35 Books. Every Corner of the VA System.
Claims guides. Condition-specific playbooks. Benefits manuals. Transition resources. Written by a disabled veteran with years of VSO-level experience. No upsells. No fluff. Just the information the VA never hands you.
All 35 titles launch Summer 2026.
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What People Are Saying
“I spent years as a VSO helping veterans navigate the claims process, and I wish this resource had existed back then. The way FWD Assist breaks down 38 CFR language into plain English is exactly what veterans need.”
— Jess C., Former Veteran Service Officer
“After separating, I had no idea where to start with the VA. FWD Assist gave me the structure I needed to understand the process, organize my evidence, and stop second-guessing every step. Straightforward, no fluff, and exactly what I was looking for.”
— Jonathan B., U.S. Air Force Veteran
The Complete Library
Every book is written by a disabled veteran with VSO-level experience. No upsells, no conflicts of interest, no shortcuts.
Claims Guides(5)
Win Your VA Disability Claim
Claims Guides
Win Your VA Disability Claim
The Complete Step-by-Step Guide to Filing, Evidence, and Getting the VA Rating You've Earned
The foundational guide to VA disability claims from first filing to final rating. Covers every step of the claims process including how to gather evidence, write a personal statement, avoid the most common mistakes that get claims denied, and understand what the VA is actually looking for when it rates your disability.
VA Disability Primer
Claims Guides
VA Disability Primer
The First-Time Veteran's Guide to VA Disability Benefits, Service Connection, and Filing Your Claim
The essential starting point for veterans who are new to VA disability benefits. Explains service connection, how ratings work, the difference between direct and secondary conditions, and what to expect from the claims process — without jargon or bureaucratic language.
VA Secondary Claims Manual
Claims Guides
VA Secondary Claims Manual
How to Claim VA Disability for Conditions Caused or Aggravated by Your Service-Connected Injuries
A detailed guide to secondary service connection — one of the most overlooked and underused pathways in VA disability law. Covers how to identify conditions caused or made worse by existing service-connected disabilities, how to document the medical link, and how to build a complete secondary claim that holds up.
VA Claims for Guard and Reserve
Claims Guides
VA Claims for Guard and Reserve
How Duty Status Unlocks the Benefits You Earned
A guide to VA disability benefits for National Guard and Reserve veterans, covering the duty status rules that determine eligibility, how Title 10 and Title 32 activations affect benefits access, how to establish service connection when deployments are documented differently, and what PACT Act and combat deployments mean for Guard and Reserve claims.
The BDD Playbook
Claims Guides
The BDD Playbook
How to File Your VA Claim Before You Leave the Military
A step-by-step guide to the VA's Benefits Delivery at Discharge program, which allows servicemembers to file disability claims 180 to 90 days before separation. Covers BDD eligibility, how to file while still on active duty, what evidence to gather before access to military records becomes harder, and how to avoid the mistakes that delay BDD claims.
Condition-Specific(6)
The VA PTSD Claims Playbook
Condition-Specific
The VA PTSD Claims Playbook
How to File, Document, and Win VA Disability Compensation for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
A complete guide to VA disability claims for PTSD, covering the stressor statement, the in-service event documentation requirements, the C&P exam process for mental health, and how the VA rates PTSD using the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders.
VA Mental Health Claims Beyond PTSD
Condition-Specific
VA Mental Health Claims Beyond PTSD
How to File VA Disability Claims for Depression, Anxiety, Adjustment Disorder, and Every Other Ratable Mental Health Condition
A guide to VA disability claims for mental health conditions other than PTSD, including major depression, generalized anxiety disorder, adjustment disorder, bipolar disorder, somatic symptom disorders, and others. Covers service connection pathways, how the VA rates mental health conditions, and the stressor documentation requirements for different diagnoses.
The VA TBI Claims Playbook
Condition-Specific
The VA TBI Claims Playbook
How to File, Rate, and Win VA Disability for Traumatic Brain Injury and Its Secondary Conditions
A thorough guide to VA disability claims for traumatic brain injury, covering the VA's special TBI rating process, the ten symptom categories the VA uses to rate TBI, and the secondary conditions — including PTSD, sleep disorders, cognitive issues, and headaches — that flow from a TBI diagnosis.
VA Back, Knee, and Joint Claims Guide
Condition-Specific
VA Back, Knee, and Joint Claims Guide
A Step-by-Step System for Filing and Rating Back, Knee, and Joint VA Claims
A practical guide to VA disability claims for musculoskeletal conditions — the most common category of VA disability. Covers the range-of-motion ratings the VA uses for back and joint conditions, how to document pain and functional loss, how to file for bilateral conditions, and how to connect secondary orthopedic conditions to a primary claim.
