I spent over 20 years serving in the Army, but understanding my own VA disability claim was another journey altogether.

I filed my initial claim when I left the military in 2011. Then I waited 13 years to revisit it. A big part of that delay was guilt. Like many veterans, I thought I should just keep moving forward and manage what I was dealing with.

A retired Command Sergeant Major helped change that. While I was outside the room, emotionally overwhelmed, my wife, Sherri, told him about my conditions and how they affected my life. His encouragement helped me move forward. In 2024, I filed a supplemental claim, and my rating increased from 90% to 100%.

That experience became part of the foundation for VA Claim Mentor.

As I helped other veterans understand the process, I kept hearing the same questions: Where do I start? What records do I need? How do I explain what happened during my service and how it affects me today?

I took those conversations, my own experience, and the lessons learned through one-on-one mentorship and built a self-paced course. Bringing it to launch meant turning that knowledge into practical lessons and worksheets veterans could use at their own speed.

VA Claim Mentor is for veterans who want to prepare their own claim and understand what they are submitting. It provides education, not representation, and is not affiliated with the VA or federal government. It cannot promise a rating. It can teach you the process and how to advocate for yourself probably the most important part of this journey.

My goal is simple: help veterans file because they deserve it.

Making life easier—one veteran at a time.

Learn more at VA Claim Mentor