VA Acronym Dictionary

Decode VA acronyms in plain English.

AMA: Appeals Modernization Act
2019 law that created the three modern VA appeal lanes (Supplemental, HLR, Board).
AOJ: Agency of Original Jurisdiction
The VA regional office (or other agency) that issued the original decision on your claim.
BDD: Benefits Delivery at Discharge
Lets you file 180–90 days before separation for faster post-discharge benefits.
BVA: Board of Veterans' Appeals
Washington, D.C. appeal body with Veterans Law Judges who decide Board Appeals.
C&P: Compensation & Pension Exam
Medical exam ordered by the VA to evaluate a disability claim. Often outsourced to QTC, LHI, or VES.
CFR: Code of Federal Regulations
Federal rulebook. VA disability rules live in Title 38 (38 CFR).
CHAMPVA: Civilian Health and Medical Program of the VA
Health coverage for dependents of veterans rated permanently and totally disabled.
CRSC: Combat-Related Special Compensation
Lets eligible retirees receive both military retired pay and VA disability for combat-related conditions.
CRDP: Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay
Allows 20+ year retirees rated 50%+ to receive both retired pay and VA compensation.
CUE: Clear and Unmistakable Error
A reversible error of fact or law in a prior final VA decision. Hard standard to meet.
DAV: Disabled American Veterans
Major VSO that helps veterans file claims and appeals for free.
DBQ: Disability Benefits Questionnaire
Standardized form examiners use to document findings. Private DBQs may be submitted as evidence.
DD-214: Certificate of Release or Discharge
The military discharge document used to prove service for VA benefits.
DEA: Dependents' Educational Assistance
Chapter 35 education benefit for spouses/children of permanently and totally disabled or deceased veterans.
DIC: Dependency and Indemnity Compensation
Tax-free monthly benefit paid to eligible survivors of service-connected veterans.
DOD: Department of Defense
Federal agency that runs the active military and produces service records.
DRO: Decision Review Officer
Senior reviewer at the regional office (legacy appeal role pre-AMA).
EAJA: Equal Access to Justice Act
Federal law that can require the government to pay attorney fees if a veteran wins at the CAVC.
EED: Effective Date
The date from which back pay and benefits begin — usually the date of claim.
FDC: Fully Developed Claim
Claim filed with all evidence up-front for faster processing.
FOIA: Freedom of Information Act
Used to request copies of your VA claim file (C-file).
GAF: Global Assessment of Functioning
Older mental-health scale. Replaced by WHODAS but sometimes still referenced in records.
GERD: Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
Commonly claimed secondary to PTSD medications. Rated by analogy to hiatal hernia.
GI Bill: GI Bill
Education benefits including Post-9/11 (Chapter 33) and Montgomery (Chapter 30).
HISA: Home Improvements and Structural Alterations
VA grant for medically necessary home modifications.
HLR: Higher-Level Review
Appeal lane where a senior reviewer takes a fresh look at the existing evidence — no new evidence allowed.
IDES: Integrated Disability Evaluation System
Joint DoD/VA process for service members being medically separated.
IME: Independent Medical Examination
An exam by an outside expert, sometimes ordered by the Board to resolve conflicts in evidence.
IMO: Independent Medical Opinion
Written opinion from a private doctor (often a nexus letter).
IU: Individual Unemployability
Same as TDIU — 100% pay rate when SC conditions prevent gainful work.
LHI: Logistics Health Incorporated
VA-contracted C&P exam vendor.
M21-1: Adjudication Procedures Manual
VA's internal manual that raters use to process claims. Public and citable.
MEB: Medical Evaluation Board
DoD board that decides whether a service member meets retention standards.
MOS: Military Occupational Specialty
Army/Marine job code. Used to prove noise/chemical exposure for VA claims.
MST: Military Sexual Trauma
Sexual assault or harassment during military service. Special evidentiary rules apply.
NOD: Notice of Disagreement
Form 10182 used to start a Board Appeal under AMA.
NSC: Non-Service-Connected
A condition the VA has not (yet) connected to military service.
OEF/OIF/OND: Operation Enduring/Iraqi Freedom/New Dawn
Post-9/11 combat operations. Used to determine PACT Act eligibility.
P&T: Permanent and Total
100% rating not expected to improve. Unlocks CHAMPVA, DEA, and other dependent benefits.
PACT: PACT Act
2022 law expanding presumptive conditions for toxic exposure (burn pits, Agent Orange).
PEB: Physical Evaluation Board
DoD body that determines fitness for duty and disability for separation.
PFB: Pseudofolliculitis Barbae
Razor bumps. Common skin condition claim, especially among Black veterans.
PG: Plantar Fasciitis / Gulf War Illness
Context-dependent — frequently used for chronic Gulf War conditions or foot conditions.
PTSD: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Mental health condition rated under 38 CFR § 4.130.
QTC: QTC Medical Services
VA-contracted C&P exam vendor.
RAMP: Rapid Appeals Modernization Program
Pre-AMA pilot program. Mostly historical now.
RFE: Request for Evidence
VA letter asking for additional information to decide your claim.
RO: Regional Office
Local VA office that decides claims and appeals.
ROM: Range of Motion
Joint flexibility measurement used to rate orthopedic conditions.
SC: Service-Connected
A condition the VA has tied to military service.
SCO: School Certifying Official
Person at your school who certifies enrollment for GI Bill benefits.