The VA Migraine Claims Playbook
Condition-Specific
The VA Migraine Claims Playbook
How to File, Document, and Win VA Disability for Migraines, Chronic Headaches, and Headache Disorders
A focused guide to VA disability claims for migraines and headache disorders, covering how the VA rates headaches using the prostrating attack frequency criteria, how to document migraine frequency and severity, how to connect migraines to service or to other service-connected conditions, and how to track headaches in a way that supports a winning claim.
Military Sexual Trauma VA Claims
Condition-Specific
Military Sexual Trauma VA Claims
The Complete Guide to VA Disability Benefits for Military Sexual Trauma Survivors
A comprehensive guide to VA disability claims based on military sexual trauma, written with sensitivity and precision. Covers the special evidentiary standards that apply to MST claims, how to document trauma without military records, the role of markers in the veteran's service record, and how to navigate the VA's MST coordinator network.
Evidence Building(4)
Nexus Letters for VA Claims
Evidence Building
Nexus Letters for VA Claims
How to Get, Write, and Use a Nexus Letter to Win Your VA Disability Service Connection
A focused guide on nexus letters — the medical opinions that link a veteran's current condition to their military service. Covers when a nexus letter is required, what it must say to satisfy VA standards, how to find and work with a physician who will write one, and how to present it effectively in a claim.
Buddy Statements for VA Claims
Evidence Building
Buddy Statements for VA Claims
How to Request, Write, and Submit the Most Underused Evidence in VA Disability Claims
A practical guide to buddy statements (VA Form 21-10210) — lay evidence from fellow service members, family, and others who witnessed a veteran's injuries or in-service events. Covers who can write one, what it should include, how to request it, and how to make it an effective part of a claim package.
The VA C&P Exam Playbook
Evidence Building
The VA C&P Exam Playbook
The Complete Guide to Preparing for Your VA C&P Exam and Getting the Rating You Deserve
A preparation guide for the VA Compensation and Pension examination — the medical evaluation that determines VA disability ratings. Covers what the examiner is looking for, how to describe your worst day accurately, which symptoms and functional limitations matter most, and what to do if the exam result is wrong.
AI and Your VA Claim
Evidence Building
AI and Your VA Claim
How to Use Artificial Intelligence Tools Without Killing Your Claim
A practical guide to using AI tools responsibly in the VA claims process, covering how to use AI to organize evidence, draft personal statements, and research regulations — and just as importantly, where AI can hurt a claim if used incorrectly, what the VA's position on AI-generated content is, and how to stay protected throughout.
Benefits & Compensation(7)
The VA 100% Disability Maximizer
Benefits & Compensation
The VA 100% Disability Maximizer
The Step-by-Step Strategy for Rating Increases, Secondary Claims, and Reaching 100% VA Disability
A strategic guide for veterans who are already rated but want to reach 100% combined or individual unemployability. Covers the combined ratings math the VA uses, how to identify gaps in your current ratings, which secondary conditions to pursue, and how to document worsening conditions for rating increases.
100% Pay Without a 100% Rating
Benefits & Compensation
100% Pay Without a 100% Rating
How Veterans Too Disabled to Work Can Receive Full VA Compensation Without a 100% Rating
A comprehensive guide to Total Disability Individual Unemployability (TDIU) — the VA benefit that pays veterans at the 100% compensation rate when service-connected disabilities prevent them from maintaining substantially gainful employment, even if their combined rating is below 100%.
Beyond 100% — VA Special Monthly Compensation
Benefits & Compensation
Beyond 100% — VA Special Monthly Compensation
How Veterans Already at 100% Can Qualify for Higher VA Compensation Most Veterans Don't Even Know About
A guide to Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) — the VA's system of additional payments for veterans with the most severe disabilities. Covers every SMC level from S through L and beyond, the specific conditions that qualify, how to file for SMC, and how SMC interacts with other VA benefits.
The PACT Act Playbook
Benefits & Compensation
The PACT Act Playbook
How to File VA Disability Claims for Burn Pit Exposure, Toxic Chemicals, and PACT Act Presumptive Conditions
A complete guide to the VA benefits expanded under the PACT Act of 2022, including the burn pit presumptive conditions, Agent Orange expansions, radiation presumptives, and the new toxic exposure screening process. Covers who qualifies, which conditions are now presumptive, and how to file claims under the new rules.
VA Aid and Attendance Guide
Benefits & Compensation
VA Aid and Attendance Guide
The Veteran's Complete Guide to Aid and Attendance, Housebound Status, and VA Caregiver Benefits
A guide to the VA's Aid and Attendance and Housebound benefits — additional monthly payments for veterans who need help with daily activities, are confined to their home, or require assisted living or nursing care. Also covers the VA Caregiver Support Program and the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers.
