Resources – True Vet Value

VA Disability Compensation Application

Ryan Shepherd — Mon, 10 Aug 2026 19:31:30 +0000

VA Form 21-526EZ is the entry point for a disability compensation claim. Submitting an intent to file first preserves the effective date for up to one year, which can change the size of a retroactive award considerably. Veterans can file online, by mail, or with the help of an accredited representative.

VA Claim and Appeal Status Tracker

Ryan Shepherd — Sun, 09 Aug 2026 01:31:30 +0000

The status tracker shows where a claim sits in the review process and flags any evidence VA is waiting on. Checking it regularly is the cheapest way to catch a development letter before the response window closes.

VA Benefit Summary and Award Letters

Ryan Shepherd — Fri, 07 Aug 2026 07:31:30 +0000

The Benefit Summary Letter states the disability rating and the monthly compensation amount in writing. Lenders use it to document non-taxable income, and it is also the standard proof of exemption from the VA funding fee.

VA Compensation Rate Tables

Ryan Shepherd — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 13:31:30 +0000

VA publishes compensation amounts by combined rating and dependent status. These are the figures to work from when documenting benefit income, rather than any third party estimate.

Certificate of Eligibility for a VA Home Loan

Ryan Shepherd — Mon, 03 Aug 2026 19:31:30 +0000

The Certificate of Eligibility confirms entitlement and shows whether any is currently in use. Most lenders retrieve it in seconds through WebLGY. Form 26-1880 is the fallback when service records do not return an automated match.

VA Funding Fee Refund Request

Ryan Shepherd — Sun, 02 Aug 2026 01:31:30 +0000

Veterans who receive a service-connected disability rating with an effective date before the loan closing date may be owed the funding fee back. The claim runs through the Regional Loan Center of jurisdiction, and it is frequently overlooked because nobody revisits a closed file.

Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loan

Ryan Shepherd — Fri, 31 Jul 2026 07:31:30 +0000

An IRRRL refinances an existing VA loan into a new one with less paperwork than a standard refinance. VA sets specific requirements around net tangible benefit and recoupment of costs, which govern whether the transaction is permitted at all.

VA Loan Entitlement and County Loan Limits

Ryan Shepherd — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 13:31:30 +0000

Veterans with full entitlement have no VA-imposed loan limit. Limits still matter when entitlement is partially used or has not been restored after a previous VA loan, which is a common source of surprise mid-transaction.

VA Regional Loan Center Directory

Ryan Shepherd — Mon, 27 Jul 2026 19:31:30 +0000

Each state is assigned to a Regional Loan Center. Escalations on eligibility determinations, appraisal value disputes, and funding fee refunds are handled there rather than through the general benefits line.

VA Lenders Handbook, Pamphlet 26-7

Ryan Shepherd — Sun, 26 Jul 2026 01:31:30 +0000

Pamphlet 26-7 is the authority behind every VA loan underwriting decision. Chapter 4 covers credit underwriting and the residual income standard. Chapter 8 covers borrower fees and the funding fee, including exemptions.