VA Accreditation Exam Study Guide 2026
Veterans Affairs Claims Agent Prep
1. What are compensation and pension programs? - Programs established by the VA to
provide financial support and benefits to veterans with service-connected disabilities and their
families.
2. What is the duty to assist? - The VA's obligation to help claimants obtain evidence necessary
to substantiate their claims for benefits.
3. What is an effective date in VA claims? - The date from which benefits are paid, typically the
date the claim was received or the date entitlement arose, whichever is later.
4. What is an intent to file? - A written notification to the VA indicating a claimant's intention to
file for benefits, which can establish an earlier effective date.
5. What are supplemental claims? - Claims submitted after an initial claim has been decided,
providing new and relevant evidence to support the claim.
6. What is a higher-level review? - A process allowing claimants to request a review of their
claim by a senior claims adjudicator if they believe the initial decision was incorrect.
7. What are Board appeals options? - Options available to claimants to appeal a decision made
by the VA, including direct appeals to the Board of Veterans' Appeals.
8. What is pension eligibility? - Criteria that veterans must meet to qualify for VA pension
benefits, including service requirements, income limits, and age or disability status.
9. What is service connection? - The establishment of a direct link between a veteran's current
disability and their military service, necessary for receiving VA benefits.
, 10.KWhatKareKagents'Kfees?K-
KFeesKthatKaccreditedKagentsKmayKchargeKforKassistingKveteransKwithKclaims,KsubjectKtoKregulations
KsetKbyKtheKVA.
11.KWhatKareKstandardsKforKwaiverKofKindebtedness?K-
KCriteriaKusedKbyKtheKVAKtoKdetermineKifKaKveteranKcanKbeKrelievedKfromKrepayingKaKdebtKowedKtoKt
heKVAKdueKtoKfinancialKhardshipKorKotherKfactors.
12.KWhatKisKTitleK38KUnitedKStatesKCode?K-
KTheKsectionKofKU.S.KlawKthatKgovernsKveterans'Kbenefits,KincludingKcompensation,Kpensions,KandKr
elatedKprograms.
13.KWhatKisKTitleK38KCodeKofKFederalKRegulations?K-
KTheKbodyKofKfederalKregulationsKthatKoutlinesKtheKproceduresKandKpoliciesKforKadministeringKvete
rans'Kbenefits.
14.KWhatKisKaKclaimKprocedure?K-
KTheKprocessKbyKwhichKveteransKsubmitKclaimsKforKbenefits,KincludingKrequiredKforms,Kdocumenta
tion,KandKtimelines.
15.KWhatKisKanKappeal?K-
KAKformalKrequestKforKtheKVAKtoKreviewKandKchangeKaKdecisionKmadeKregardingKaKclaimKforKbenefits
.
16.KWhatKisKaKclosed-bookKexamKformat?K-
KAnKexaminationKformatKwhereKcandidatesKcannotKreferKtoKnotesKorKmaterialsKduringKtheKtest,Kreq
uiringKknowledgeKretention.
Veterans Affairs Claims Agent Prep
1. What are compensation and pension programs? - Programs established by the VA to
provide financial support and benefits to veterans with service-connected disabilities and their
families.
2. What is the duty to assist? - The VA's obligation to help claimants obtain evidence necessary
to substantiate their claims for benefits.
3. What is an effective date in VA claims? - The date from which benefits are paid, typically the
date the claim was received or the date entitlement arose, whichever is later.
4. What is an intent to file? - A written notification to the VA indicating a claimant's intention to
file for benefits, which can establish an earlier effective date.
5. What are supplemental claims? - Claims submitted after an initial claim has been decided,
providing new and relevant evidence to support the claim.
6. What is a higher-level review? - A process allowing claimants to request a review of their
claim by a senior claims adjudicator if they believe the initial decision was incorrect.
7. What are Board appeals options? - Options available to claimants to appeal a decision made
by the VA, including direct appeals to the Board of Veterans' Appeals.
8. What is pension eligibility? - Criteria that veterans must meet to qualify for VA pension
benefits, including service requirements, income limits, and age or disability status.
9. What is service connection? - The establishment of a direct link between a veteran's current
disability and their military service, necessary for receiving VA benefits.
, 10.KWhatKareKagents'Kfees?K-
KFeesKthatKaccreditedKagentsKmayKchargeKforKassistingKveteransKwithKclaims,KsubjectKtoKregulations
KsetKbyKtheKVA.
11.KWhatKareKstandardsKforKwaiverKofKindebtedness?K-
KCriteriaKusedKbyKtheKVAKtoKdetermineKifKaKveteranKcanKbeKrelievedKfromKrepayingKaKdebtKowedKtoKt
heKVAKdueKtoKfinancialKhardshipKorKotherKfactors.
12.KWhatKisKTitleK38KUnitedKStatesKCode?K-
KTheKsectionKofKU.S.KlawKthatKgovernsKveterans'Kbenefits,KincludingKcompensation,Kpensions,KandKr
elatedKprograms.
13.KWhatKisKTitleK38KCodeKofKFederalKRegulations?K-
KTheKbodyKofKfederalKregulationsKthatKoutlinesKtheKproceduresKandKpoliciesKforKadministeringKvete
rans'Kbenefits.
14.KWhatKisKaKclaimKprocedure?K-
KTheKprocessKbyKwhichKveteransKsubmitKclaimsKforKbenefits,KincludingKrequiredKforms,Kdocumenta
tion,KandKtimelines.
15.KWhatKisKanKappeal?K-
KAKformalKrequestKforKtheKVAKtoKreviewKandKchangeKaKdecisionKmadeKregardingKaKclaimKforKbenefits
.
16.KWhatKisKaKclosed-bookKexamKformat?K-
KAnKexaminationKformatKwhereKcandidatesKcannotKreferKtoKnotesKorKmaterialsKduringKtheKtest,Kreq
uiringKknowledgeKretention.
