Know the clocks
VA gives 1 year to request a Higher-Level Review or Board Appeal from the date on a decision letter. The Timeline sheet calculates your deadlines the moment you enter the date.
Veteran & Federal Workflows · WORKBOOK + TRACKER · 2026
Stop losing track of your own VA claim.
A 44-page workbook and an 11-sheet tracker for organizing your evidence, checking the ratings math, preparing for the exam and reading your decision. Every rule traced to a VA.gov page or federal regulation.
44-PAGE PDF11-SHEET EXCEL TRACKER19 DATED SOURCESFROM $39 ONE TIMEINSTANT DELIVERY
FREE FIRST
Start with the free tools. They are free.
Our companion site va-ratings.org offers free VA disability claim tools, including a rating calculator, C&P exam preparation, evidence checklists and personal-statement help. Use them as much as you like with no purchase. The Kit is optional: it goes deeper and keeps everything in one workbook. Accredited VSO representatives also help veterans with claims for free.
THE PROBLEM
Claims stall on paperwork, not just medicine.
VA lists three things a disability claim generally needs: a current diagnosis, an in-service event or injury, and a link between the two. Most of the work is gathering, dating and tracking the proof. This gives you one place to do it.
Keep the proof straight
An evidence matrix, records-request log, statement tracker and symptom diary, so nothing depends on memory.
Check the math
Rank, combine, round: the same step-by-step method VA publishes, in a worksheet and a working calculator.
Show up prepared
Exam prep and after-exam sheets built around what VA says about scheduling, rescheduling and missed exams.
FREE LESSON
Why 50% + 30% + 10% is not 90%
VA does not add ratings. Per VA, it ranks them high to low and combines two at a time, rounding to a whole number at each step, then rounds the result to the nearest 10.
| Step | Calculation | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Start with the highest rating | 50 |
| 2 | 50 + 30 × (100 − 50) ÷ 100 = 50 + 15 | 65 |
| 3 | 65 + 10 × (100 − 65) ÷ 100 = 65 + 3.5 = 68.5, rounded to 69 | 69 |
| 4 | Round to the nearest 10 (1–4 down, 5–9 up) | 70 |
Method per VA.gov "About VA disability ratings" and 38 CFR 4.25. Our formula matched 117 cells of the official Table I; the official table governs. This is an estimate for understanding; VA decides your ratings. The bilateral factor (38 CFR 4.26) can change results and is covered in the kit.
WHAT'S INSIDE
Ten parts, two appendices, one tracker.
| Part | What you get |
|---|---|
| 1 · The claim map | The six steps of a claim, every clock that matters, and four numbers to track. |
| 2 · Building and tracking evidence | Evidence elements and types, records requests, and an evidence matrix. |
| 3 · How ratings combine | Method, worked examples, bilateral factor, worksheet, and a computed Table I. |
| 4 · Secondary conditions | How VA describes secondary service connection and aggravation (38 CFR 3.310). |
| 5 · Statements and buddy letters | What makes lay evidence useful, what to leave out, outlines and a tracker. |
| 6 · The claim exam | VA's scheduling and rescheduling rules, a 14-day symptom diary, prep and after-exam sheets. |
| 7 · Medical forms (DBQs) | What DBQs are, working with your providers, and DBQ-fraud warnings. |
| 8 · Decisions and review options | Reading a decision letter; Supplemental Claim vs. Higher-Level Review vs. Board Appeal side by side. |
| 9 · Help, fees and red flags | Accredited representatives, what the rules say about fees, and warning signs. |
| 10 · Master worksheets | Print-ready sheets that pull it all together. |
| Appendices | Form index, glossary, and a source ledger (S1–S19) of what was read, when, and what was not independently verified. |
The Complete tracker (Excel, 11 sheets)
Start Here · Combined Rating (formula-driven, up to 12 ratings) · Table I · Timeline (deadlines calculated from your dates) · Evidence Log · Records Requests · Statements · Medical Visits · Symptom Diary · Decisions · Sources. Input cells are blue on pale yellow; example rows are gray italics.
FREE SAMPLE
9 pages of the real thing
Part 1 (the claim map) and Part 3 (how ratings combine), unchanged from the full kit. Enter your email and the download appears.
We'll also email a short series of practical tips about the claim process. Unsubscribe any time. We do not sell or share your email. We never ask for your VA file number, Social Security number or login.
CHOOSE YOUR VERSION
Instant PDF download. Secure payment by Stripe.
INCLUDES THE TRACKER
Complete
$59
- Everything in the Kit
- 11-sheet Excel tracker with live formulas
- Combined-rating calculator and deadline timeline
- Works in Excel and compatible spreadsheet apps
The Kit
$39
- 44-page PDF workbook
- All 10 parts, worksheets and appendices
- Source ledger with read dates
- Print-friendly
30-day refund: email ScriptMasterLabs@gmail.com within 30 days of purchase for a full refund.
What this is not. No outcome is promised. It will not tell you whether to file, which review lane to choose or what your rating should be; those are decisions for you and an accredited representative. VA decides every claim.
WHY THIS EXISTS
One real guide instead of four-page PDFs.
I'm Timothy Walton, a service-disabled veteran and the founder of Script Master Labs. Our earlier VA guides were four pages each. They explained one topic at a time and left you to connect them. This kit replaces them with one workbook and a tracker, and every rule in it is traced to a VA.gov page or federal regulation, with the date it was read and a list of what could not be verified.
FAQ
What should I know before I buy?
Is this legal advice or claims assistance?
No. It is an educational workbook. Help preparing, presenting or prosecuting a VA claim is regulated; free accredited help is available through VSOs. Find one at va.gov/get-help-from-accredited-representative.
Will this get my claim approved or raise my rating?
No one can promise that, and this kit does not. It helps you organize evidence and understand the process. VA makes every decision.
Are the rules current?
Edition 1 reflects sources read on October 13, 2026. VA changes forms and rules, so the kit tells you where to confirm each one.
What format is it?
A PDF workbook (print or on screen). Complete adds an Excel (.xlsx) tracker with working formulas. Both are one-time purchases, not subscriptions.
Do you need my VA information?
No. The kit and tracker are files you fill in yourself. Nothing is sent to us. Never send your VA file number or Social Security number to anyone you do not know.
Are there free tools?
Yes. va-ratings.org has free VA claim tools, and accredited VSO representatives help for free. The Kit is for people who want one organized, sourced workbook and tracker.
What is the refund policy?
Email ScriptMasterLabs@gmail.com within 30 days of purchase for a full refund.
TRUTH BOUNDARY
Educational publication; not legal advice and not claims assistance. Script Master Labs LLC is not a VA-accredited representative and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. VA's official decisions and current regulations control.