Statutes
Title 38 of the U.S. Code contains laws enacted by Congress for veterans benefits.
Official-source directory
Find the rule behind the VA decision.
Search the statutes, regulations, VA procedures, precedential decisions, and rating references that shape disability compensation claims. Each result points to an official government source or a related guide on this site.
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18 sources and reference tools in this library.
Start with source authority
Not every VA reference carries the same legal weight.
A statute authorizes the benefit, a regulation turns that authority into an agency rule, and the M21-1 explains procedures for VA staff. Court precedent interprets the law, while Board decisions generally resolve only the individual appeal before the Board.
Laws & regulations
Primary rules for entitlement, adjudication, ratings, appeals, and representation.
Federal statute
Title 38, U.S. Code
Congressional law governing veterans benefits, administration, claims, review, and related programs.
Open on GovInfo Federal regulationTitle 38, Code of Federal Regulations
The complete, continuously updated collection of federal regulations administered by VA.
Open on eCFR Federal regulation38 CFR Part 3 — Adjudication
Rules for service connection, evidence, effective dates, presumptions, dependency, and many claim decisions.
Read current Part 3 Federal regulation38 CFR Part 4 — Rating Schedule
General rating principles, body-system schedules, diagnostic codes, percentages, and evaluation criteria.
Read current Part 4 Federal regulation38 CFR Part 20 — Board Appeals
Rules of practice for appeals, hearings, motions, evidence, and decisions at the Board of Veterans’ Appeals.
Read current Part 20 Federal regulation38 CFR Part 14 — Representation
Accreditation, recognition, fee, and professional-conduct rules for attorneys, agents, and service organizations.
Read current Part 14VA manuals & rule updates
Operational instructions and public notices showing how VA procedures and regulations change.
VA procedure
M21-1 Adjudication Procedures Manual
VBA’s public live manual for developing, rating, and processing claims and related issues.
Open the M21-1 RulemakingVA in the Federal Register
Proposed rules, final rules, notices, and effective dates published by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Browse VA documents VA source pageVA Compensation Regulations Resources
VA’s own starting point for compensation regulations and rating-schedule references.
Open on VA.govDecisions & precedent opinions
Sources that interpret veterans law, from agency precedent to appellate courts.
VA precedent
VA General Counsel Precedent Opinions
Published precedential interpretations from VA’s Office of General Counsel.
Browse VA opinions Federal courtCourt of Appeals for Veterans Claims Opinions
Published opinions from the federal court that reviews final Board decisions.
Search CAVC opinions Federal appellate courtFederal Circuit Opinions & Orders
Opinions from the appellate court that reviews legal questions from the Veterans Court.
Open the court archive Individual appealsBoard of Veterans’ Appeals Decision Search
Search prior Board decisions for issue language and reasoning. Most Board decisions are nonprecedential and case-specific.
Search Board decisionsClaim and rating references
Practical directories that connect a claim issue to the governing forms, codes, and rating criteria.
Forms directory
VA Forms Library
Find commonly used forms by purpose, then open the current official version or online filing route.
Browse VA forms Medical evidencePublic DBQ Forms Library
Understand and download the public Disability Benefits Questionnaires VA currently provides.
Browse DBQs Rating scheduleVA Diagnostic Code Directory
Search Part 4 diagnostic codes by number, condition, or body system.
Search diagnostic codes Rating guidesConditions & VA Rating Rules
See plain-language explanations for common conditions and the criteria used at each rating level.
Browse conditions Processing codesVA Claim Code Decoder
Decode common end-product and claim-status shorthand without confusing it with rating diagnostic codes.
Decode claim codesNo source matches that search. Try a shorter phrase, a CFR citation, or the name of the benefit issue.
Reading citations
Use the prefix to identify the source.
A decision letter may cite several kinds of authority. The citation format tells you where to look and how much weight the reference normally carries.
38 U.S.C. § 5107United States Code
The title number comes first, followed by “U.S.C.” and the statutory section enacted by Congress.
38 CFR § 3.310Code of Federal Regulations
The title number is followed by “CFR,” then the part and section containing the agency rule.
M21-1, V.ii.2.AVA manual provision
The manual citation points to a part, subpart, chapter, and section used in VBA claim processing.
Check the effective date and historical version when the timing of a claim or decision matters. The eCFR is continuously updated and provides tools for comparing changes over time.