Taking the VA Claims Agent Exam?

Exam Day Tip: Logging into Microsoft Teams

When signing into Teams for the exam, your Applicant ID can be found in the subject line of the email sent with your exam invitation.

Best Advice Going Into the Exam

The best advice I received was simple but critical:
Breathe. Take your time. Read each question and every answer choice several times before selecting your response.

Key Topics to Focus On

Make sure you’re solid in the following areas:

Disability Compensation
- Minimum rating required to apply for TDIU
Pension
- How to calculate MAPR
- What counts as assets
- What does not count as income
- How eligibility can be restored if it’s lost
Claims Agent Fees & Filings
- When fees may be charged
- Where to file direct-pay fee agreements
- Continuing education requirements and timelines

You’ll often hear to study both U.S. Code (USC) and Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). In practice, focusing on the CFR is sufficient, since it is derived from the USC—saving you time and duplication.

I listened to select episodes leading up to the exam. Focus on episodes covering areas where you feel weakest—they offer excellent insight and practical explanations.

Free VSO Training Resources

Tennessee provides public access to VSO training materials. These are especially helpful for reinforcing weak areas.

👉 https://www.tn.gov/content/tn/veteran/about-us/learning—development-division/training-resources-underdevelopment.html

In practice, I’ve benefited greatly from their trainings on:

Hearing loss & tinnitus
Challenging inadequate C&P exams

VA TRIP Training (Highly Recommended)

The VA trains its staff and accredited representatives using TRIP (Training, Responsibility, Involvement, and Preparation of Claims). It’s publicly available and consists of 16 lessons—absolutely worth your time.

👉 https://trip.learnupon.com/users/sign_in?next=%2Fdashboard

One standout from the early lessons: an acronym chart compiled entirely of acronyms 😄—surprisingly useful.