How VetRecon works

Matching is a rules engine, not AI

VetRecon does not use an AI language model to decide what you qualify for. Eligibility is computed by a small, deterministic function that compares your answers against each benefit's recorded criteria. The same answers always produce the same results, and the engine can only ever report what is written in the database — it cannot invent or "hallucinate" a benefit. Wrong benefit information can genuinely harm a veteran, so this was a deliberate design choice.

Everything runs in your browser

The entire benefits database is built into the page, and the matching runs on your device. There is no account, no server that sees your answers, and no analytics that collect personal information. When you close the tab, nothing about your entry remains anywhere. That privacy is structural — it's how the app is built, not just a promise.

The three result tiers

Every benefit lands in one of three groups:

• Likely eligible — your answers meet every criterion we can check.
• Possibly eligible — one more fact would decide it. This happens when a rule depends on something the form can't see (like income or a specific condition) or on a question you answered "not sure." We show exactly what would decide it.
• Not matched — based on your answers, you don't currently meet a criterion. These are still shown (in a collapsed section) so nothing is ever hidden from you — your situation may change, or a rule we couldn't read might still apply.

A guiding rule: the engine never silently excludes a benefit because of something it can't see. Anything uncertain becomes "possibly," with the deciding fact spelled out, rather than quietly dropped. Within each category, commonly missed benefits are listed first.

What is "Permanent & Total" (P&T)?

A disability is Permanent and Total when the VA has rated it 100% disabling and decided it is not expected to improve. Several valuable benefits — like CHAMPVA for your dependents and Chapter 35 education assistance — require P&T specifically, because they turn on the disability being permanent, not just total. If you're not sure whether your rating is P&T, choose "Not sure"; we'll show those benefits as "possibly" and tell you to confirm your status with the VA or a VSO, rather than guessing.

What is "Individual Unemployability" (TDIU)?

Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) means the VA pays you at the 100% rate because a service-connected disability prevents you from holding substantially gainful employment — even if your combined schedular rating is below 100%. TDIU is important because it can unlock benefits tied to the 100% rate (such as full VA dental care and federal student-loan discharge) that you might otherwise think you don't qualify for. But TDIU is total, not automatically permanent: benefits that require P&T only apply if the VA has also rated your unemployability permanent. VetRecon handles this carefully — a TDIU answer satisfies "100% rate" benefits outright, but for P&T-only benefits it shows "possibly" and asks you to confirm permanence.

How the data is sourced and checked

• Every record cites an authoritative source URL — VA.gov, a state veterans affairs agency, or another official .gov or statutory source. No record ships without one, so you can always read the rule yourself.
• Every record shows when its source was last checked. An automated validator runs on every change: it enforces the record schema, requires a valid source URL, rejects duplicate entries, and flags anything stale or still needing a closer look.
• Volunteers cross-check entries against their official sources. We're honest that this is ongoing, unpaid work and we can't independently confirm every detail — anything that still needs confirming is tracked openly rather than presented as settled fact. Always confirm the current details with the VA or a Veterans Service Officer before you rely on a benefit.

Versioning & limitations

The database currently holds 660 records, last updated 2026-07-13 (shown in the footer of every page). Coverage is deepest for federal benefits and the launch states (Georgia and Florida); every other state has a directory entry linking to its official veterans affairs agency, so no state returns an empty result while deeper records are added.

VetRecon is a starting point, not a determination. Benefit rules are detailed and change over time, and your individual circumstances matter. Always confirm anything here with the VA or an accredited Veterans Service Officer before acting.