The “New Agent” Dilemma
Congratulations, you passed the OGC accreditation exam. Now you have a problem.
You need a system to track deadlines, manage evidence, and file forms. But when you look at the software market, you typically see two bad options:
Option 1: “Legacy” Software
These are the old desktop-based systems used by large firms. They are powerful but often expensive, look like they were built in the 1990s, require long contracts, and may need a VPN to access.
Option 2: “Generic” Legal CRMs
These are the popular sales or general law tools. They look nice, but they don’t know what a “21-526EZ” is. You will spend months programming them yourself to handle VA codes.
What a VA Claims CRM *Must* Have
If you are a solo agent or a small firm, do not pay for features you won’t use. Focus on these four “Must-Haves”:
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✅ 1. Native VA Form Automation
Does it auto-fill a VA Form 21-22a? If it doesn’t, it’s not a VA CRM; it’s just a database. You shouldn’t be typing addresses twice. -
✅ 2. Deadline Guards
Missing a Notice of Disagreement (NOD) deadline is malpractice. Your software must automatically calculate the 1-year appeal window from the Rating Decision date. -
✅ 3. Cloud Access
You need to work from anywhere. Avoid any software that requires a “server installation” or a VPN just to log in. -
✅ 4. Electronic Submission
USPS is too slow for your claims. VCH allows you to send forms directly to the VA as soon as you are done editing them.
The “Unfair Advantage” for New Agents
VA Claim Helper (VCH) was built because we were tired of choosing between “expensive” and “useless.” We built the tool that we wanted to use.
- 🚀 Free Student/Starter Tier: Practice while you study.
- 📄 Browser-Based Form Editor: Edit and save VA PDFs inside VCH.
- 🔒 Bank-Level Security: 2FA and encryption standard.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a CRM immediately?
You can survive on Excel for your first 5 clients. But once you hit 10 clients, the “deadline math” becomes dangerous. A Notice of Disagreement deadline missed by one day loses the veteran their backpay forever. Don’t risk it.
Is VCH compatible with Mac?
Yes. Unlike some legacy software that requires Windows, VCH runs entirely in your web browser (Chrome, Safari, Edge).
Can I export my data later?
Absolutely. Your client data belongs to you. We offer full export capabilities so you are never “locked in.”