Privacy Policy

1. Who this applies to

This Privacy Policy describes how After Action ("we," "us," or "the app") collects, uses, and protects information when you use the After Action mobile application. It applies to all users of the app on iOS and any future platforms.

After Action is an independent application designed to help U.S. veterans and transitioning service members organize VA disability claims. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the Department of Defense, or any other government agency.

2. Information we collect

Information you provide directly

You may choose to enter the following information into the app:

• Profile information — name, branch of service, service start and end dates, marital status, dependents, and similar demographic details
• Health and claim information — service-connected conditions, symptoms, journal entries, and other notes you create
• Evidence files — documents, images, and PDFs you upload to support your claim
• Form 21-4138 data — information you enter when building a VA claim statement

This information is stored locally on your device. We do not transmit it to our servers unless you explicitly use a feature that requires it (for example, exporting a Claim Builder PDF to share elsewhere).

Information collected automatically

• Anonymous usage analytics — aggregated, non-identifying information about which features are used and how often, to help us improve the app
• Crash reports — diagnostic information sent automatically by Apple when the app crashes, if you have enabled sharing in your device settings
• Purchase information — when you make a one-time purchase, Apple processes the transaction. We receive a receipt confirmation but do not see your payment details

Information we do NOT collect

• We do not collect your full Social Security Number. The app supports entering only the last four digits, which stays on your device.
• We do not collect your VA file number, banking details, or full medical records on our servers.
• We do not access your photos, contacts, or location unless you explicitly grant permission to upload an evidence file.

3. How we use your information

Information stored locally in the app is used solely to:

• Display your conditions, evidence, and progress within the app
• Pre-fill calculators and forms (e.g., the VA Compensation Calculator and Form 21-4138 Builder) using your profile data
• Generate AI summaries of evidence using on-device language models
• Track milestones for the Challenge Coin reward system
• Calculate days until or since separation

Aggregated, anonymous analytics are used only to understand which features veterans find most useful and where the app needs improvement.

4. On-device storage & AI

After Action is designed with a privacy-first architecture:

• Local storage. All conditions, journal entries, evidence files, and form data are stored in the app's secure container on your device.
• On-device AI. The "AI Summary" feature uses Apple Intelligence and on-device language models. Your evidence and notes are never sent to our servers or to third-party AI providers (such as OpenAI or Anthropic) for processing.
• No automatic cloud sync. The app does not automatically back up your After Action data to iCloud or any other cloud service. If you back up your iPhone via Apple's standard iCloud Backup, your After Action data is included in that encrypted backup, governed by Apple's privacy practices.

5. Third-party services

We use a limited number of third-party services to operate the app:

• Apple App Store & In-App Purchase — handles all transactions. See Apple's Privacy Policy.
• Apple Crash Reporting / Analytics — if you have analytics sharing enabled in your iOS Settings, anonymized crash and usage data may be shared with us via Apple.

We do not use advertising SDKs, social media tracking pixels, or behavioral ad networks.

6. Data sharing & disclosure

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. We do not share your data with advertisers, data brokers, marketers, employers, insurers, or the VA.

The only circumstances under which we may disclose information are:

• With your consent — for example, if you explicitly choose to email or share an exported Claim Builder PDF
• Legal compliance — if required by valid legal process (subpoena, court order); we will challenge requests we believe are overbroad
• Safety — if necessary to prevent imminent harm to a person
• Business transfer — in the unlikely event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, with notice to users

7. Security

We rely on Apple's iOS security architecture, including app sandboxing and device-level encryption, to protect data stored within After Action. We strongly recommend that you:

• Use a device passcode and Face ID / Touch ID
• Keep your iOS version up to date
• Be cautious when sharing exported Claim Builder PDFs, as they may contain sensitive information

No system is perfectly secure. While we take reasonable measures to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

8. Your rights & choices

Because most data lives on your device, you have direct control over it:

• Access & edit. All your information is viewable and editable inside the app at any time.
• Delete. You can delete individual conditions, evidence, journal entries, or your entire profile from within the app's settings. Uninstalling the app removes all locally stored data.
• Opt out of analytics. Disable analytics sharing in your device's iOS Settings → Privacy & Security → Analytics & Improvements.
• Restore purchases. Use "Restore Previous Purchase" within the app to re-enable Full Access on a new device.

9. Children's privacy

After Action is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. The app is intended for adult U.S. military veterans and transitioning service members. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us so we can delete it.

10. State & regional rights

California residents (CCPA / CPRA)

California residents have the right to know what personal information we collect, request deletion of personal information, opt out of the sale or sharing of personal information (we do not sell or share for cross-context behavioral advertising), and not receive discriminatory treatment for exercising these rights. To exercise these rights, contact us at the email below.

Other U.S. state laws

Residents of states with comprehensive privacy laws (including but not limited to Virginia, Colorado, Connecticut, Utah, Texas, and Oregon) have similar rights to access, correct, delete, and port their personal information. Contact us to exercise these rights.

European Economic Area, United Kingdom, and similar jurisdictions

If you are located in the EEA, UK, or a similar jurisdiction, you have rights under GDPR or equivalent law including access, rectification, erasure, restriction, portability, and objection. Our lawful basis for processing is your consent and our legitimate interest in operating and improving the app.

11. Changes to this policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we make material changes, we will update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page and, where appropriate, provide an in-app notification. Continued use of the app after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.

12. Contact us

Questions, requests, or concerns about this Privacy Policy or your data? Reach out — we read every message.

After Action is an independent application. We are not lawyers, VA-accredited representatives, or VSOs. Information in the app is not legal advice. For legal representation on your VA claim, please consult a VA-accredited attorney, claims agent, or Veterans Service Organization.