One weekend. Your own claim.
You do not need a law degree to understand how the VA rates you. You need the criteria, a plan and a couple of focused days. Here is exactly how it goes.
General education from a veteran family. We never file for you, and we never ask for your records.
What happens when you buy
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1
Your downloads arrive
Download links show up on your order confirmation page and in an email sent right after checkout. If you added the Template Pack, it is there too.
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2
Open the calculator
The Rating Math Calculator is a web tool. Enter your current ratings and see your combined percentage the way the VA figures it.
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3
Check your deadlines first
Before anything else, open the Deadline and Lane Guide. If you have a decision letter less than a year old, a clock is running on it.
Work the Playbook in two days
Saturday morning: know where you stand
Pull out your most recent decision letter and rating list. Run your numbers in the calculator. Note the date on every decision from the past year. If you have not filed yet, read how an Intent to File (VA Form 21-0966) can hold your effective date for up to one year while you gather evidence.
Saturday afternoon: your conditions
Open the Rating Schedule Decoded to each condition you have. Read the criteria at your current percentage and the next one up. Write down, honestly, which descriptions match your life on your worst days.
Sunday morning: what you missed
Work through the Secondary Conditions Map. Many veterans have conditions caused or worsened by a service-connected one that were never claimed. Check the Benefits Unlock Checklist for anything you already qualify for and are not using.
Sunday afternoon: your evidence
Use the Statement Workshop to draft your 21-4138 in your own words. Decide who could write a 21-10210 buddy statement about what they have seen. Read the C&P Exam Prep section for each condition so you know what the examiner will measure.
Then pick your form
A new condition or an increase goes on a 21-526EZ. A decision you disagree with goes to a Supplemental Claim (20-0995) with new and relevant evidence, a Higher-Level Review (20-0996) with no new evidence, or a Board appeal (10182). If you think you cannot work because of your service-connected conditions, the TDIU module covers the 21-8940.
Using it with your VSO
If you already work with a Veterans Service Organization, keep working with them. Accredited VSOs help veterans for free, and they can file on your behalf. The Playbook makes you a better partner.
Bring them a clear personal statement. Bring the names of the secondaries you want to look at and why. Ask which review lane they recommend and what evidence they think is missing. When you both know the criteria, your appointment gets spent on your claim instead of on the basics.
If you do not have a VSO and want one, the VA lists accredited representatives on its website. You can also file on your own through VA.gov.
Not ready to buy? Start free.
The free Field Manual
A free PDF that explains how VA math works, what each rating gets you, what changes at 100 percent and P&T, education benefits for your kids under Chapter 35, and the five mistakes that keep veterans underrated.
Future: accredited representation
We are working toward accredited, one-on-one representation for veterans who want hands-on help with a decision review on a condition the VA has already decided. It is not available yet. Join the waitlist to hear when it opens.
How it works FAQ
How long does it take to work through the Playbook?
Plan on one focused weekend for your own conditions. You do not need to read modules for conditions you do not have.
Do I send you my records?
No. The Playbook is general education, so you never send us records. You apply what you learn to your own claim.
Who actually files my claim?
You do, through VA.gov or by mail, or your accredited VSO, attorney or claims agent does. We do not file claims.
What if I have a decision letter from months ago?
If it is less than one year old, you can generally still request a Supplemental Claim, Higher-Level Review or Board appeal and keep your effective date protected. Check the date on the letter today.
Can I use the Playbook if I have never been rated?
Yes. It walks you through the initial claim on the 21-526EZ, the intent to file and how to prepare for your first C&P exam.