Resource Center

Every guide, term, and checklist in one searchable place.

Guides, videos, FAQs, and checklists spanning VA appeals, mental health, PTSD, TBI, secondary conditions, family and caregiver support, SSDI, Medicare, employment, and financial wellness — plus full appeal and benefits glossaries in plain language.

This is a conceptual, fictional design prototype only. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Wounded Warrior Project, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, or any other veterans organization, and does not represent an existing or active partnership. Nothing here is legal, medical, or financial advice. Video and checklist entries are illustrative placeholders; government-resource entries use generic labels and link to internal pages within this prototype, not real external sites.

Category
Type

27 resources found

Guide

VA Appeals Roadmap: The Three Review Lanes

A plain-language walkthrough of Higher-Level Review, Supplemental Claims, and Board appeals, and general factors a veteran might weigh when choosing between them.

VA AppealsRelated program
Video

Preparing for a C&P Exam

Illustrative video concept: what to generally expect at a Compensation & Pension exam and how to describe day-to-day functional impact clearly.

VA AppealsRelated program
FAQ

VA Appeals FAQ

Answers to common questions about deadlines, evidence, and what generally happens after filing a Notice of Disagreement or Supplemental Claim.

VA AppealsRelated program
Checklist

VA Appeal Evidence Checklist

Illustrative downloadable checklist concept: service records, medical evidence, buddy statements, and nexus documentation to gather before filing.

VA AppealsRelated program
Guide

Filing a Mental Health Condition Claim

General, illustrative overview of how mental health conditions are typically documented and evaluated as part of a VA disability claim.

Mental HealthRelated program
Video

What a Mental Health Evaluation Can Look Like

Illustrative video concept: a composite walkthrough of a mental health evaluation and the kinds of questions a veteran might be asked.

Mental HealthRelated program
FAQ

Mental Health Benefits FAQ

Answers to frequently asked questions about seeking care, documenting symptoms, and how mental health conditions generally factor into a rating.

Mental HealthRelated program
Guide

How PTSD Claims Are Generally Evaluated

A general, plain-language explanation of stressor documentation, evaluation criteria, and common evidence used in PTSD claims.

Video

Recognizing and Describing PTSD Symptoms

Illustrative video concept: a composite veteran describes how PTSD symptoms show up day to day, framed for use in a claim narrative.

FAQ

PTSD & Secondary Conditions FAQ

Answers to common questions about how PTSD can relate to secondary conditions like sleep disorders, migraines, or hypertension.

Guide

Traumatic Brain Injury Claims: What to Know

General, illustrative overview of how TBI severity is typically documented, and how cognitive and physical symptoms are commonly evaluated together.

Video

Daily Strategies After a TBI Diagnosis

Illustrative video concept: composite, practical strategies for memory, organization, and communication after a traumatic brain injury.

FAQ

TBI Care & Benefits FAQ

Answers to frequently asked questions about TBI ratings, cognitive symptom documentation, and coordinating care with a family caregiver.

Guide

Understanding Secondary Conditions

A general explanation of how a condition already connected to service can be used to support a claim for a related, secondary condition.

Secondary ConditionsRelated program
FAQ

Secondary Conditions FAQ

Answers to common questions about which conditions are frequently claimed as secondary, and what kind of medical evidence generally helps.

Secondary ConditionsRelated program
Guide

Coordinating VA, SSDI & Medicare: A Family Guide

General, illustrative guidance for families mapping out how VA disability compensation, SSDI, and Medicare can work together.

Family SupportRelated program
Checklist

Family Benefit Coordination Checklist

Illustrative downloadable checklist concept: a family worksheet for listing every benefit, income source, deadline, and point of contact in one place.

Family SupportRelated program
Guide

Caregiver Support Program Basics

Illustrative overview of how caregiver support programs for veterans with significant service-connected injuries are commonly structured, including training and respite concepts.

Caregiver ResourcesRelated program
FAQ

Caregiver Burnout & Respite FAQ

Answers to common questions about recognizing caregiver burnout early and finding respite care options before a crisis point.

