How to Use the VA Claims Tools
These two tools were built to help you organize your VA disability claim the same way I organized mine. Used together, they tell a clear, visual story that VA raters are trained to respond to.
The Evidence File Index organizes every document in your claim into one clean reference sheet. The Life Impact Chart plots the severity of your service-connected conditions over time — showing the rater not just what happened, but how your life changed because of it.
You do not need any technical experience to use these tools. Follow the steps below.
.— The password from your copy of 100% in 47 Days (found on the Access Your Tools page)
— The names, addresses, and phone numbers of your medical providers
— Your evidence documents
— medical records, operative reports, psychiatry notes, imaging results, and any other supporting documentation
— The dates of your military service
The tools work best on a desktop or laptop computer. A tablet will work. A phone is not recommended for filling out the full index.
Before You Begin
Click + Add Row for each piece of evidence in your claim.
For each row fill in:
CODE — Assign a code to this document using the format E-01, E-02, X-01, X-02, and so on. Write this same code on the top right corner of the physical document when you assemble your claim package. This is how the rater cross-references your index with your actual documents.
PROVIDER — Select the provider from the dropdown. The row will automatically color-code to match.
DOC TYPE — Select the type of document from the dropdown.
DATE — Enter the date of the document.
LIFE CATEGORY — Select which of the six life categories this document supports: Employment / Work, Social / Relationships, Physical Health, Mental Health, Pain Level, or Pain Medication.
SEVERITY (0–10) — Rate the severity of impact this document represents. 0 means no impact. 10 means total impairment. This rating feeds directly into your Life Impact Chart.
KEY FINDING — Write one clear sentence describing the most important finding in this document. Keep it brief — one sentence only.
Step 2 — Add Your Evidence Rows
Once your evidence rows are filled out click the Generate Life Impact Chart button at the top right of the Evidence File Index. This will switch you to the chart tab with your data already loaded.
On the chart tab enter three years:
— Service / Onset Year
— the year your condition began or your first year of service
— Military End Year
— the year you separated from service
— Current Year — the current calendar year
Click Generate Chart. The chart will build automatically using the severity levels you set in the Evidence File Index.
Step 3 — Generate the Life Impact Chart
Step 4 — Review and Adjust the Chart
The Life Impact Chart shows six horizontal bands — one for each life category. A smooth line runs through each band showing how severity changed over time. The shaded area below the line emphasizes the progression.
Dashed vertical lines mark the years where you have evidence entries. Evidence codes appear as colored badges at the bottom of the chart.
To adjust a severity level — click anywhere inside a category band. A popup will let you set or change the level for that year. Click Apply.
To add a note — click in the NOTES row at the very top of the chart. Notes appear as small flag symbols when collapsed and expand when you click Show Notes. Turn Show Notes on before printing if you want your notes to appear on the printed chart.
NOTE: If you have evidence that is grouped all around the same time, the color coded call-out boxes at he bottom of the chart may overlap. You may have to group them all on the same date so they are legible.
NOTE: If you want to show a drastic change in your timeline where you jump from one severity level to another, you can add a severity level right before the evidence line with the level set to the same as the previous severity level. This way the chart shows the jump rather than a subtle curve. This is very difficult to articulate; please reach out and I’ll try to explain it better. I hope to have instructional videos up soon.
Your work is automatically saved in your browser every 30 seconds. If you close the tab accidentally and return to this page you will be asked if you want to restore your previous session.
For more permanent backup — or to continue working on a different device — click Save Progress at the top of the Evidence File Index. This downloads a save file to your Downloads folder.
To restore your work on any device click Restore Saved and select the file from your Downloads folder. Everything will reload exactly as you left it.
Important: the save file is not meant to be opened directly. Do not try to open it in Word or any other program. Simply save it to your Downloads folder and use the Restore Saved button to reload it.
Step 5 — Save Your Progress
When saving your progress your browser will download a file to your Downloads folder by default. We recommend saving it to your Desktop or a dedicated folder so it's easy to find when you return.
When your Evidence File Index is complete click Print / PDF at the top of the index. Your browser's print dialog will open. Select Save as PDF or choose your printer.
The Evidence File Index prints in portrait orientation on a standard letter page.
When your Life Impact Chart is ready click Print Chart (Landscape). The chart prints as a single landscape page.
These two printed pages submit directly after your cover letter in your claim package — in the order shown in Chapter 11 and Chapter 12 of 100% in 47 Days.
Step 6 — Print Your Documents
Q: Do I need to create an account to use the tools?
A: No. There is no account, no login, and no personal information collected. The only requirement is the password from your copy of the book.
Q: Is my information saved to a server?
A: No. Everything you enter stays on your device. Nothing is transmitted or stored online. Your claim data is yours alone.
Q: Can I use these tools on my phone?
A: The tools will work on a phone but they are designed for desktop or laptop use. The evidence table has multiple columns that are easier to fill out on a larger screen.
Q: What if I lose my save file?
A: Your most recent session is automatically saved in your browser as long as you return to the same browser on the same device. For longer-term backup use Save Progress regularly and keep the downloaded file somewhere safe.
Q: Can I share my save file with my VSO?
A: Yes. The save file contains all your evidence entries and chart data. Your VSO can load it using the Restore Saved button on any device with access to the tools page.
Q: What do the evidence codes mean?
A: The codes (E-01, X-01, etc.) are a reference system that connects your Evidence File Index to your physical documents. E codes are for medical records. X codes are for imaging. Write the matching code on each physical document before submitting. Chapter 11 of 100% in 47 Days explains the full coding system.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Tools
If you have questions about the tools or the claim process visit the Contact page or reach out directly at info@100in47.com.
These tools exist because I needed them and they didn't exist. I hope they help you the way they helped me.
— Ty Matthews US Navy Veteran — 1988–1992 100in47.com