We’re proud to share that Vetavize Founder and CEO Anthony Rivera was recently featured on The Frogman Friday Show, hosted by fellow Navy SEAL Ryan “Birdman” Parrott. In this powerful and wide-ranging interview, Anthony opens up about the challenges veterans face when transitioning to civilian life and how his experience in helping thousands of veterans navigate the claims process became the driving force behind the creation of Vetavize.

 

Episode 94: Anthony Rivera — Bridging the Gap Between Service and Civilian Life

In the episode, Anthony and Ryan delve into the realities of navigating the VA bureaucracy, the critical importance of accurate medical documentation, and how Vetavize is utilizing technology to streamline and enhance the disability claims process for veterans. They also discuss family, fatherhood, marriage after service, and the potential of psychedelic therapies to support veteran mental health and emotional clarity.

 

Topics include:
• Transitioning out of the SEAL Teams
• The real barriers to accessing VA benefits
• Why Vetavize was created and how it works
• The importance of documenting a “VA paper trail”
• The power of community, faith, and purpose in healing
• Marriage, family, and life beyond service

 

This episode offers insights for anyone seeking to gain a deeper understanding of the veteran experience and the mission behind Vetavize.

 

 

About The Frogman Friday Show

Hosted by Ryan “Birdman” Parrott, The Frogman Friday Show introduces listeners to former Special Operators who are shaping the future through business, nonprofit leadership, and creative ventures. The show bridges the gap between service and civilian life, celebrating stories of courage, innovation, and transformation.

 

 

SHOW LINKS:

Spotify: https://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/YYuZ4ACkwUb
YouTube: https://youtu.be/HxhRjmbZjiM
Rumble: https://rumble.com/v6vevid-ep-94-navy-seal-anthony-rivera-leadership-faith-and-life-after-service.html

 

 

June 10, 2025 — Partnership gives veterans free access to AI tools that speed up and strengthen VA disability claims

Rockin’ With The SEALs and Vetavize, a veteran-founded technology company revolutionizing access to VA disability benefits, today announced the official launch of a new partnership aimed at providing sponsored access to Vetavize’s platform for veterans nationwide.

 

As part of the collaboration, Rockin’ With The SEALs is funding a pilot program for 100 veterans, offering full access to Vetavize’s proprietary tools that simplify, streamline, and accelerate the VA disability claims process. The platform combines automation, step-by-step guidance, and personalized record gathering—empowering veterans to prepare stronger claims without the confusion and delays traditionally associated with the process.

 

“This partnership with Vetavize is a game changer for our foundation’s mission,” said Michael “Ziggy” Zeigler, Founder and CEO of Rockin’ With The SEALs. “Through our Hands Up and Scholarship initiatives, we’ve always focused on providing real-world impact for our Special Operations community. Vetavize gives us a new tool to do exactly that, by removing barriers and giving veterans the support they deserve.”

 

Founded by Navy SEAL Anthony Rivera in 2023, Vetavize was created to address a common issue faced by many veterans: a challenged and frustrating system that delays or denies access to their earned benefits. Based in Orlando, FL, the company’s mission is to ensure every veteran can access its platform and tools at no personal cost, a goal made possible through partners like Rockin’ With The SEALs.

 

“We’re honored to join forces with Rockin’ With The SEALs,” said Rivera. “Their deep roots in the Special Operations community and commitment to helping veterans through direct action align perfectly with our purpose. This partnership brings us one step closer to ensuring that no veteran is left behind in the claims process.”

 

About Rockin’ With The SEALs

Founded in 2012 in Canton, OH by golf entertainer and musician Michael “Ziggy” Zeigler and retired Navy SEAL Michael “Chez” Cheswick, Rockin’ With The SEALs, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity dedicated to supporting the Special Operations community. Through golf tournaments, concerts, auctions, and dinners held in cities such as Naples, West Palm Beach, Key West, Sarasota, and Canton, the organization raises critical funds for Special Operators, their families, and other veteran-focused nonprofits.

 

Past beneficiaries include the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, the SEAL Veterans Foundation, the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation, and others. Its core initiatives—Hands Up, PTSD treatment access, and scholarships—are designed to uplift and support warriors in need.

