vbd-api

Official Python client for the Veteran Benefit Desk API: structured, source linked VA benefits data with permanent VBD IDs, provenance in every response, and honest review tiers.

You are only charged credits for successful responses. Errors and not found lookups are always free.

Install

pip install vbd-api

Quickstart

from vbd_api import VBD

client = VBD(api_key="vbd_sbx_...")  # free key at https://veteranbenefitdesk.com/developers/signup

# Diagnostic codes
ptsd = client.get_diagnostic_code("9411")
print(ptsd["data"]["title"])                 # PTSD
print(ptsd["vbd"]["id"])                     # VBD:DC:9411
print(ptsd["provenance"]["sources"])         # 38 CFR Part 4 ...
print(ptsd["citation_text"])                 # ready to paste attribution line

# Conditions
client.search_conditions(q="knee", limit=10)
client.get_condition("tinnitus")

# VA forms
client.search_forms(q="disability")
client.get_form("21-526EZ")

# State benefits (2 credits)
client.get_state_benefits("TX", category="property_tax")

# Source check: verify a general statement against the corpus (paid plans, 10 credits per billed call)
check = client.source_check("PTSD is rated under diagnostic code 9411", type="diagnostic_code", max_sources=3)
print(check["verdict"], check["confidence"])  # supported 1
print(check["sources"])                       # citations with source_name, vbd_id, source_url, last_reviewed
# Individualized advice requests ("should I file...") return an unbilled abstain verdict.

# Your usage (free)
client.usage()

# Metering info from the last call
print(client.last_receipt_id, client.credits_remaining)

Errors

All API errors raise vbd_api.VBDError with .status and .detail:

from vbd_api import VBD, VBDError

try:
    client.get_diagnostic_code("99999")
except VBDError as e:
    print(e.status, e.detail)  # 404 Unknown diagnostic code... (not billed)

Notes

• Veteran Benefit Desk is independent and not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or any government agency.
• Data is general educational information from public sources. It is not legal, medical, individualized claims, or representative advice.
• License: commercial use with attribution ("Data via Veteran Benefit Desk"). Training rights are not granted by default.