Veteran / Military Terminology Glossary

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• DD-214
  A federal form titled "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty" issued to every US servicemember leaving ac…
• DD-215
  A correction or addendum to a previously-issued DD-214. Used when errors or omissions are discovered.
• NGB-22
  National Guard equivalent of the DD-214. Issued upon separation from National Guard service.
• Honorable Discharge
  The highest character of service. Eligible for all VA benefits.
• General Discharge (Under Honorable Conditions)
  Some VA benefits available; may bar GI Bill eligibility.
• OTH
  Other Than Honorable. Most VA benefits limited or barred. May qualify after a discharge upgrade or character-of-service …
• Bad Conduct Discharge
  Issued by court-martial. Most VA benefits barred.
• Dishonorable Discharge
  Issued by general court-martial only. All VA benefits barred.
• C&P Exam
  Compensation and Pension Examination — a medical exam VA orders to evaluate claimed conditions during a disability claim…
• VBA
  Veterans Benefits Administration — the VA branch that administers benefits (disability, pension, education, home loans).…
• VHA
  Veterans Health Administration — runs all VA hospitals, clinics, and vet centers.
• VRA
  Veterans Recruitment Appointment — a hiring authority used to bring veterans into federal jobs.
• BVA
  Board of Veterans' Appeals — the body that decides VA benefits appeals.
• CAVC
  US Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims — federal court that reviews BVA decisions.
• NOD
  Notice of Disagreement — the form filed to start a VA appeal.
• AMA
  Appeals Modernization Act (2019). Created three appeal "lanes": Higher-Level Review, Supplemental Claim, and Direct Revi…
• CDD
  Claim Decision Document — the formal letter VA sends explaining a disability rating decision.
• DBQ
  Disability Benefits Questionnaire — standardized forms physicians can complete to support a claim.
• PMR
  Private Medical Records — non-VA medical evidence submitted with a claim.
• STR
  Service Treatment Records — military medical records from your active service.
• Nexus Letter
  A medical opinion connecting a current condition to military service. Often the difference between a granted and denied …
• Presumptive Condition
  A condition VA presumes to be service-connected based on era and exposure (Agent Orange, Burn Pit, Camp Lejeune, radiati…
• PACT Act
  Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act (2022). Expanded presumptiv…
• Burn Pit
  Open-air waste-burning sites used at US military bases in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other deployments. PACT Act presumes se…
• Agent Orange
  A herbicide used in Vietnam (1962–1975). VA presumes service-connection for 17+ conditions including ischemic heart dise…
• Camp Lejeune
  Marine Corps base in NC where drinking-water contamination (1953–1987) caused cancers and other illnesses. Camp Lejeune …
• Gulf War Illness
  A cluster of unexplained chronic symptoms (fatigue, joint pain, GI issues) affecting Gulf War-era veterans. Presumptive …
• OEF
  Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan, 2001–2014).
• OIF
  Operation Iraqi Freedom (Iraq, 2003–2010).
• OND
  Operation New Dawn (Iraq, 2010–2011).
• GWOT
  Global War on Terror — collective term for OEF/OIF/OND and related operations.
• Post-9/11
  Service after September 11, 2001. Special benefits including Post-9/11 GI Bill.
• MOS
  Military Occupational Specialty (Army/Marines) — your specific job. Air Force uses AFSC; Navy uses Rate.
• AFSC
  Air Force Specialty Code — Air Force equivalent of MOS.
• NEC
  Navy Enlisted Classification — Navy equivalent of MOS.
• NCO
  Non-Commissioned Officer — enlisted leadership (E-4 through E-9).
• Officer
  Commissioned Officer — leadership commissioned by the President. Pay grades O-1 through O-10.
• Enlisted
  Servicemember below officer rank. Pay grades E-1 through E-9.
• Warrant Officer
  Specialist officer between enlisted and commissioned officer ranks. Pay grades W-1 through W-5.
• MEPS
  Military Entrance Processing Station — where recruits complete physicals, ASVAB, and enlistment.
• ETS
  Expiration of Term of Service — your contract end date.
• TAP
  Transition Assistance Program — mandatory training before separating from active service.
• GI Bill
  Federal education benefits for veterans. Primary versions: Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33), Montgomery GI Bill (Chapter 3…
• Chapter 31
  Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) — vocational rehabilitation for veterans with service-connected disabilities.
• Chapter 33
  Post-9/11 GI Bill. Up to 36 months of education benefits + housing allowance.
• TRICARE
  Health insurance for active-duty servicemembers, retirees, and their families.
• CHAMPVA
  Civilian Health and Medical Program of the VA — health coverage for spouses/dependents of permanently disabled veterans.
• DEA
  Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance — education benefits for spouses/children of veterans permanently disa…
• DIC
  Dependency and Indemnity Compensation — tax-free monthly benefit for surviving spouses/children/parents.
• Aid and Attendance
  Additional pension benefit for veterans needing daily-living assistance.
• SAH Grant
  Specially Adapted Housing grant — for veterans with severe service-connected disabilities to modify or build accessible …
• IU
  Individual Unemployability — paid at 100% disability rate when service-connected disabilities prevent the veteran from w…
• HUD-VASH
  HUD–VA Supportive Housing — vouchers + clinical services for homeless veterans. Joint HUD/VA program.
• SSVF
  Supportive Services for Veteran Families — short-term financial assistance to prevent homelessness or rapidly re-house h…
• GPD
  Grant and Per Diem — VA program funding transitional housing for veterans.
• VA Loan
  VA Home Loan Guaranty — federally-backed mortgage available to qualifying veterans, often with no down payment required.
• VSO
  Veterans Service Organization — congressionally chartered nonprofit that helps veterans file claims (VFW, American Legio…
• CVSO
  County Veterans Service Officer — a public employee, usually of a county (some states use state or regional officers ins…
• Vet Center
  Readjustment Counseling Service center — VA-funded community-based counseling specifically for combat veterans, MST surv…
• NVF
  National Veterans Foundation — runs the LifeLine for Vets crisis line.
• PTSD
  Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. VA presumes service-connection in many combat-related cases. Top compensable condition.
• TBI
  Traumatic Brain Injury. Often comorbid with PTSD. Common after blast/combat exposure.
• MST
  Military Sexual Trauma — sexual assault or harassment during military service. VA provides free MST-related care regardl…
• 988 Press 1
  The Veterans Crisis Line — call 988 and press 1 (or text 838255). 24/7 confidential.
• Combined Rating
  VA "whole-person theory" math for combining multiple disability ratings. Two 50% conditions don't equal 100%; they combi…
• TDIU
  Total Disability Individual Unemployability — same as IU. Paid at 100% rate when disabilities prevent gainful employment…
• P&T
  Permanent and Total disability rating — locks the rating in (no future re-exams) and unlocks additional benefits includi…
• SMC
  Special Monthly Compensation — extra payment for severe disabilities (loss of limb, blindness, requirement for aid and a…
• COLA
  Cost of Living Adjustment — annual VA disability rate increase tied to Social Security COLA. Typically 2–9% per year.

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