skills/complete-veteran-benefits/references/live-source-registry.md

# Live Official Source Registry

This file provides stable starting points, not stored copies of changing law.

## United States Code

Primary:
https://uscode.house.gov/

Alternative official source:
https://www.govinfo.gov/

Common titles:
- Title 38: veterans benefits
- Title 10: Armed Forces
- Title 32: National Guard
- Title 37: military pay and allowances
- Title 5: federal employment
- Title 26: tax
- Title 50: SCRA

## Federal regulations

Electronic Code of Federal Regulations:
https://www.ecfr.gov/

Key VA parts:
- 38 C.F.R. Part 3: adjudication
- 38 C.F.R. Part 4: rating schedule
- Part 14: representation
- Part 17: healthcare
- Part 20: Board procedures
- Part 21: education and VR&E
- Part 36: loan guaranty
- Part 38: cemeteries

For historical questions, use amendment history and Federal Register sources.

## VA

Main:
https://www.va.gov/

Veterans Benefits Administration:
https://www.benefits.va.gov/

Find forms:
https://www.va.gov/find-forms/

Public DBQs:
https://www.benefits.va.gov/compensation/dbq_publicdbqs.asp

Follow the directory to the current PDF and check public availability. If the
entry point moves, recover through official VA navigation.

M21-1:
Locate the current official M21-1 through VA/VBA/KnowVA. VA may change the
hosting path, so use official VA navigation if an old deep link fails.

VA General Counsel:
https://www.va.gov/OGC/

VA benefit rates:
Locate the current official compensation, pension, DIC, education, or other
rate table on VA.gov for the requested benefit and period.

## Veterans case law

U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims:
https://www.uscourts.cavc.gov/

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit:
https://cafc.uscourts.gov/

U.S. Supreme Court:
https://www.supremecourt.gov/

Board of Veterans' Appeals:
https://www.va.gov/vetapp/

Use BVA decisions cautiously because unrelated decisions are generally
nonprecedential.

## Federal Register

https://www.federalregister.gov/

Use for proposed/final rules, effective dates, rating-schedule amendments, and
regulatory history.

## DoD

DoD issuances:
https://www.esd.whs.mil/Directives/issuances/

DoD Financial Management Regulation:
https://comptroller.defense.gov/FMR/

DFAS:
https://www.dfas.mil/

Important issue families include:
- DoDI 1332.18 for Disability Evaluation System
- DoD separation/discharge issuances
- DoDM 1000.13 for ID cards/benefit eligibility
- DoD FMR for pay, retired pay, CRDP, CRSC, SBP, debts, and recoupment

Always inspect the current change number and change date.

## TRICARE and military health

TRICARE:
https://www.tricare.mil/

TRICARE manuals:
https://manuals.health.mil/

Use current policy, operations, and reimbursement manuals when detailed rules
matter.

## Employment protections

USERRA:
https://www.dol.gov/agencies/vets/programs/userra

Underlying statute:
38 U.S.C. Chapter 43

SCRA guidance:
https://www.justice.gov/servicemembers

Underlying statute:
50 U.S.C. §§ 3901 et seq.

## Tax

IRS:
https://www.irs.gov/

Use current IRS military/veteran guidance and the applicable Internal Revenue
Code provision when tax treatment is material.

## Military records

National Archives veterans records:
https://www.archives.gov/veterans

Use current official routing for DD-214, OMPF, and service-record requests.

## State and local benefits

There is no single authoritative national source for every state/local benefit.

Preferred order:

1. official state statute;
2. official state veterans agency;
3. official state tax/revenue agency;
4. official state education or motor vehicle agency;
5. official municipality or county.

Verify local-option rules at the municipality/county level.

## Search fallback

If the direct official page is unavailable:

1. search the official domain;
2. try another official government source;
3. use an official archived/historical version if the old rule is required;
4. use a reliable secondary source only as a research lead;
5. state clearly if primary authority could not be verified.

## Additional program entry points

- Medicare eligibility/enrollment and coordination: https://www.medicare.gov/
- Federal dental/vision program: https://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/dental-vision/
- FEDVIP enrollment: https://www.benefeds.gov/
- VA insurance: https://www.va.gov/life-insurance/
- VA-accredited help: https://www.va.gov/get-help-from-accredited-representative/
- Federal regulations, official editions and historical collections: https://www.govinfo.gov/app/collection/CFR

These are discovery URLs. Retrieve the exact applicable page before citing a
substantive conclusion. Listing an endpoint does not certify its availability
or every program's current rules.