CVA Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield CVA facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. What is the minimum combined disability rating required for a veteran to receive VA disability compensation? → 10%
2. Which VA benefit provides compensation to surviving spouses and dependents of veterans who died from a service-connected condition? → Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC)
3. What is the primary purpose of a Decision Review Officer (DRO) review in the VA appeals process? → To allow a higher-level VA employee to conduct a de novo review of the original decision
4. What is the current Veterans Crisis Line number that connects veterans, service members, and their families to qualified VA responders? → 988, then Press 1
5. Under the VA rating schedule, which general formula determines the degree of disability assigned to musculoskeletal conditions involving range of motion? → Functional loss relative to normal range of motion limits defined in 38 C.F.R. Part 4
6. Which VA policy provides that a veteran's disability evaluation should not be reduced without following specific procedural safeguards? → 38 CFR § 3.344 — Stabilization of disability evaluations
7. Under VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities (38 CFR 4.130), what diagnostic code is used to rate Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)? → 9411
8. What is the 'look-back period' for asset transfers in VA Pension claims? → 3 years (36 months)
9. What is the primary purpose of a disability assessment for veterans? → To determine eligibility for disability compensation
10. Which AMA review lane allows a veteran to submit new and relevant evidence directly to the Board of Veterans' Appeals? → Evidence Submission Docket
11. A veteran has a combined disability rating of 94% after calculations. What final schedular rating will VA assign? → 90%
12. What is the role of the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims in the appeals process? → To review BVA decisions when veterans disagree with them
13. What does 'service treatment records' (STRs) refer to in the context of VA claims? → Medical records documenting healthcare received during active military service
14. Which of the following is a presumptive condition for prisoners of war (POWs) under 38 CFR 3.309(c) that relates to mental health? → Psychosis
15. What happens if the VA denies a veteran's claim on appeal? → The veteran can request a hearing or take the case to the Board of Veterans' Appeals
16. A veteran disagrees with the findings of a VA C&P exam. What is the most effective immediate action a CVA should recommend? → Obtain a private nexus opinion from an independent medical examiner
17. What happens to a surviving spouse's DIC eligibility if they remarry before age 57? → DIC terminates upon remarriage before age 57 but may be restored if the remarriage ends
18. When combining multiple disability ratings using the VA's combined ratings formula, what mathematical approach is used? → The 'whole person' method, applying each rating to remaining efficiency
19. Under the principles of trauma-informed care, which of the following is NOT one of the six core principles recognized by SAMHSA? → Neutrality
20. What should veterans include in their appeal documentation? → All relevant records and supporting documents
21. What VA resource helps homeless veterans access emergency shelter, transitional housing, and permanent housing solutions? → VA Homeless Veteran Programs, including HUD-VASH, SSVF, and VA Grant and Per Diem programs
22. What does 'new and relevant evidence' mean in the context of a Supplemental Claim under the AMA? → Evidence not previously considered that relates to an unestablished fact
23. How can a counselor help a veteran prepare for an appeals process? → By providing emotional support and gathering documentation
24. Under what condition can a veteran receive Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU)? → One disability rated 60% or more, or combined 70% with one at 40%
25. What is the first step in the VA appeals process? → Filing a Notice of Disagreement (NOD)
26. Which doctrine requires VA adjudicators to interpret ambiguous evidence in the veteran's favor? → Benefit of the Doubt
27. Under DSM-5 criteria, how many symptom clusters must be present for a PTSD diagnosis? → Four clusters: intrusion, avoidance, negative cognitions/mood, and hyperarousal/reactivity
28. What does the 'Benefit of the Doubt' rule require the VA to do when evidence is in approximate balance? → Resolve the question in favor of the claimant
29. How can a veteran appeal a disability decision? → By filing a Notice of Disagreement and submitting new evidence
30. Which federal law requires federal contractors with 50 or more employees to take affirmative action to employ and advance qualified veterans? → VEVRAA (Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974)