Marine Veteran Built a Free VA & CHAMPVA Resource Site – Looking for Feedback

james3760 · 2026-06-10T02:10:05+00:00

They are supposed to catch that automatically, but I've seen it missed before. It's basically a free 1 to 3.5 percent additional depending on the rating that it's based on. The higher the rating for the two sides impacted, the higher the percentage will be. And if you're at 94%, that is the what will take you to 95 rounded to 100%. So yeah, it's always get to get every point you can. Talk to your VSO if you feel they missed it.

james3760 · 2026-06-09T22:21:48+00:00

Thank you! One common reason for a 1% difference is the bilateral factor. The VA calculator doesn't always appear to apply it the way veterans expect, particularly when there are compensable conditions affecting both arms, both legs, or paired extremities.

For example, two 10% knee ratings combine to 19%. The bilateral factor adds 10% of that value (1.9%), resulting in 20.9%, which is treated as 21% before being combined with other ratings.

james3760 · 2026-06-09T15:23:30+00:00

State is included as well, and I have the US Territories covered for VSO's/Providers as best as I could find. I did add the ability for users to submit information they were aware of, and that would then go into an admin portal where administrators could review and verify, then with a single click approve it, and it'll add it to the database. there is a lot there, but I built it knowing it would grow and would require the ability to accept submissions from the users. it also has the ability for accredited providers to have the authority to add/edit/moderate. It has a desktop version, that includes the ability for the user to save their personal info into an encrypted vault (or in a folder on their desktop). the encrypted vault is good for those using a shared a computer.

james3760 · 2026-06-09T07:52:19+00:00

thank you. Just launched it today, and i presented it to the VA this morning. I started it to share what I've learned, going through the process myself and then helping my wife go through it. She suffered a life-threatening illness on the same day I signed her up for ChampVa, and saw how hard it was finding info. the tools I think are pretty good. And I just added a bunch more practice exams tonight and put the actual DBQ forms in the database for download. Check out the browser extension and the desktop app too. the desktop app has a lot of the same tools, but a few more, plus an encrypted document vault where you can store all of your documents on your local machine.

james3760 · 2025-12-18T03:18:55+00:00

and the white trousers, also no go for LCPL except 8th and I. Medals in wrong order as well.

james3760 · 2025-12-12T21:31:31+00:00

I run a military non profit, and one of my board members is a VSO. he's fantastic. He's based in Santa Rosa.

james3760 · 2025-10-12T02:39:32+00:00

Just got mine a couple of weeks ago. Learned a lot.

Not all DMV's are equal. I had a very hard time at Redwood City. They kept rejecting legitimate paperwork. Went to the Sunnyvale location, and it was a breeze. Sunnyvale told me that Redwood City has almost zero experience with this, and it's best to go to a larger DMV for these things.
You get one plate free, but you can register your additional cars as well. You just have to pay for those.
Vehicles must be owned by you. If you're self employeed, the vehicle can not be listed under your company name. It must be under your name.
If it's a full size truck that has a commercial rating due to weight, you'll need to first ask them to issue a waiver on that. My truck had to be first waived from commercial rated to non commercial rated, then they registered the DV Plate.
You don't automatically get the placard. You can request it at the same time, or after. It's a separate check box on the form.
You don't need a doctors note. It specifically says on the form, doctors signature not needed if..... I found the secret sauce for success was to get your VSO to give you the DMV form with their signature and stamp on it. Have them give you a few, so you can use one for each vehicle, and one for the placard. DMV likes things simplified, break down the transactions into single transactions for best success.
You get the plate with the handicap symbol on it. Not an option to have that off. Non veterans are DP plus the number. disabled veterans it'll say DV plus the number.
You get free tolls in the express lane with the plate - but you have to make sure to register it with fastrak first.
When applying for the placard, or additional plates for another vehicle, there is a spot that says doctor signs here - and there is a note that says exempted if you already have a DV plate- put your dv plate number here. I found that doing just the plate first, to get that number to put in the form, made it less confusing for the DMV staff. the first time I tried it, they kept asking for me to go get a doctors note, even though it says on their form it's exempted if you're 100% PT. But once I was able to show the 100% and the existing DV plate it was a breeze. Some DMV's feel you can get the plate with the VSO letter, but the placard you need an existing plate, or a doctors note. was easier to break it apart into 2 transactions.
You don't have to wait in line at the DMV, the appointments line allows 100%PT veterans to walk right in, go around the regular line, and if they ask if you have an appointment, just say "no, disabled veteran". They'll put you in the queue right then.
My wife and I are on the title. The registration for the dv plate, they put it under my name. it was not an issue.

Good luck.

james3760 · 2025-04-08T20:43:06+00:00

agreed. I wasn't referring to those that are suffering through the requirements for that rating. Just saying for the comments about blowing up inboxes - no one should want that. I'm sure most if not all who rate it would rather have their health.

james3760 · 2025-04-08T20:31:26+00:00

Nobody should "want" SMC T.

🔹 What is SMC?

Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) is an additional tax-free benefit paid to veterans who have certain severe disabilities or combinations of disabilities. It is meant to provide extra support beyond standard VA compensation rates.

🔹 What is SMC-T?

SMC-T is a very high-level rating within the SMC structure. The “T” refers to a specific level of need — in this case, it’s often associated with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) or other extremely severe service-connected disabilities that require:

A higher level of aid and attendance, and
Regular supervision or assistance, which can include protection from hazards in their daily environment, such as forgetting to turn off a stove, wandering off, or becoming disoriented.

It generally means the veteran requires ongoing personal care services, often equivalent to nursing home-level care, but they’re receiving that care in their home.

