The BDD & First-Year Civilian Playbook

YOU SERVED. NOW LET'S GET THIS RIGHT.

Benefits Delivery at Discharge (BDD) only works inside a closed window: 180 days before your separation date at the earliest, 90 days at the latest. Miss it and you are not in BDD, though you can still file. This playbook shows which clock you are on, what to gather before you click submit, and what the first twelve months as a civilian actually require.

WHAT'S INSIDE

- Whether you qualify for BDD (known separation date, service treatment records, Separation Health Assessment Part A, 45-day exam availability)

- Pre-window packing list before day 180

- Filing inside the 180 to 90 day window and staying available for exams

- Already inside 90 days? BDD is closed. Here is how to file standard

- Separation week: DD214, TAMP (not automatic), SGLI and VGLI clocks

- First-year stack: VA health care, GI Bill, VR&E, state benefits

- SHA Part A section-by-section walkthrough

- Letter-size checklists, a master calendar, six worksheets, and notes pages you can write on

- Companion Notion Command Center (six trackers) included

WHAT YOU DOWNLOAD

- 8.5 x 11 printable PDF (30 pages including front and back cover)

- Notion welcome PDF with the Duplicate link and setup steps

- A free personal Notion account is all you need. This is not a Notion subscription.

INSTANT DOWNLOAD. Print it, hole-punch it, or keep it on a tablet from 180 days out through month 12 after ETS.

FREE BONUS TOOL: use the BDD window calculator at veteran-roadmap.com/bdd-calculator to see your open and close dates.

Pairs well with The C&P Exam Survival Guide (before pre-discharge exams), The VA Nexus Letter Playbook (if a condition is not in your records), and The VA Denial & Appeal Playbook (if the first decision comes back incomplete).

IMPORTANT: This guide is independently published and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. It provides general educational information, not legal, medical, or financial advice. Program rules change, so always confirm on VA.gov and consider working with an accredited VSO, claims agent, or attorney.

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