Caregiver ResourcesRelated program
Guide

SSDI Eligibility Alongside a VA Claim

A clear, general explanation of how SSDI and VA disability are separate federal programs, and what a veteran typically needs to apply for SSDI.

Government Resource

Social Security disability benefits portal (illustrative)

Illustrative, descriptive placeholder for the federal government's official SSDI application and status portal. Links to this prototype's own SSDI page, not a real external site.

Guide

Medicare Parts A, B, C & D Explained

A clear breakdown of what each part of Medicare covers and how they commonly fit together for veterans transitioning from SSDI.

Government Resource

Medicare plan comparison tool (illustrative)

Illustrative, descriptive placeholder for the federal government's official Medicare plan comparison tool. Links to this prototype's own Medicare page, not a real external site.

MedicareVisit page
Guide

Returning to Work Without Losing Benefits

General, illustrative guidance on trial work periods and earnings limits for veterans considering a phased return to employment.

EmploymentRelated program
Video

Returning to Work Gradually: A Veteran's Story

Illustrative video concept: a fictional composite veteran's phased, benefits-aware return to part-time work through Ticket to Work.

EmploymentRelated program
Guide

Household Budget Reset After a Service-Connected Disability

A general framework for rebuilding a household budget around VA compensation, SSDI, and any other income sources.

Financial WellnessRelated program
Checklist

Long-Term Financial Wellness Checklist

Illustrative downloadable checklist concept: savings, insurance, and estate-planning steps to revisit once benefits are in place.

Financial WellnessRelated program

Appeal & VA Glossary

Notice of Disagreement (NOD)
The formal statement a veteran files to tell the VA they disagree with a decision and intend to pursue review under the modern appeals system.
Higher-Level Review
A review lane where a more senior VA reviewer takes a fresh look at the same evidence already in the file — no new evidence is added at this stage.
Supplemental Claim
A review lane used when a veteran has new and relevant evidence to add that wasn't previously considered in the prior decision.
Nexus letter
A letter, typically from a medical provider, explaining the professional opinion that a condition is "at least as likely as not" connected to military service.
C&P exam (Compensation & Pension exam)
A VA-scheduled medical exam used to evaluate the nature and severity of a claimed condition as part of deciding a claim or appeal.
Rating decision
The VA's official written decision assigning a disability percentage (or denial) to a claimed condition, along with the evidence considered.
Secondary condition
A condition that developed as a result of — or was worsened by — a condition already connected to service, and can sometimes support its own claim.
Board appeal
A review lane where a Veterans Law Judge at the Board of Veterans' Appeals reviews the case, with options for a hearing or additional evidence depending on the docket chosen.
Effective date
The date the VA uses to determine when compensation begins, often tied to when a claim was filed rather than when it was decided.

Benefits Glossary

SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance)
A federal insurance program that pays benefits to workers, including veterans, who have a qualifying work history and a disability that limits their ability to work.
SSI (Supplemental Security Income)
A separate, needs-based federal program that provides monthly payments to people with limited income and resources, distinct from SSDI's work-history requirement.
Medicare Parts A, B, C & D
Part A generally covers hospital care, Part B covers outpatient care, Part C (Medicare Advantage) bundles coverage through a private plan, and Part D covers prescription drugs.
Medigap
Supplemental insurance that can help cover certain out-of-pocket costs, like copays and deductibles, that Original Medicare doesn't fully cover.
Ticket to Work
A voluntary federal program that lets SSDI recipients explore returning to work through structured trial periods, generally without immediately losing benefits.
Trial Work Period
A set of months in which an SSDI recipient can test their ability to work while generally still receiving full benefits, regardless of how much they earn.
Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA)
A monthly earnings threshold the Social Security Administration uses as one general marker of whether work counts as substantial and gainful.
Extended Period of Eligibility
A stretch of time after the Trial Work Period during which SSDI benefits can generally be reinstated for any month earnings fall back below the SGA threshold.

Not sure where to start?

The Benefits Check builds a personalized, illustrative roadmap through this center — starting with whichever stage fits your situation right now.