Practical guides to help you understand your pay, benefits, and retirement options
39 articles
VA P&T Disability Benefits — Full Guide 2026
VA Benefits
Updated March 12, 2026
P&T status unlocks massive extra benefits beyond your monthly check. Learn what VA Permanent & Total means, how to qualify, and the complete 2026 benefits list.
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How VA Math Works
VA Benefits
Published March 12, 2026
Why 50% + 30% doesn't equal 80% at the VA. Step-by-step breakdown of 38 CFR 4.25, the bilateral factor, and how to calculate your combined rating.
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Take-Home Pay Calculator
Pay & Compensation
Updated February 23, 2026
Step-by-step E-5 take-home pay example with every deduction explained. Federal tax, state tax, TSP, SGLI, and what's tax-free.
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TSP Fund Comparison
Retirement
Updated February 19, 2026
G, F, C, S, I, and Lifecycle funds — here's what each one does, historical returns, and which ones actually grow your money.
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2026 Pay Raise
Pay & Compensation
Updated February 27, 2026
Everything you need to know about the 2026 military pay raise — 3.8% increase for all ranks, updated BAH rates, BAS changes, and what it means for your paycheck.
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Best States for Veterans
VA Benefits
Published March 12, 2026
Ranking the best states for veterans based on income tax exemptions, property tax breaks, VA healthcare access, and state-level veteran benefits.
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How to Get 100% VA Rating 2026 — Strategy
VA Benefits
Updated March 12, 2026
Getting from 70% to 100% VA rating requires understanding VA math. Learn which conditions to add, how to use TDIU as an alternative path, and what 100% P&T unlocks.
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How Pay Goes Up
Pay & Compensation
Updated June 6, 2026
The three ways your base pay goes up — promotion to a higher grade, automatic longevity (time-in-service) steps, and the annual 3.8% raise — explained with real 2026 numbers. Plus why the pay raise isn't the same as COLA.
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Pay & Compensation
Updated February 19, 2026
Every enlisted and officer pay rate for 2026, organized by rank and years of service. See exactly what the 3.8% raise means for your grade.
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Pay With Dependents
VA Benefits
Updated February 27, 2026
How much extra you get with a spouse, children, and parents at each rating from 30% to 100%. Full rate tables and dollar-difference breakdowns.
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Knee VA Rating 2026 — All Criteria Explained
VA Benefits
Updated March 12, 2026
VA knee ratings use range of motion measurements and instability testing. Learn DC 5260, 5261, and 5257, the flexion degrees for each rating, and how knee replacement is rated.
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Tinnitus VA Rating 2026 — 10% Pay & Claims
VA Benefits
Updated March 12, 2026
VA rates tinnitus at 10% for both ears — but filing it correctly matters. Learn diagnostic code 6260, secondary conditions to add, buddy statement strategy, and 2026 monthly pay.
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2026 Drill Pay
Reserve / Guard
Updated February 27, 2026
The 1/30th formula, drill pay rates by rank, drill weekends vs AT pay, example calculations, and tax implications for reservists.
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GI Bill Housing (MHA)
Education
Updated February 19, 2026
Your MHA could be worth $1,500 to $3,500/month tax-free depending on your school location. Here's exactly how it's calculated.
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PTSD VA Rating 2026 — 30% to 100% Criteria
VA Benefits
Updated March 12, 2026
PTSD ratings range from 30% to 100% based on occupational and social impairment. Learn the exact criteria, C&P exam strategy, and 2026 monthly pay at each level.
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Hearing Loss VA Rating 2026 — Audiogram Guide
VA Benefits
Updated March 12, 2026
VA uses a Roman numeral table system combining speech recognition and pure tone thresholds to rate hearing loss. Learn how your audiogram translates to a rating and 2026 pay.
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Verified Discounts
Discounts & Savings
Verified June 2026
The year-round military discounts worth real money in 2026 — travel, retail, tech, food, and phone deals — plus how to verify once with ID.me, SheerID, and GovX so the savings follow you everywhere.
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2026 VA Disability Rates
VA Benefits
Updated February 27, 2026
Complete 2026 VA disability rates for every rating from 10% to 100%. COLA details, dependent rates, SMC overview, and year-over-year comparison.
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Military Pay After Taxes
Pay & Compensation
Updated February 19, 2026
Federal withholding, state taxes, FICA, TSP, SGLI — here's what actually gets deducted and what hits your bank account.
