Medical & Legal Disclaimer

1. Not Medical Advice

The information on this website — including descriptions of health conditions, symptoms, benefits, and medical studies — is provided for general educational purposes only.

• •Nothing on this site should be interpreted as a diagnosis, treatment recommendation, or substitute for professional medical care.
• •Always consult a licensed physician or qualified healthcare provider for any medical condition, symptom, or health concern.
• •Medical research cited on this site reflects published studies and VA/EPA regulatory findings — it is not personalized health guidance.
• •If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.
• •Veterans experiencing a mental health crisis should call the Veterans Crisis Line: 988, then press 1.

2. Not Legal Advice

Albert Leroy Thombs Jr. is a VA-Accredited Claims Agent (Agent #45147), not an attorney. The following applies to all content and communications from this website:

• •Information provided does not constitute legal advice under any state or federal bar standard.
• •No attorney-client relationship is created by visiting this website, submitting a contact form, or communicating with this office.
• •Claims agent accreditation under 38 CFR § 14.629 authorizes representation before the VA only — not before courts of law.
• •For matters involving federal court litigation, FTCA claims, or legal representation outside the VA, consult a licensed attorney.

3. The 21-22a Representation Boundary

Until VA Form 21-22a is on file:

• •All communications are general education only — not case-specific guidance.
• •No nexus opinions, rating estimates, or claim strategies are provided.
• •No promises or predictions about claim outcomes are made or implied.
• •You retain full control of your VA claim and may work with any VSO, attorney, or claims agent of your choosing.

4. Accuracy of Information

We make every effort to ensure that educational content reflects current VA regulations, PACT Act provisions (Public Law 117-168), and published medical/scientific literature. However:

• •VA regulations and policies change frequently. Always verify current rules at VA.gov .
• •Citations to 38 CFR, VA manuals, and federal statutes are provided for reference and may be updated by Congress or VA rulemaking.
• •Medical studies referenced reflect the state of science at time of publication and may be superseded by newer research.

5. No Guarantee of Results

VA claims outcomes depend on individual facts, evidence, examiner decisions, and regulatory interpretation. Nothing on this site guarantees, implies, or predicts any specific rating, benefit award, or claims outcome. Past results for other veterans do not guarantee similar results for your claim.

6. Third-Party Resources

Links to VA.gov, PubMed, NIH, EPA, and other external sources are provided as educational references. We do not control those sites, are not responsible for their content, and their inclusion does not constitute endorsement of all their content.

7. Accreditation & Oversight

Albert Thombs is accredited by the VA Office of General Counsel under 38 CFR § 14.629. Accreditation status can be verified at the VA OGC Accreditation Search . Complaints regarding accredited agents may be directed to the VA OGC.