The Field Manual

Plain-English guides for veterans, by editors who actually read 38 CFR.

No clickbait. No "click here to chat with a lawyer." Just the rules, written in the order a Decision Review Officer would think about them, with worked examples.

Foundations
Apr 4, 2026 · 9 min
How the VA Actually Combines Your Disability Ratings (2026 Guide)
The VA combines disability ratings — it does not add them. Here is the 38 CFR § 4.25 formula explained line by line, with three worked examples.
Hidden bonus
Apr 8, 2026 · 8 min
The VA Bilateral Factor Explained: The 10% Most Veterans Miss (2026)
When two or more service-connected disabilities affect paired extremities, 38 CFR § 4.26 adds 10% on top. Here is exactly how, with three worked examples.
2026 update
Apr 11, 2026 · 11 min
2026 Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) Rates and Eligibility
The 2026 SMC-K through SMC-T rates, who qualifies for each, and how SMC stacks on top of your combined disability rating.
Money
Apr 14, 2026 · 9 min
VA Back Pay Explained: Effective Dates, Retroactive Pay, and How to Estimate It
Back pay is paid from your effective date to your decision date. Here is exactly how the VA calculates it, with two worked examples and a free calculator link.
Strategy
Apr 18, 2026 · 10 min
TDIU vs 100% Schedular: Which One Should You Pursue?
TDIU pays at the 100% rate without requiring a schedular 100%. Here is when TDIU is the smarter target and when it is not.
Strategy
Apr 21, 2026 · 9 min
Secondary Service Connection: How One Disability Can Add Another
Sleep apnea secondary to PTSD, hypertension secondary to diabetes — secondary service connection is one of the highest-leverage claims in the VA system.
How-to
Apr 25, 2026 · 9 min
How to File a VA Claim for Increase Without Losing What You Already Have
Filing for an increase comes with a small but real risk of decrease. Here is the standard approach, the documents you need, and the rules that protect you.
Conditions
Apr 28, 2026 · 8 min
VA Sleep Apnea Ratings in 2026: 0%, 30%, 50%, or 100%?
Sleep apnea is one of the most-claimed VA conditions and one of the most-misunderstood. Here is what each rating level requires under § 4.97, DC 6847.
Conditions
May 1, 2026 · 10 min
VA PTSD Ratings Explained: 0%, 30%, 50%, 70%, 100%
The VA PTSD rating criteria under 38 CFR § 4.130, what each level actually requires, and why most C&P exams undercut the rating.
Conditions
May 4, 2026 · 8 min
Why VA Tinnitus Is Capped at 10% — And What to Do About It
Tinnitus is the single most-claimed VA disability, but it is locked at 10% under DC 6260. Here is the rule, and four legitimate workarounds.