How to Use VA Healthcare
Benefits & Compensation
How to Use VA Healthcare
The Complete Enrollment and Navigation Guide
A practical guide to enrolling in and navigating VA healthcare, covering the priority group system, how to choose between VA care and community care, how to use the MISSION Act, mental health services, telehealth, pharmacy benefits, and how to get the most out of VA healthcare as a long-term medical home.
The VR&E Playbook
Benefits & Compensation
The VR&E Playbook
The Veteran's Complete Guide to VA Vocational Rehabilitation — Education, Training, and Employment Benefits
A complete guide to Chapter 31 Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment — the VA benefit that covers education, training, and job placement for veterans with service-connected disabilities. Covers eligibility, the five tracks of VR&E, how to work with a VR&E counselor, and how to use VR&E alongside other VA benefits.
Special Populations(2)
Never Too Late
Special Populations
Never Too Late
VA Benefits, Pension, and Healthcare for Veterans Who Never Filed
A guide for older veterans — and those who care for them — who served decades ago but never filed for VA disability benefits, pension, or healthcare enrollment. Covers late-file claims, the pension benefit for low-income veterans, retroactive effective dates, and how to access VA healthcare later in life.
The Military Discharge Upgrade Manual
Special Populations
The Military Discharge Upgrade Manual
How to Upgrade Your Discharge, Fix Your DD-214, and Reclaim the VA Benefits You Were Denied
A step-by-step guide to the military discharge upgrade process through the Discharge Review Boards and Boards for Correction of Military Records. Covers every discharge type, the grounds for upgrade including liberal consideration for mental health and MST, how to build a petition, and how an upgraded discharge unlocks VA benefits.
Post-Award & Protection(2)
Protect Your VA Rating
Post-Award & Protection
Protect Your VA Rating
How to Respond to a Proposed VA Rating Reduction, Fight Back, and Keep the Benefits You've Earned
A defensive guide for veterans facing a VA proposed rating reduction, covering the legal protections that apply based on how long a rating has been in place, the response process, the evidence that works best to oppose a reduction, and the appeals options if the VA proceeds.
Earn More Without Losing Your TDIU or VA Pension
Post-Award & Protection
Earn More Without Losing Your TDIU or VA Pension
How to Earn Income, Start a Business, or Return to Work Without Triggering a Loss of Your TDIU or VA Pension
A practical guide for veterans on TDIU or VA pension who want to earn income, start a side business, or return to part-time work without accidentally triggering a benefits review or loss. Covers the marginal employment rules, the sheltered employment exception, pension income thresholds, and how to document self-employment income properly.
Transition & Career(5)
After the DD-214
Transition & Career
After the DD-214
How to Navigate VA Benefits, Employment, and Finances When the Military Stops Paying You
A practical transition guide for recently separated veterans covering the first three years of civilian life: VA healthcare enrollment, filing disability claims before records go cold, GI Bill and VR&E education benefits, TRICARE to civilian insurance transition, employment strategies, and financial adjustment when the military paycheck stops.
Still Standing
Transition & Career
Still Standing
A Veteran Mental Health and Crisis Survival Guide
A direct, practical guide to veteran mental health and crisis survival written for veterans who are struggling and for those who want to help them. Covers the warning signs of crisis, how to access VA mental health services, what the Veterans Crisis Line offers, how to talk to someone you're worried about, and how to build resilience after trauma.
The Long Game
Transition & Career
The Long Game
How Veterans Rebuild Identity, Community, and Purpose After Service
A guide to the long-term work of veteran identity transition — what happens when the mission ends, the uniform comes off, and the structure of military life disappears. Covers rebuilding a sense of purpose, finding community outside the military, redefining identity beyond rank and role, and the psychological work of becoming a civilian.
The Veteran Entrepreneur Playbook
Transition & Career
The Veteran Entrepreneur Playbook
The Veteran's Complete Business Startup Guide
A business startup guide written specifically for veteran entrepreneurs, covering the VA's Boots to Business program, veteran-owned business certifications (SDVOSB, VOSB), SBA resources, federal contracting set-asides, how to use the GI Bill for entrepreneurship training, and how military leadership and discipline translate into business advantage.
The Veteran's Financial Playbook
Transition & Career
The Veteran's Financial Playbook
A Complete Guide to VA Compensation Management, Tax Strategy, Investment Planning, and Long-Term Wealth Building for Veterans
A comprehensive personal finance guide for veterans covering the unique financial landscape of veteran life: VA disability compensation and its tax treatment, the Thrift Savings Plan and rollover options, the Blended Retirement System, GI Bill housing allowance strategies, and long-term wealth building using the financial foundation that military service provides.
U.S. Air Force Veteran
About the Author
Joshua Christopherson is a disabled U.S. Air Force and Air National Guard veteran with years of Veterans Service Officer–level experience helping thousands of veterans work through the VA disability claims process.
All books are published under FWD Assist Publishing, the publishing imprint of FWD Assist HQ.