Claim Chronology: Build a Timeline the VA Actually Believes

The VA loves an easy-to-follow timeline. In this episode Gary walks you through building a claim chronology a decision reviewer will read and trust. You’ll learn exactly what to put in each entry (service event, date, location, treatment received, and current symptom link), which records to pull first, and the precise wording that converts lay evidence into persuasive support. Gary gives a three‑column template you can reproduce in minutes, shows example lines that establish continuity of symptoms, and flags the common mistakes that turn a timeline into noise. This isn’t theory — it’s a kitchen‑table, step‑by‑step playbook for vets who want to make their evidence impossible to ignore. Action step: create a dated PDF timeline using the episode template and upload it with your next claim. Visit the show site to download the template and sample wording.