Trisha Kissel, Brookside Veteran Services Representative

02/26/2026

🇺🇸 Did You Know?

Even a 10% VA disability rating can open the door to tax-free monthly income, VA healthcare eligibility, and additional state benefits. That first step could lead to more support over time—your rating can increase as your conditions progress or new evidence is added.

📈 Don’t leave benefits you’ve earned on the table. Start your claim today—your service deserves recognition, and your future deserves security.
www.HelpVetUSA.com to learn more.

02/20/2026

🚨 Action Needed: VA Just Changed How Disability Ratings Are Evaluated — Effective Immediately (Feb. 17, 2026)

On February 17, 2026, the VA published an Interim Final Rule called “Evaluative Rating: Impact of Medication.” It’s effective immediately, and it changes a deceptively simple (but massive) part of VA disability exams: the VA will now evaluate many conditions based on how you function with medication/treatment—rather than how the condition impacts you without it.

Why this matters:
If medication or treatment reduces symptoms, the VA can rate you at a lower level of impairment—and that can mean lower compensation for both new claims and re-evaluations.
The VA’s own language says it will compensate based on the disability level after medication or treatment improves functional impairment.

⚠️Public Comment Window is OPEN: Feb. 17 through Apr. 20, 2026

This is an interim final rule, which means public comments must be accepted and reviewed—and those comments become part of the official record.

✅ What to do today (takes 10 minutes)
1) Contact your U.S. Representative + Senators
Tell them clearly where you stand and what you want them to do (oversight, hearings, pressure VA to withdraw/modify, and ensure proper review).
2) Submit a public comment (this is huge)

🟢Go to Regulations.gov and search: RIN 2900-AS49 (VA: “Evaluative Rating: Impact of Medication”).
✅Submit your comment before April 20, 2026.

02/11/2026

🇺🇸 Did You Know?

VA disability compensation is 100% tax-free — meaning more money in your pocket every month.

Unlike other income, your VA disability benefits are not subject to federal or state taxes, maximizing your financial stability and honoring your service.

At Brookside Veteran Services, we guide you through the VA claims process so you can access the benefits you've earned — tax-free and life-changing.

Ready to get started?

Connect with an Independent Educator today: www.helpvetusa.com/contact

Brookside — We've Got Your Six.

02/06/2026

🇺🇸 Did You Know?

The VA doesn’t just compensate for physical injuries — psychological impacts count too.

Whether it's anxiety, depression, PTSD, or other mental health effects stemming from a service-connected injury, you may be eligible for additional VA disability compensation.

👉 Don’t leave benefits on the table. Let Brookside Veteran Services help you navigate your claim with confidence.
Speak to an Independent Educator today.
www.helpvetusa.com

Brookside Veteran Services
We’ve Got Your Six.

02/05/2026

Did you know most Veterans qualify for at least a 10% VA disability rating?

✅ 10% still matters — it can mean monthly, tax-free compensation and can open the door to other benefits down the road.
✅ It’s also a starting point — many Veterans are underrated at first, and a properly built claim can lead to an increase over time.
✅ The key is proof + strategy — service connection, a current diagnosis, and solid medical evidence.

If you’ve been putting it off, start with an Intent to File today. That date can protect your back pay.

Brookside Veteran Services — We’ve Got Your Six. 🇺🇸

www.helpvetusa.com/contact

Get in touch for a free consultation about our specialized services for U.S. Veterans. We're ready to support and answer your queries.

02/03/2026

DID YOU KNOW? 📅🇺🇸

A new month is more than a fresh page — it’s a new opportunity to take control of your VA benefits.

✅ If you’ve been thinking about filing a claim (or increasing your current rating), the smartest first step is simple: submit an Intent to File.

That locks in your potential effective date and can protect months of back pay while you gather records and plan your next move.

New month. New opportunity. Same mission: help you get the benefits you’ve earned.
Message us “NEW MONTH” and we’ll tell you the next best step for your situation.
Or contact us at www.helpvetusa.com/contact

Get in touch for a free consultation about our specialized services for U.S. Veterans. We're ready to support and answer your queries.

