Veterans Disability Compensation Training Program

How to File an Initial Claim: A Guide for Unrepresented Veterans

Presented by the Law Offices of Arthur V. Gage

Disclaimer

The videos accompanying this training program are produced with an AI-generated voiceover. The material covered in this program is not solely original; it is a compilation drawn from varied resources, including VA law under Title 38 of the United States Code (U.S.C.); Title 38 of the Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.); the VA Adjudication Procedures Manual (M21-1); Title 18 of the United States Code; decisions of the Board of Veterans' Appeals, the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit; VA forms, notices, and publications; military manuals, regulations, and other government and industry publications; and published research. Although some opinions expressed are Stephen J. Calderón’s, the training program is a compilation of such resources.

The Law Offices of Arthur V. Gage does not represent anyone without explicit, in-writing consent. This training program is not meant to be, and should not be relied upon as, legal advice. All claims for Veterans’ Benefits have nuances; if a veteran is confused or uncertain about their claim, they should seek the advice of counsel.

Introduction

This outline is the written foundation of a training program created to assist unrepresented veterans — those pursuing benefits without an attorney, claims agent, or veterans service organization — in preparing and filing an initial claim for disability compensation. It is organized into six parts, each building on the one before it, moving from the realities of military service to the practical steps of completing the application. A set of PowerPoint presentations and videos accompanies this program; each section has a corresponding presentation and video that complement and expand on the written material, and veterans are encouraged to review them alongside each part.

Part 1 examines life in the military and its impact on health. It explains why so many service-related injuries are “invisible” — undocumented in the Service Medical Record — and surveys the spectrum of service-connected conditions from minor acute injuries to cancers, so veterans can recognize conditions they may be entitled to claim.

Part 2 introduces the Department of Veterans Affairs: the statutory definition of a veteran, basic eligibility and character-of-discharge rules, the Department's structure and adjudicative bodies, and the types of benefits it administers, including service-connected compensation, pension, and special monthly compensation.

Part 3 covers the two systems governing review of VA decisions — the Legacy system and the Appeals Modernization Act (AMA) system — so veterans understand the review lanes, deadlines, and options available if an initial decision must be challenged.

Part 4 turns to the substance of a claim: the statutory foundation for compensation, the three elements of service connection, rating evaluation, and effective dates. It also shows how military manuals, regulations, and other government publications can help prove in-service events and exposures without hiring an expert.

Part 5 addresses fraud — how it is defined administratively and criminally, who investigates it, and the burdens of proof — so veterans understand the importance of accuracy and candor in every submission.

Part 6 brings the training together with a step-by-step checklist for completing and filing an initial claim on VA Form 21-526EZ, including where to find the form and where to file it; the full form is reproduced in the Appendix for reference.

Together, the outline, the accompanying PowerPoint presentations, and the videos give unrepresented veterans the working knowledge to file a complete, well-supported initial claim on their own.

Accessing the materials:
Google Drive Folder Link(opens in new tab)

The complete training program — this written outline, the PowerPoint slides for each part, and the accompanying videos — is available in a shared Google Drive folder located on the training page of artgagelaw.com. Open the link in any web browser; no Google account is required to view the materials. Inside the folder, the materials are organized by part, with each part's folder containing its outline section, slide deck, and video. Slides and this outline can be viewed online or downloaded for offline use, and the videos can be streamed directly from Drive. If the link does not open or access is denied, contact the Law Offices of Arthur V. Gage for an updated link.