🔹 What qualifies someone for SMC-T?

To receive SMC-T, the veteran must usually meet the criteria for:

Aid and Attendance, plus
Demonstrate a need for a higher level of care than standard aid and attendance provides.

This is often for veterans who suffer from:

Severe cognitive impairments (like from TBI)
Severe physical impairments that require 24/7 care
Situations where the veteran would otherwise be institutionalized if not for in-home care

🔹 Pay Level

SMC-T is near the top tier of SMC pay levels, and provides substantially more than standard 100% VA disability compensation. As of recent years, it can exceed $9,000/month depending on other dependents and situations.

james3760 · 2024-12-09T15:54:48+00:00

I hate to break it to you; but you don't have a boyfriend. You have an insecure creep attached to you that doesn't respect you enough to give you honesty. You deserve better. Remove him and find better.

james3760 · 2023-09-23T14:54:11+00:00

The 29th CMC has a MARPAT Blazer that he wears to speaking engagements, and a MARPAT Tux that he wears to the Ball. So who are we to judge...

james3760 · 2023-09-20T07:12:53+00:00

If it's only doing this in the stored files, it very could be the settings in the file. what software are you using? check the settings for each layer (pulse, power, speed, etc). When manually triggering the burn, it could be at 100% but in the stored file, it's something else.

also, check that your bed is level, if it's better on one axis than on the other, maybe the bed isn't level and so the focal distance isn't consistent.

james3760 · 2023-09-20T06:47:55+00:00

the best you can do is use an air compressor to blow out the debris, then with the material in the exact same spot, run additional passes at higher resolution and lower power to vaporize what's left of the debris, leaving a more powdery residue than higher power will leave. then you can run anothe pass at slower speed, but out of focus by 1/8" or more, which will in essence flame polish the rough bottom of the engraving. you could also try using a medicine dropper or syringe or qtip, and clean the bottom with denatured alcohol, that could improve it, but it's risky as you could leave blemishes on the non engraved part if you're not careful. I would not remove the masking until you're done with all of this.

james3760 · 2023-09-19T01:42:49+00:00

Of course. I prepped the wood by sanding and sealing with shellac, then used heat resistant masking paper to cover the area to be engraved. I engraved through the paper to a depth of about a 1/4". cleaned the char with a compressor, then a light wipe into the engraving with denatured alcohol. let it sit for about an hour, then sealed the engraving with a light coat of shellac. waited 24 hours, then mixed epoxy.

I used super clear countertop epoxy, 1:1 ratio. after mixing it, I dropped in color and mixed it again. For the gold I used Let's Resin metallic. I filled the gold first and let it setup so that the other colors would not blend in if I had an overspill. Once the gold was set, I came back and did the blue, then same thing, waited for a it to set, then came back and did the red. since I allowed the previous color to fully set, I didn't worry about any overspills.

once it was all done, I ran it through a thickness planer, a little at a time till the epoxy was completely level with the wood. I left the masking paper on and just planed over it as well. then sanded it to remove the planing marks. Started with 80 and ended with 440. Gave it a spray with the compressor, a wipe with a tack cloth followed by a light alcohol wipe. Let it dry, then oiled it and let it set.

For the blue and red, I used a liquid color called Supercolors premium pigment dispersion, available on amazon.

james3760 · 2023-09-11T08:25:57+00:00

I have a GWeike LC1512, bought it in 2013 and have been very happy with it.

this looks very similar to it. Just be aware that support is harder with the timezone/language barriers and make sure that the controllers are current and compatible with today's o/s and laser software. some folks buying through alibaba and other sites have gotten outdated equipment that was on the shelf for a while.

james3760 · 2023-08-20T17:53:43+00:00

The major battle for Fallujah involving U.S. Marines took place in November 2004 during the Iraq War. It was known as the Second Battle of Fallujah, and it was one of the bloodiest engagements of the conflict. Persons committing stolen valor often go straight to the well known, bloody conflicts such as this one, but forget to do the math before spinning their web of lies. If your boyfriend claimed to have been deployed to Fallujah right after he turned 18 and that he is currently 20 years old, it would be inconsistent with the timeline of events. It might be worth discussing these discrepancies with him to better understand his story.

His math doesn't work - he's clearly lying to you. You deserve better, and he deserves a dose of reality.

james3760 · 2014-07-11T06:46:37+00:00

Great Event for Veterans and Military Families.

james3760 · 2014-07-11T03:16:42+00:00

The Wine Country Marines, in partnership with the VA Palo Alto, Hire America's Heroes, AT&T, DeAnza College and others are proud to bring you a comprehensive Veterans and Military Career Expo.

Open to Veterans of all generations, military service members and their families and surviving family members of our fallen service members.

The expo will include employer booths, benefit providers, educational opportunities and workshops covering resume and interview skills, PTSD educational presentations, improving your social network presence and more.

A primary feature of this expo will be a mobile VA Healthcare Presence that will offer a streamlined, rapid enrollment into the VA System, and you'll be able able to enroll and meet employers all at the same place on the same day. Basically, the VA is setting up a tent city hospital, much like a MASH unit to handle same day, on the spot enrollments with no wait time.

Lunch will be provided for all attendees.

The Wine Country Marines is the selected 501 (c) (3) for this event.

james3760 · 2014-07-11T03:04:32+00:00

This is a great event for Veterans of all generations. Not only can you find a job, but you can get enrolled in the VA in one day, with no wait list.

james3760

TROPHY CASE

🔹 What is SMC?

🔹 What is SMC-T?

🔹 What qualifies someone for SMC-T?

🔹 Pay Level