Vets with Benefits

More money does not always mean more value. VA COLA is designed to hold the line on your buying power, not give you a true pay raise. In this episode Todd explains the difference between a VA cost of living adjustment and a pay raise, why that distinction matters to your budget, and what the pending COLA bill would actually cover. He breaks down CPI, shows how inflation math works in plain language, reviews the risk that Congress m...

Nearly every veteran runs into complicated VA math, and it rarely adds up the way you think. Why does ten percent plus ten percent equal nineteen, and why do so many veterans fall short of 100 percent even with multiple disabilities? In this episode of Vets with Benefits, Todd Wesche breaks down the confusing world of VA combined ratings. He explains how disabilities are calculated under 38 CFR 4.25, why veterans face diminishing r...

Sleep apnea is a claim that’s frequently denied by the VA… but a new legal ruling may have just opened the door for thousands of veterans. In this episode, I explain how the Adams v. Collins decision allows obesity to be recognized as a disability when it’s caused by another service-connected condition, and why that matters for veterans whose sleep apnea is linked to weight gain. We’ll cover the medical science behind the connectio...

In this episode of Vets with Benefits, VA attorney Todd Wesche breaks down what the recently enacted H.R. 1 “One Big Beautiful Bill” means for veterans, especially disabled veterans. While the law doesn’t directly change VA benefits, it does make significant updates to SNAP (food stamps), Medicaid, and the tax treatment of forgiven student loans for disabled veterans.

If you’re a veteran who’s been denied benefits, never filed a cla...

A new federal court case may change how the VA handles something affecting over 70% of veterans. In this episode I break down Adams v. Collins, a landmark 2025 decision that redefines how the VA evaluates obesity as a disability. If your weight gain is linked to PTSD, chronic pain, medications, or other service-connected conditions, this ruling could qualify you for VA benefits that were previously inaccessible. I cover what caused...

Too many veterans are silently struggling, believing they’re “not disabled enough” to seek help. In this episode I break down the harmful stigma around VA disability, and explain why your conditions are valid and recognized by the VA. Strength doesn’t mean silence and disability benefits aren't charity, they acknowledge, and honor the cost of your service. If you’ve ever downplayed your symptoms or delayed filing a claim out of pri...

Thousands of National Guard and Marine Corps troops were recently deployed to Los Angeles in response to escalating protests tied to ICE operations, but are these service members eligible for VA benefits?

In this episode Todd Wesche explains how the June 2025 Title 10 activation changes everything for Service members, and what makes this different from standard state duty. From tear gas exposure to legal uncertainties, we break dow...

Recent changes to VA policy have sparked confusion and concern among veterans; especially around non-discrimination protections. In this episode, Todd Wesche breaks down what “legally protected status” means and what that really means for your access to care. While major news reports claim the change may open the door to discrimination, the White House strongly denies this.

Todd explains what’s actually changed, how it fits within ...

You served. You sacrificed. And now? You're told to wait, fight, or worse—just “suck it up.”

In this premiere episode of Vets With Benefits, I open up about the exact battle many of you are still fighting: getting the benefits you’ve earned. I’m Todd Wesche, a U.S. Air Force veteran and VA-accredited attorney and like so many of you, I was denied. Despite knowing the system inside and out, I was rejected when I filed my own clai...

This one might make you uncomfortable and that’s okay. In this episode, I ask something that might sound counterintuitive: please stop thanking me for my service. Not because your intentions are bad. But because for many veterans, those five words don’t land as gratitude but like a gut punch.

You’ll hear why well-meaning gestures can reopen old wounds, how the “hero” narrative often misses the truth, and what real support actually l...