In this Veterans Day conversation on The Dr. Smiley Show, Navy Chief Chris Lassiter describes the problem that started VA Rating Assistant: years of handwritten and scattered medical notes that were nearly impossible to line up with 38 CFR rating language before a claims appointment.
The segment is now on our About page so veterans, families, and VSOs can watch it without leaving the site. The player above is the same interview.
What Chris covers
Chris talks through the mission in plain terms:
- Medical records are messy. Twenty-plus years of notes do not arrive as a clean claim file.
- Public AI chatbots are the wrong place for that file. VA Rating Assistant keeps uploads in encrypted AWS storage instead of asking veterans to paste records into a consumer chatbot.
- The output is a preparation report with evidence links veterans can take to DAV, a Veterans Service Organization (VSO), or a claims appointment.
He also notes the AWS Lambda Hackathon result (4th place, Honorable Mention) and that VA developer APIs for forms and facilities are in review. Until production access is granted, the public VA Forms and VA Facilities tools stay on sandbox data, with that disclaimer on the page.
What this is, and what it is not
VA Rating Assistant is claim preparation. It does not file a claim, replace an accredited representative, or issue a VA rating. The AWS hackathon write-up explains the serverless pipeline behind the report. The Vector Podcast special edition covers how Chris got from Navy Chief and web developer to that build.
If you want to try a no-account tool first, use the VA rating calculator. If you are gathering records, start with how to get VA medical records.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not legal or medical advice. VA Rating Assistant is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is VA Rating Assistant part of the Department of Veterans Affairs?
Do I upload my medical records to ChatGPT or another public AI?
What do I do with the report after I watch this interview?
Where can I watch the AWS and AI builder conversation?
This information is for educational purposes only and is not legal or medical advice. Rating criteria are summarized from publicly available 38 CFR regulations. Consult a Veterans Service Officer (VSO) or VA-accredited attorney for advice on your specific claim.
Watch on the About page, then try the tools
The interview plays here and on About. When you are ready, start with the free calculator or a secure account.