army in ninety days. Trying to figure out how to file for benefits before his final military physical.
Read Darnell's story→Carol, 48
The VA rated her at 60 percent after her first claim. She is wondering if other health problems linked to her service might raise that.
Read Carol's story→Harold, 75
The VA has rated him 100 percent for many years. He is using the site to help his granddaughter’s new Marine husband.
Read Harold's story→Marisol, 28
Air Force. Getting out in 120 days. Dealing with ongoing pain after a training injury. Looking into what she needs to gather to file a claim tied to something that happened to her in service.
Read Marisol's story→James, 34
Army National Guard. Just back from a 9-month deployment. Trying to figure out whether the knee injury that started during drill weekends counts for VA benefits as a Guard member.
Read James's story→Denise, 62
Her husband was a veteran with a 100 percent rating for 15 years before he died. She is figuring out the monthly survivor payment and health coverage for spouses, without him to help her through it.
Read Denise's story→Ray, 45
Served in Iraq and Afghanistan. His burn-pit claim was denied four years ago. He is filing again with new evidence and currently living in housing set up for veterans who do not have a place to stay.
Read Ray's story→These are composites drawn from County Veterans Service Officer (CVSO) and Veterans Service Organization (VSO) casework, not real veterans. Any resemblance to a specific person is coincidental.