TITLE 38 STUDY PLAN
Title 38 Study Guide for the VA Claims Agent Exam
VA OGC recommends studying Title 38 U.S.C. chapters 1, 11, 13, 15, 51, 53, 59, 71, and 72, along with 38 C.F.R. parts 1, 3, 4, 14, 19, and 20. A useful study system connects each authority to the decisions and procedures it governs.
Reviewed September 17, 2026 · Verify current requirements with VA OGC
Build a source map
Create a one-page map showing where compensation, pension, claims procedure, representation, fees, appeals, and judicial review live across the recommended authorities.
Study regulations beside statutes
When a statute establishes a rule or authority, read the implementing regulation beside it so you can see how the broad statutory command operates procedurally.
Use retrieval practice
Close the book and explain the rule in your own words, then reopen the authority and correct your explanation. Retrieval exposes gaps that passive rereading can hide.
Keep an update log
Title 38 authorities can change. Record the date you last verified each study section and refresh your materials before your examination window.
Mission Claim Academy is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Course completion does not confer accreditation, authorize representation, or guarantee examination eligibility or passage.