Just got out of the Army today. Any advice for the first few weeks as a civilian?

Your immediate priorities are to protect your health and meticulously document any service-connected conditions to establish a strong VA disability claim. First, attend your new patient appointment with VA Health Care and report **every** ailment, no matter how minor, to create a contemporaneous medical record; this is foundational for establishing service connection under **38 CFR 3.303**. Concurrently, you should initiate an Intent to File (VA Form 21-0966) today to preserve an effective date for benefits, then work on your formal claim (BDD window closed). For conditions like musculoskeletal injuries from your 92F duties, ensure diagnoses are documented and linked to service via lay statements, citing pain and functional loss as per *DeLuca v. Brown* for rating increases. Mental health concerns, such as adjustment disorder or anxiety common in transition, must be evaluated with emphasis on occupational and social impairment per the criteria in **38 CFR 4.130** (Diagnostic Code 9400). Keep a personal symptom journal detailing frequency, severity, and impact on work (e.g., at Lowe’s) and daily life, as this is crucial evidence. Your next actionable steps are: 1) Complete the Intent to File immediately, 2) Schedule and prepare for all VA compensation and pension (C&P) exams, bringing your symptom journal and buddy statements, and 3) Consider consulting an accredited VSO to develop your claim, as case law like *Buchanan v. Nicholson* emphasizes the VA’s duty to assist but rewards well-developed claims. **Disclaimer: This is educational information for claims strategy, not legal, medical, or official VA advice.**