 

 

Vetavize uses AI and automation to help veterans navigate the VA’s overwhelmed benefits system

Navy SEAL and Master Training Specialist Anthony Rivera today announced the national launch of Vetavize, a digital platform designed to simplify and accelerate the VA disability benefits process. Powered by step-by-step automation and artificial intelligence, Vetavize guides veterans through self-filing while helping them identify conditions and gather the medical evidence needed to support their claims.

 

The platform addresses one of the Department of Veterans Affairs’ most persistent challenges: a longstanding claims backlog, with pending applications often hovering around one million at any given time. According to the VA, one in five claims are processed with errors, often caused by incomplete applications and the pressure to move claims quickly through an overwhelmed system. These errors result in costly delays, appeals, and unnecessary reexaminations.

 

“Far too many veterans are eligible for life-changing benefits but face unnecessary hurdles in accessing them,” said Rivera. “Vetavize is about eliminating confusion, increasing confidence, and streamlining the claims process.”

 

While the VA has long struggled to modernize its claims processing systems, Rivera has already helped more than 7,000 veterans navigate the process with proven results. That expertise now drives Vetavize’s AI-powered 10-step workflow and the HERO Report® (Health Evaluation, Review and Optimization) a standardized, evidence-based claim package that reduces the burden on VA staff, accelerates decision-making, and gives veterans faster access to the benefits they’ve earned.

 

“As an accredited claims agent, I have worked on literally thousands of VA disability claims,” said Stewart Simons, VA Accredited Claims Agent #57661. “I can confidently validate that the Vetavize program significantly enhances the veteran experience within the VA system. I have not seen any other technology on the market that so thoroughly educates and empowers veterans.”

 

Simons added, “Vetavize’s HERO Report plays a crucial role in clarifying any ambiguities within a veteran’s disability claim. By ensuring the claim is fully developed and supported by robust, evidence-based documentation, it aligns with the VA’s specific requirements.”

 

Vetavize is committed to providing every veteran with access to its full suite of automation tools at no personal cost. This is made possible through a growing network of sponsors, including nonprofits, corporations, municipalities, and private donors. In situations where veteran demand outpaces the current supply of sponsored licenses, veterans may join a waitlist or purchase a license for immediate access.

 

Active duty service members, veterans, and those interested in sponsoring access to Vetavize can visit our homepage to learn more.  Additional Vetavize products are scheduled to launch later this year, expanding the platform’s capabilities to help veterans and their families secure a lifetime of benefits beyond disability compensation alone.

 

The latest episode of the Cleared Hot Podcast delivers a must-listen conversation for any veteran navigating the often-confusing world of VA disability claims. Hosted by former Navy SEAL and podcast creator Andy Stumpf, this episode features an in-depth discussion with fellow SEAL and Vetavize founder, Anthony Rivera, who shares his personal journey from elite military service to civilian advocacy.

 

Rivera opens up about his transition from the SEAL Teams, the physical toll of his service, and the eye-opening experience of managing his own VA disability claim—a process that inspired him to create Vetavize, a groundbreaking tech platform designed to help veterans access the benefits they’ve earned with greater ease and accuracy.

 

“This episode is for every veteran who’s ever felt overwhelmed by the claims process or confused about what they’re entitled to,” said Rivera. “The system isn’t broken—but it is complex. With Vetavize, we’re making it simpler, faster, and more transparent.”

 

Throughout the episode, Rivera and Stumpf trade stories from their time in uniform, reflect on the long-term impact of their service, and explore how technology, transparency, and veteran-led innovation are transforming how former service members interact with the Department of Veterans Affairs.

 

A segment of the episode also dives into the Transition Assistance Program (TAP), the military’s structured program intended to help service members move into civilian life. Both Rivera and Stumpf discuss the need for reform and proactive planning to streamline the transition process. Rivera emphasizes how early documentation and guided assistance, like what Vetavize provides, can significantly improve outcomes for veterans, reducing the gap between service and stability.

 

Veterans currently working to establish or improve their VA disability rating, which ranges from 0% to 100% and determines monthly compensation, healthcare access, and other essential benefits, will find not only answers but encouragement, strategies, and clarity in this compelling conversation.

 

Rivera, a firm advocate for the VA medical system, explains how tools like Vetavize don’t replace the VA—they optimize the experience, empowering veterans with knowledge and support to focus on recovery, not red tape.

 

Listen or Watch Now:

Cleared Hot Podcast featuring Anthony Rivera
Available now on:

• ClearedHotPodcast.com
• YouTube
• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• Instagram: @clearedhotpodcast