The Law Library
The Law Library
The actual rules VA uses to decide your claim, in plain English, with the official source one click away.
VA decides claims under four layers of rules. Congress writes the statutes. VA turns them into regulations. VA staff follow an internal manual, the M21-1. And the courts say what all of it means when there's a dispute. Knowing which layer a rule comes from tells you how much weight it carries, and where to point when a decision gets it wrong.
Every entry here has a plain-English explanation, a short quote in the source's own words, and a link to the official text so you can check it yourself.
40 sections of Title 38 and Title 10
Federal statutes
The law Congress passed. Everything else has to follow it.
33 sections of 38 CFR
Regulations
VA's binding rules: service connection, ratings, effective dates, reviews.
15 key topics
The M21-1 manual
The playbook regional office raters follow when they decide your claim.
43 landmark cases
Court decisions
What the courts have said the rules mean, in cases VA has to follow.
How the layers rank
| Layer | Who writes it | Who it binds |
|---|---|---|
| Statutes (38 U.S.C.) | Congress | Everyone, including VA and the courts |
| Regulations (38 CFR) | VA, through public rulemaking | VA raters and the Board |
| M21-1 manual | VA's benefits administration | Regional office raters. The Board isn't bound by it. |
| Court decisions | The Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, the Federal Circuit, the Supreme Court | VA and the Board, on the points the court decided |
This is general education, not legal advice, and not from the VA. Laws and regulations change, so always check the official source linked on each entry. For advice on your own claim, work with a free VA-accredited representative or a Veterans Service Organization. We are not the VA and are not affiliated with the VA.