SMC: Special Monthly Compensation
Additional compensation above 100% for severe disabilities (loss of limb, aid & attendance, housebound).
SMR: Service Medical Records
Medical records created during active duty. Often pivotal evidence.
SOC: Statement of the Case
Legacy appeal document. Replaced by AMA decision letters.
SSA: Social Security Administration
Federal disability program separate from VA. SSDI/SSI decisions can support VA claims.
SSDI: Social Security Disability Insurance
Federal disability benefit based on work history.
SSOC: Supplemental Statement of the Case
Legacy appeal document used when new evidence was submitted.
TBI: Traumatic Brain Injury
Rated under DC 8045. Common after blast or impact injuries.
TDIU: Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability
100% compensation rate when service-connected conditions prevent gainful work.
TERA: Toxic Exposure Risk Activity
PACT Act category that triggers expanded eligibility for toxic-exposure claims.
VA: Department of Veterans Affairs
Cabinet-level federal agency that administers veterans' benefits and healthcare.
VACOLS: Veterans Appeals Control and Locator System
Internal VA appeals tracking system.
VASRD: VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities
The rating schedule (38 CFR Part 4) that lists diagnostic codes and percentages.
VBA: Veterans Benefits Administration
VA office handling compensation, pension, education, and home loans.
VBMS: Veterans Benefits Management System
VA's electronic claims processing system.
VCAA: Veterans Claims Assistance Act
Law requiring VA to help veterans develop their claims (notice + duty to assist).
VES: Veterans Evaluation Services
VA-contracted C&P exam vendor.
VHA: Veterans Health Administration
VA office that runs medical centers and clinics.
VOC REHAB: Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E, Chapter 31)
Career counseling and retraining benefit for SC veterans with employment barriers.
VR&E: Veteran Readiness and Employment
Formerly Voc Rehab. Chapter 31 employment benefits.
VSO: Veterans Service Organization
Accredited organizations (DAV, VFW, AL, PVA) that help veterans file claims for free.
VFW: Veterans of Foreign Wars
Congressionally chartered VSO that provides claim assistance.
WHODAS: WHO Disability Assessment Schedule
Functional impairment scale used in modern mental-health C&P exams.
AFB: Air Force Base
Air Force installation. Used to verify duty location and exposures.
AO: Agent Orange
Tactical herbicide used in Vietnam. Triggers presumptive service connection for many conditions.
BAH: Basic Allowance for Housing
Military housing stipend. The Post-9/11 GI Bill MHA is tied to BAH rates.
CAVC: Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims
Federal court that reviews Board of Veterans' Appeals decisions.
CFI: Claim for Increase
Request to increase the rating of an already service-connected condition.
COE: Certificate of Eligibility
Document proving GI Bill or VA home-loan eligibility.
COLA: Cost-of-Living Adjustment
Annual increase to VA compensation tied to inflation.
DCFP: Date of Claim, Future Pay
Internal VA terminology for delayed effective dates.
DEERS: Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System
DoD system that tracks dependents and TRICARE eligibility.
DEPMEDS: Deployable Medical Systems
Field medical references used during deployments.
EI: Examination Inadequate
Internal label when a C&P exam needs to be re-done.
ETS: Expiration Term of Service
End of enlistment date — important for BDD claims.
FOL: Favorable Findings of Law
Findings in your favor preserved across appeals under AMA.
FSGLI: Family Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance
Life insurance for service members' spouses and children.
HEC: Health Eligibility Center
VA office that processes healthcare enrollment (Form 10-10EZ).
IBS: Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Functional gastrointestinal disorder. A Gulf War presumptive condition.
ITF: Intent to File
Holds your effective date for up to one year while you gather evidence.
JSRRC: Joint Services Records Research Center
Office that researches and verifies in-service stressors and exposures.
LOD: Line of Duty
Determination that an injury occurred in service for benefits eligibility.
MAS: Medical Advisory Service
Internal VA medical advisors for complex claims.
MGIB: Montgomery GI Bill (Chapter 30)
Pre-Post-9/11 education benefit. Requires a $1,200 contribution during service.
MHA: Monthly Housing Allowance
Post-9/11 GI Bill housing stipend paid based on training location.
OCONUS: Outside Continental United States
Overseas duty stations. Affects PACT Act eligibility.
PCAFC: Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers
Stipend and support for caregivers of severely disabled post-9/11 (and now legacy) veterans.
PMR: Private Medical Records
Non-VA medical records submitted as claim evidence.
POW: Prisoner of War
Triggers expanded presumptives and priority healthcare.
PTC: Permanent Total — Combat
P&T status with combat causation. Maximum benefit unlock.
PVA: Paralyzed Veterans of America
VSO specializing in spinal-cord-injury and ALS claims.
SAH: Specially Adapted Housing
VA grant for severely disabled veterans to build or modify accessible housing.
SBA: Small Business Administration
Federal agency offering veteran-owned business certifications and loans.
SGLI: Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance
Term life insurance for active duty members.
TSGLI: Traumatic SGLI
Lump-sum benefit for traumatic injuries during service.
VERA: Veterans Equitable Resource Allocation
VA's healthcare funding model that allocates dollars across regions.
VGLI: Veterans' Group Life Insurance
Post-separation continuation of SGLI life insurance.
VOW: Veterans Opportunity to Work Act
Law authorizing employment programs and tax credits for hiring veterans.