01/29/2026

DID YOU KNOW? 🇺🇸
The VA doesn’t grade your claim like an English teacher.
You don’t need “perfect wording.”
You don’t need a 37-page novel.
And you definitely don’t need to sound like a lawyer.
What you do need is the right evidence and a clear service connection—the rest is just paperwork aerobics.
If your claim feels confusing, you’re not alone. That’s literally why we exist.

www.helpvetusa.com

Discover our mission, services, and approach to navigating the VA disability process with independent educators. Contact us to secure your benefits.

01/28/2026

Simple VA Claim Tip (that saves time): Start an Intent to File today.

Even if you’re not ready to submit your full claim yet, an Intent to
File can help protect your effective date—which can mean more back pay later.

✅ Takes just a few minutes
✅ Buys you time to gather records
✅ Keeps you moving forward instead of waiting

If you’re unsure what to file for or how to do it cleanly, we can help you map out the next steps.

Brookside, We’ve Got Your Six. 🇺🇸
www.helpvetusa.com

Discover our mission, services, and approach to navigating the VA disability process with independent educators. Contact us to secure your benefits.

01/22/2026

DID YOU KNOW?

A 70% VA disability rating can mean a major shift in your monthly, tax-free income—and for many veterans, it also opens the door to additional benefits (including possible family/dependent impacts and other programs that may reduce out-of-pocket costs).
If you’re sitting at 50% or 60% and believe your symptoms are under-rated, 70% is often one of the most meaningful jumps on the scale.
Take one simple step today:
File an Intent to File to lock in your potential effective date—then build your strategy.

If you want an expert set of eyes on your situation, Brookside can help you map the cleanest path forward.

www.HelpVetUSA.com

Discover our mission, services, and approach to navigating the VA disability process with independent educators. Contact us to secure your benefits.

01/21/2026

DID YOU KNOW? ⏳🇺🇸

If you delay filing your VA disability claim, you’re usually the one paying the price.

Every week you wait can mean weeks (or months) of benefits you can’t get back. And if you’re entitled to compensation, that delay can cost you real, tax-free income.

It’s Saturday—take action today. ✅

Start with an Intent to File. It’s quick, and it can help protect your effective date while you gather your documents.

Then choose your path:
-Start your own claim
-Call a VSO
-Call Brookside — we’ll walk you through it step-by-step

Brookside Veteran Services — We’ve Got Your Six.
www.HelpVetUSA.com
573-722-7984

Discover our mission, services, and approach to navigating the VA disability process with independent educators. Contact us to secure your benefits.

01/12/2026

DID YOU KNOW?
A 0% VA rating can still be a big deal.
Even at 0%, the VA is saying: “Yes, this condition is service-connected.”
That matters because it can unlock:
Free VA healthcare for that specific condition
Priority access if the condition worsens later
A cleaner path to request an increase (with updated medical evidence)
Potential eligibility for secondary conditions tied to that service-connected issue
Many Veterans ignore 0%—but it can be the foundation for future benefits.
Brookside Veteran Services — We’ve Got Your Six.
www.helpvetusa.com

Discover our mission, services, and approach to navigating the VA disability process with independent educators. Contact us to secure your benefits.

01/09/2026

DID YOU KNOW?

Many Veterans qualify for a higher VA rating through secondary conditions—issues caused or worsened by an already service-connected condition.

Examples:
-Knee/hip/back pain from altered gait
-Migraines secondary to tinnitus
-Sleep apnea secondary to PTSD (case-specific evidence matters)
-Depression/anxiety secondary to chronic pain

If you only claim the “main” condition, you may be leaving benefits on the table.

Brookside Veteran Services — We’ve Got Your Six.
www.helpvetusa.com

Discover our mission, services, and approach to navigating the VA disability process with independent educators. Contact us to secure your benefits.