Get Help
We're Ready When You Are
There is no wrong way to start, and no question here is too small. Ask what you may be owed, learn what a claim really involves, and take the next step only when you feel ready. Everything is free and private, and we do not save what you tell the assistant. Whether you want to file it yourself or have us handle it, the first move is simply asking.
Ready when you are
There is no wrong way to start, and there is no clock ticking against you here. Ask a question, learn what you may be owed, and take the next step whenever you feel ready. Some folks want to read quietly for a while first, and that is perfectly fine. Others want to talk it through today, and we are here for that too.
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Call us or start a chat
Call 702-992-4883 during business hours (Monday - Friday, 11 am - 6 pm Pacific) or tap the chat button on any page, any time. Tell us a little about your service, your current rating if you have one, and what brought you here. There is no script - a real person will listen.
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We pull your VA file and review it
If we think there is a claim worth pursuing, the next step is a signed VA Form 21-22a. That form lets Albert's team request your full VA claims file - every rating decision, exam report, and service record - and review it for missed benefits, low-rated conditions, and appeal opportunities.
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We build your claim strategy
Your team identifies every claim, increase, and appeal your record supports. You get a clear, plain-language plan showing what to file, in what order, and why. You can file yourself for free with that plan in hand, or choose accredited representation. No one may charge an upfront fee for an initial claim.
Talk to us today
Our assistant can answer your questions right now - free, private, and available any time.
Call 702-992-4883Ready to hire us?
If you would rather have us work your claim, registering is free — we match you with an accredited advocate and get you started.
Two ways to move forward — both free
Get free answers, or hire us to work your claim
There is no cost either way. If you just have questions, get free information from an accredited claims agent with no obligation. If you are ready to move forward, register to hire us — registering is free, and we cannot begin work until you sign VA Form 21-22a.
Free information — just ask
Ask a question, learn what you may be owed, or find out where you stand. Confidential, free, and no obligation to go any further.
Ready to hire us? Register
Decided you want us to work your claim? Registering is free — we match you with an accredited advocate and get you started. Fees, if any, are always disclosed up front.
What to have ready
None of this is required to start, and you can call with nothing in hand at all. But if you want to make the first conversation count, these are the things that help us help you faster. Even one or two of them gives us a clearer picture of your service and your health. Gather what you can, skip what you cannot find, and we will sort out the rest together.
Your DD-214
Your discharge paperwork proves your service dates and character of discharge. It is the first document the VA looks for. If you cannot find it, reach out anyway - helping you request a replacement is one of the first things we do.
Your latest VA decision letter
If you already have a rating, the most recent decision letter tells us your current percentages, your effective dates, and which conditions the VA has already ruled on. It is the map of where you stand today.
A plain list of your conditions
Write down everything that bothers you - the knees, the hearing, the sleep, the mood - even the things you have learned to live with. The conditions veterans downplay are often the ones worth the most.
Your medications and treating doctors
A quick list of what you take and who you see - VA or private - tells us where the medical evidence lives. Prescriptions and treatment records are some of the strongest proof a condition is real and ongoing.
Any private medical records you have
Records from a civilian doctor, specialist, or hospital can carry a claim - especially when they connect a condition back to service. You do not need to have them in hand to start; we can help you gather them.
Details of any past denials
Were you denied years ago and gave up? Bring what you remember. A prior denial does not close the door - the law changes, evidence improves, and many old denials are winnable today on a supplemental claim or appeal.
Do not have most of this yet? Reach out anyway. Gathering your DD-214, pulling your VA file, and tracking down medical records is part of what we do - you do not have to arrive prepared to get started. Call 702-992-4883 or start a chat and we will take it from there.
Three honest ways to get this done
You have real choices, and we will never pretend otherwise. Here are the three paths open to every veteran who wants help with a claim. We will point you to the one that actually fits your situation, even when that path is not us. That is what honest guidance looks like, and it is the only kind we are willing to give.
File it yourself
Free
You have every right to file your own claim at no cost. If your situation is straightforward, that may be all you need. Everything on this site is built to help you do exactly that - the forms, the evidence lists, and the plain-language guides are all free to use.
