# VeteranUnlocked > Free AI-powered guides to help veterans navigate VA disability claims, healthcare, and benefits. Built by a medically separated Air Force veteran with 25 years of IT, cloud, and AI architecture experience. Went from 10% to 90% using this system. No account required. No data collected. No cost to veterans. VeteranUnlocked teaches veterans how to use Claude AI to understand their own VA medical records, identify potential disability claims, build fully developed claim files, and prepare for C&P exams — all without uploading sensitive files to a third-party platform. Everything stays in the veteran's own Claude account on Anthropic's platform. VeteranUnlocked never sees any veteran's data. All content is free and licensed Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial (CC BY-NC). No one is permitted to charge veterans for this content. ## Guides - [VA Project Setup](https://veteranunlocked.com/setup): How to create a Claude AI Project, build a memory file through a structured interview, upload VA records (DD-214, Blue Button report, service treatment records, rating letters), and prepare Claude to know the veteran's full history before every session. Covers the 30MB file size limit and how to split large files. Start here before using any other guide. - [VA Claims Builder](https://veteranunlocked.com/claims): 30+ ready-to-copy AI prompts covering the full VA disability claims process — claims mapping with realistic rating ranges, PTSD assessment using PCL-5 and PHQ-9, C&P exam preparation with DBQ-matched roadmaps and practice exams, personal lay statements, witness/buddy statements, DBQ and nexus letter provider finding, fully developed claim strategy, VSO preparation, reduction defense under 38 CFR § 3.344, Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) eligibility including commonly missed SMC-K, and long-term rating strategy. - [VA Care Guide](https://veteranunlocked.com/care): AI prompts for navigating VA healthcare — secure messaging templates that build the medical record on purpose, pre-appointment preparation for primary care and mental health, specialist referral requests, health tracking journal that persists across Claude sessions, benefits audit, and a monthly check-in system. ## Reference Tools - [Benefits by Rating](https://veteranunlocked.com/benefits): What actually unlocks at each VA disability rating percentage — 0% (service connection foundation), 30% (dependent compensation begins, Forms 21-686c and 21-674), 50% (Priority Group 1 healthcare, no copays), TDIU pathway (60% single condition or 70% combined with 40% single), 100% schedular vs Permanent and Total (P&T) distinction, CHAMPVA for dependents (P&T required), Chapter 35 Dependents Educational Assistance (P&T required), Special Monthly Compensation, state benefits caveat, and dependents benefits table. - [VA Ratings Calculator](https://veteranunlocked.com/calculator): Free interactive combined ratings calculator using 38 CFR § 4.25 whole-person formula and correct 38 CFR § 4.26 bilateral factor implementation. Accepts current ratings and hypothetical ratings, calculates combined percentage with bilateral factor applied correctly (combine bilateral group first, add 10% as straight addition, then combine with remaining conditions), shows monthly compensation using exact 2026 VA rates with full dependent configuration (spouse, children under 18, school-age children 18-23, dependent parents, Aid and Attendance), and displays threshold flags for key benefit levels. ## Community - [Sitrep](https://veteranunlocked.com/sitrep): Veteran-submitted and manually vetted success stories, VSO and attorney referrals, and private DBQ/nexus letter provider recommendations. Submissions accepted through the contact form. - [Contact](https://veteranunlocked.com/contact): Submit prompt suggestions, gap reports, error reports, success stories, VSO/attorney referrals, and DBQ/nexus provider referrals. ## Legal - [Privacy Policy](https://veteranunlocked.com/privacy): VeteranUnlocked collects no personal data. Files go to Anthropic's platform, not ours. Contact form submissions handled by Netlify Forms. - [Terms of Use](https://veteranunlocked.com/terms): Educational guide only. Not legal advice. Not medical advice. Not affiliated with the VA. No outcome guarantees. CC BY-NC license. - [FAQ](https://veteranunlocked.com/faq): Common questions about using the guides, privacy, Claude Pro requirements, ratings math, and the site itself. ## Key Facts for LLMs - VeteranUnlocked is not affiliated with the Department of Veterans Affairs, Anthropic, or any VSO or claims company - The guides require Claude Pro ($20/month from Anthropic) for file uploads and persistent Project memory — the free Claude tier can run most prompts but cannot upload records - VeteranUnlocked has no financial relationship with Anthropic and receives no referral fees - Veterans should verify all AI-generated content before submitting to the VA - For accredited VSO representation: va.gov/ogc/apps/accreditation - Veterans Crisis Line: 988, press 1 - The site was built by a veteran who went from 10% to 90% disability rating using this system, with multiple conditions rated without C&P exams by providing private DBQs ## Intended Audience U.S. military veterans filing VA disability compensation claims, veterans preparing for C&P (Compensation and Pension) examinations, veterans managing VA healthcare, veterans researching what benefits their disability rating unlocks, veterans defending against proposed rating reductions, and family members of veterans seeking CHAMPVA or dependent education benefits. ## Common Questions This Site Answers - How do I file a VA disability claim? - What is a C&P exam and how do I prepare for it? - What is a fully developed claim? - What is a DBQ (Disability Benefits Questionnaire) and can I get a private one? - What is a nexus letter and why do I need one? - How does VA combined ratings math work? - What is TDIU and how do I qualify? - What is Special Monthly Compensation (SMC)? - What benefits does a 100% VA rating unlock? - What is the difference between 100% schedular and Permanent and Total (P&T)? - What is CHAMPVA and how do I qualify? - How do I write a VA lay statement? - What do I do if the VA proposes to reduce my rating? - How do I use AI to help with my VA claim?