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BRS vs High-3
Retirement
Updated February 11, 2026
The Blended Retirement System changed the game for military retirement. Here's how it stacks up against the legacy High-3 plan.
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Lumbar Spine VA Rating 2026 — ROM & DeLuca
VA Benefits
Updated March 12, 2026
VA rates back pain by how far you can bend. Learn the exact flexion degrees for 10%, 20%, 40%, and 60% ratings, DeLuca criteria, and secondary radiculopathy claims.
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Sleep Apnea VA Rating 2026 — 50% & Claims
VA Benefits
Updated March 12, 2026
Sleep apnea is one of the fastest-growing VA claims. Learn the 4 rating levels (0%, 30%, 50%, 100%), why CPAP triggers 50%, and 2026 compensation at each level.
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BAH Explained
Housing
Updated February 23, 2026
How BAH is calculated, 2026 rate examples for major bases, tax advantages, and how to look up your rate by location and rank.
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2026 Military Pay
Pay & Compensation
Updated February 11, 2026
The 2026 pay raise is here. Here's what it actually means for your paycheck, your BAH, and your total compensation.
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VA Claim Tips
VA Benefits
Updated February 19, 2026
Practical tips for filing your VA claim — from documenting conditions while serving to navigating the C&P exam and appeals process.
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2026 BAH by State
Housing
Updated February 27, 2026
Compare 2026 BAH rates across all 50 states. See which states have the highest and lowest housing allowances for military service members.
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How to Read Your LES
Pay & Compensation
Updated February 19, 2026
Your LES has dozens of lines. Here's what every entitlement, deduction, and allotment actually means — plus common errors to watch for.
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VA Disability Calculator
VA Benefits
Updated February 23, 2026
Step-by-step guide to calculating your combined VA disability rating and 2026 compensation. Includes pay rates, dependent additions, and common mistakes.
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Combined VA Ratings
VA Benefits
Updated February 11, 2026
If you have a 50% and a 30% rating, you might expect 80%. The VA sees it differently. Here's how "VA Math" actually works.
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TDIU vs 100%
VA Benefits
Published March 12, 2026
Compare TDIU (Individual Unemployability) with a 100% schedular VA rating. Key differences in pay, benefits, work restrictions, and P&T status.
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Secondary Service Connection VA — How to File
VA Benefits
Updated March 12, 2026
Secondary service connection lets you add new conditions caused by existing VA-rated disabilities. Learn the most common pairings, nexus letter strategy, and how to file.
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TBI VA Rating 2026 — Severity Levels & Pay
VA Benefits
Updated March 12, 2026
TBI has complex overlapping symptoms and is rated across multiple domains. Learn how VA rates mild vs severe TBI, the PTSD overlap rules, and 2026 compensation rates.
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GERD VA Rating 2026 — Secondary to PTSD
VA Benefits
Updated March 12, 2026
GERD can be service-connected as secondary to PTSD, stress, or medications. Learn 2026 VA ratings for GERD (0%–80% under DC 7206), the nexus letter strategy, and how to file a secondary claim.
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CRDP vs CRSC
VA Benefits
Updated February 27, 2026
Which concurrent retirement and disability pay option gives you more money? Eligibility rules, example scenarios, and tax implications.
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Post-9/11 GI Bill
Education
Updated February 11, 2026
The GI Bill is one of the best education benefits out there, but the details can be confusing. Here's the full breakdown.
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Migraine VA Rating 2026 — Criteria & Pay
VA Benefits
Updated March 12, 2026
VA rates migraines based on how often you have prostrating attacks. Learn the 0%, 10%, 30%, and 50% rating criteria, how to document attacks, and 2026 monthly pay.
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Depression VA Rating 2026 — 0% to 100% Criteria & Pay
VA Benefits
Updated June 29, 2026
How the VA rates depression (DC 9434) in 2026: the 0/10/30/50/70/100% criteria under 38 CFR 4.130, monthly pay at each level, secondary claims, and C&P exam tips.
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VA Bilateral Factor Explained
VA Benefits
Updated June 29, 2026
How the VA bilateral factor works under 38 CFR 4.26: when both arms or both legs are rated, the VA combines them and adds 10% of that value. Worked examples, the 2023 veteran-favorable rule change, and what does NOT qualify.
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250 Years of Service — A Thank-You to Every Veteran & Their Family
Pay & Compensation
Updated June 29, 2026
Since 1775, generations of Americans have stood the watch. As the nation marks 250 years, a thank-you to every veteran and military family — and the story of my great-grandfather, Silver Star combat engineer Malvin Champion.
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