A free VSO
Free
Veterans Service Organizations - the VFW, DAV, American Legion, and your county Veterans Service Officer - help with initial claims at no charge. We will tell you honestly when a free VSO is the right fit for your case, because sometimes it is.
An accredited agent
After a first decision
Albert Thombs is a VA-accredited claims agent (#45147). Accreditation means the VA has vetted and authorized him to represent veterans. An agent may only charge a fee for work after the VA has issued its first decision on a claim - never on your initial claim - and the written fee agreement is filed with the VA and must be reasonable.
The questions veterans ask us first
Straight answers to the things that quietly hold people back from reaching out for help. These are the worries we hear most often, and every one of them deserves an honest reply. If your question is not here, ask it, and a real person will answer, not a robot or a script. There is no such thing as a dumb question when it comes to what you earned.
Is reaching out really free?
Yes. The first conversation, the review of your situation, and the plan we lay out cost you nothing. By law, no one may charge you an upfront fee to prepare or file your first VA claim - and we never will.
Do I have to hire you?
No. Many veterans talk with us, get a clear plan, and then file the claim themselves for free. That is a good outcome and we are glad to help you reach it. Representation is an optional service you choose only if and when it makes sense for your case.
I already have a rating. Is it worth a look?
Often, yes. Veterans are frequently rated too low, or carry conditions that were never claimed, or have secondary conditions that flow from a service-connected one. A review of your file tells us whether there is room to increase what you already receive.
I was denied years ago. Is that the end of it?
Not at all. A prior denial does not prevent you from filing again. Laws like the PACT Act opened doors that were closed for decades, and new evidence or a stronger medical opinion can turn a past "no" into a "yes." Old denials are one of the most common things worth revisiting.
Can you help a surviving spouse or a caregiver?
Yes. Survivors may be owed DIC, a survivors pension, accrued benefits, CHAMPVA health care, and more. Family caregivers may qualify for a monthly stipend, health coverage, and respite care. If you are a spouse, child, or caregiver, you are in the right place.
How long does the whole process take?
The first conversation takes minutes. Pulling and reviewing your VA file takes days to a couple of weeks once the paperwork is signed. The VA's own decision timeline on a claim runs roughly four to five months on average. We keep you informed at every stage.
What happens to my information?
It stays private. We use what you share only to review your situation and help you decide what to do next. We are a private service - not part of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs - and we treat your records with the care they deserve.
What if I am not ready to decide anything yet?
That is completely fine. You can ask a single question and stop there. There is no pressure, no commitment, and no clock. Reach out when you are ready - and come back as many times as you need.
Honest and clear about cost
You deserve straight answers about money before you ever agree to anything. Here is exactly how fees work, with no fine print and nothing buried. By law, no one can charge you to file your very first claim, and an accredited agent can only charge a reasonable fee after the VA issues its first decision. Read it here so you always know what you are agreeing to, and never feel pressured into signing something you do not understand.
The website & resources are free
Everything you read, learn, and organize on The Aging Veteran is free. You can also pursue a VA claim entirely on your own at no cost.
Initial claims: no upfront fees - ever
By law, no one may charge you an upfront fee to prepare or file your first (initial) VA claim. Recognized Veterans Service Organizations help with initial claims for free.
Representation is a paid, optional service
If you later choose an accredited agent or attorney, they may charge a fee for representation only after the VA has issued its first decision on your claim, and only under a written fee agreement filed with the VA. There is never a fee to file your first claim, and we always tell you the cost clearly, up front.
The Aging Veteran provides general information and guidance, not legal advice. We are a private service and are not part of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Two ways to move forward — both free
Still thinking it over?
That is completely fine, and it is more common than you think. Come back whenever you are ready, or call us any time to ask a question first, with no commitment and no pressure. You will not lose your place, because there is no deadline on your side today. When you do reach out, a real person will be here to help you sort it out.
Have a question? Get free information
Ask a question, learn what you may be owed, or find out where you stand. Confidential, free, and no obligation to go any further.
Ready to hire us? Register
Decided you want us to work your claim? Registering is free — we match you with an accredited advocate and get you started. We cannot begin until you sign VA Form 21-22a, and fees, if any, are always disclosed up front.
