Introduction 1 Part 1: Writing Your Next Chapter 5 Chapter 1: Gearing Up for That DD-214 Life 7 Chapter 2: Tying Your Discharge Status into Benefits 21 Chapter 3: Navigating VA Claims and Appeals 39 Part 2: Medical Care, Life Insurance, and Compensation Programs 57 Chapter 4: Helping Yourself to Health Benefits 59 Chapter 5: Exploring VA Healthcare 69 Chapter 6: Probing into TRICARE 95 Chapter 7: Securing Your Family's Future with VA Life Insurance 111 Chapter 8: Cashing In on Military Pensions, Severance Pay, and the TSP 119 Chapter 9: Taking a Close Look at Disability Pay 137 Part 3: Employment, Education, and Housing Programs 159 Chapter 10: Applying to Employment Programs 161 Chapter 11: Transitioning from the Military to More Government Employment 177 Chapter 12: Building Your Own Business with Veterans Benefits 187 Chapter 13: Bringing Receipts: Using Your GI Bill 199 Chapter 14: Staking Your Claim on Other Education Programs 217 Chapter 15: Buying into Post-Military Life with Your VA Loan Benefit 229 Chapter 16: Enjoying Your Golden Years in a Military Retirement Home 239 Part 4: Burial and Memorial Benefits, Survivor Benefits, and More 245 Chapter 17: Accessing Benefits for Homeless Vets 247 Chapter 18: Using Benefits While Incarcerated 257 Chapter 19: Applying for Benefits for Women, Minority, and LGBTQ+ Vets 265 Chapter 20: Zeroing In on Claims for Vets of Specific Wars, Former POWs, and Disabled Vets 269 Chapter 21: Diving into Benefits for Spouses, Dependents, and Caregivers 295 Chapter 22: Examining Burial and Memorial Benefits 305 Chapter 23: Surveying Survivor Benefits 315 Chapter 24: Shopping 'til You Drop: Benefits for Retirees and Other ID Cardholders 323 Chapter 25: Seeing the World with Travel Benefits 329 Chapter 26: Sidling up to State Veterans Benefits 337 Part 5: The Part of Tens 347 Chapter 27: Ten Ways to Get Your Disability Claim Denied 349 Chapter 28: Ten Tips to Maximize Your Benefits 353 Index 357.