About this tool
A death certificate answers only one DIC question. Explains contributory cause and the ten-year total rating route, with a fillable record worksheet for surviving families.
Details
- PDF, 8 pages, 44 fillable fields
- Free download. No email, no account.
Pairs with
- 100 Percent VA Disability Explained (book, coming soon)
- Left Standing (book, coming soon)
- Never Too Late (book, coming soon)
- The Military Retiree's VA Guide (book, coming soon)
- The PACT Act Playbook (book, coming soon)
- The Veteran's Financial Playbook (book, coming soon)
- VA Aid and Attendance Guide (book, coming soon)
- What He Earned (book, coming soon)
Never a cut of your claim.
In crisis? Veterans Crisis Line: dial 988, then press 1, or text 838255. Free, confidential, 24/7.
About the author: J. Erickson is a service-disabled Air Force veteran. He served as a military firefighter and as a veteran service officer, where he spent years walking veterans through the same claims process he writes about now. He holds an MBA and writes plain-language guides for veterans who want to understand the system without a translator.
Keep building your plan
Keep using the free resources. A book is optional, not a requirement for preparing your claim or getting accredited help.
Explore the book collection
Field guides focus on a task; books offer a longer reading format. PDF book editions are coming to this site, with Kindle and paperback editions coming to Amazon. Purchases are not open yet. Free guides and worksheets need no purchase, email, or account.
Browse books and their free companionsWritten by J. Erickson, a service-disabled Air Force veteran and former veteran service officer. Last reviewed October 2026.