Support By Fire
The Tools the VA
Won't Build
for You.
Free, accurate VA disability tools built by a 100% rated Army veteran. No ads. No upsells. No VA-speak. Just the math, the strategy, and the forms — done right.
✓ Bilateral Factor Math✓ 2026 Pay Tables✓ SMC-S Detection✓ C&P Strategy Guides✓ PDF Form Builder
🎖️
Rated Veteran
13+ years Army service.
Built this because the system shouldn't be this hard to navigate.
Built this because the system shouldn't be this hard to navigate.
Built By
Army Officer
& Veteran
& Veteran
Logistics & Logistics
1st Cav · 1st AD · Army Reserve
1st Cav · 1st AD · Army Reserve
I've been an Army transportation and logistics officer for over 13 years, including 10 on active duty with the 1st Cavalry Division and 1st Armored Division, with nearly two years of deployments and overseas assignments. I'm still serving in the Army Reserve — and rated as a 100% disabled Veteran. I built Support By Fire because the tools I needed when navigating my own claim either didn't exist or weren't built for people who actually know what they're doing.
13+
Yrs Service
100%
VA Rating
Free
Always
All Tools
VA Disability Calculator
True combined rating math with bilateral factor, SMC-S detection, TDIU flag, rating protection rules, and 2026 pay tables.
↓ Scroll DownClaims Evidence & Exam Guide
C&P exam prep by condition, VA form builder with PDF download, and quick access to all major VA forms.
6 Exam Types · PDF FormsClaims Process Timeline
All 8 VA claim stages with current average wait times, interactive checklists, and appeals lane breakdowns.
Updated 2025TDIU Screener
4-question screener — find out if you qualify for Total Disability Individual Unemployability at the 100% pay rate.
New Tool🧮 VA Disability Calculator
Mental Health
Select a condition below
Select Rating Percentage (38 CFR Part 4)
Dependents & Family
2026 VA pay rates — official VA rate table.
Spouse Status
Children Under 18
School-Age (18–23)
Dependent Parents
My Combined Claim Profile
No conditions added yet. Select a condition above and click Add.
⭐ SMC-S Eligibility Detected
Your profile shows a 100% combined rating plus a separate condition rated 60%+. You may qualify for Special Monthly Compensation (SMC-S) — adds ~$430/month on top of your 100% rate. Ask your VSO about SMC-S when filing. ⚠️ TDIU May Apply
Your ratings may qualify for Total Disability Individual Unemployability (TDIU) — paid at 100% even if your combined rating is lower. Use the TDIU Screener →ℹ️ Benefits at This Rating
Raw Score: 0.0%
Combined Rating
$0.00
Est. Monthly Compensation
🛡️ Rating Protection Rules
5-Year Rule — Stabilized Rating
After 5 continuous years, reduction requires proof of sustained improvement
38 CFR § 3.344
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After 5 years at the same rating, your rating is considered "stabilized." The VA cannot reduce it based on a single exam showing improvement. They must demonstrate sustained improvement across multiple examinations over time — not just one good day at a re-exam.
What this means for you: If the VA schedules a re-exam and your rating has been in place 5+ years, one exam showing improvement is legally insufficient to reduce your rating. Challenge any proposed reduction immediately.
Caveat: Slows reduction — does not prevent it. The VA can still reduce with documented, sustained improvement across multiple exams.
10-Year Rule — Protected Service Connection
After 10 continuous years, the VA cannot sever service connection
38 CFR § 3.957
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After 10 years of continuous service connection, the VA cannot eliminate your service connection entirely — even if they now believe the condition isn't actually service-connected. They can still reduce the percentage, but they cannot zero it out by removing the connection.
Protects the connection, not the percentage. Your condition stays service-connected for life. The rating percentage can still be reduced — but you can never lose the service connection itself.
Exception: Does not apply if the VA can prove the original service connection was established by fraud.
20-Year Rule — Permanently Protected Rating
After 20 years at the same level, that percentage is locked in permanently
38 CFR § 3.951(b)
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After 20 years at the same rating level, the VA cannot reduce your rating below that percentage — ever. This is sometimes called a "protected rating." This is the strongest statutory protection short of P&T designation.
This is the gold standard of statutory protection. Once your rating has been at a specific percentage for 20 continuous years, that floor is locked in by federal law. The VA cannot reduce it below that level for any reason.
Exception: Does not apply if the rating was the result of fraud.
Permanent & Total (P&T) Designation
The highest level of protection — no future re-exams and additional benefits
38 CFR § 3.340
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P&T designation means the VA has determined your disabilities are permanent (not expected to improve) and total (100% combined or effectively total). Once granted, the VA cannot schedule you for re-examination to reduce your rating — and it unlocks significant additional benefits.
Important: You can be rated at 100% WITHOUT P&T designation. Check your decision letter for "Permanent and Total" language. If you're 100% but not P&T, and your conditions are unlikely to improve, pursue P&T through your VSO.
✅ No future C&P re-exams
✅ DEA / Chapter 35 for dependents
✅ CHAMPVA for family
✅ Commissary & Exchange access
✅ State property tax exemptions
✅ VA home loan fee waiver (permanent)
✅ Vocational Rehab eligibility
✅ SBA veteran business loans
How to Fight a Proposed Rating Reduction
If you receive a reduction notice — you have rights and deadlines
38 CFR § 3.105
▼
The VA must follow a specific legal process before reducing your rating. There are multiple intervention points — and veterans who fight back win more often than those who don't.
1
Read the notice carefully and note the deadline. The VA must provide written notice before reducing a rating. You typically have 60 days to respond before reduction takes effect.
2
Request a predetermination hearing immediately. You have the right to a hearing before the reduction. Do it in writing — this buys time and forces the VA to present their evidence on record.
3
Get a private medical opinion. Have your treating physician document that your condition has not materially improved — or has worsened. This directly counters the VA's proposed basis for reduction.
4
Submit a 21-4138 personal statement rebuttal. Describe specifically how your worst-day function has not improved. Use frequency, duration, and functional limitations — the same format as a C&P exam sheet.
5
Cite your protection rule explicitly. If you've been rated 5, 10, or 20+ years, cite the relevant CFR in your rebuttal. The VA must address it in their decision.
6
Contact a VSO or accredited claims agent immediately. DAV, VFW, and American Legion all provide free legal assistance for reduction cases. Do not fight this alone.
Disclaimer: Support By Fire is an independent educational resource built by a veteran for veterans. Not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. All calculator results are estimates based on published VA rating formulas. Verify with an accredited VSO before submitting a claim.
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