How to file a VA disability claim
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Fully Developed Claims
- Be sure to fill out your claim completely.
- Gather any evidence (supporting documents) you’ll submit yourself when you file your VA disability claim. Sending all your supporting documents and your claim will help speed up the process.
- Forms You May Need
Evidence to Support Your Claim
To support your VA disability claim, you can provide certain documents that may help strengthen your case. These documents include VA medical records and hospital records, which can relate to your claimed illnesses or injuries, or they could show that your disability rating has worsened. Private medical records and hospital reports are also helpful, as they could relate to your claimed illnesses or injuries or show that your disability has worsened.
Additionally, supporting statements from family members, friends, clergy members, law enforcement personnel, or people you served with can provide valuable insight into your claimed condition and how and when it occurred or worsened.
Depending on the type of claim you file, you may need to gather the supporting documents yourself or ask for help from the VA to gather evidence.
It's important to note that the VA will review your discharge papers (DD Form 214 or other separation documents) and service treatment records as part of the process. If you need more information about the evidence required for your claim, you can learn more on our website.
Learn more about the evidence we’ll need for your claim.
Supporting Evidence
You do not have to provide any supporting evidence for your claim initially. However, the VA may require a claim examination to obtain more information about your condition. If you need more time to gather supporting documents, you can save your application and complete it later. It is important to note that you have up to one year from the date the VA receives your claim to submit any supporting evidence. The VA will consider the date you started your application as your date of claim as long as you complete it within 365 days.
Learn more about VA claim exams (C&P exams)
Below is from the VA's website. Please check this link for what the latest is. This information is current as of 03/2024
How do I file a claim for compensation?
You can file a claim online now.
You can also file for disability compensation in any of these 4 ways
By mail
File your claim by mail using an Application for Disability Compensation and Related Compensation Benefits (VA Form 21-526EZ).
Get VA Form 21-526EZ to download
Print the form, fill it out, and send it to this address:
Department of Veterans Affairs
Claims Intake Center
PO Box 4444
Janesville, WI 53547-4444
In person
Bring your application to a VA regional office near you.
Find a VA regional office near you
By fax
If you’re in the U.S., fax your application to 844-531-7818.
If you’re outside the U.S., fax your application to 248-524-4260.
With the help of a trained professional
You can work with a trained professional called an accredited representative to get help filing a claim for disability compensation.
Get help from an accredited representative.
Should I submit an intent to file form?
If you plan to file for disability compensation using a paper form, you may want to submit an intent to file form first. This can give you the time you need to gather your evidence while avoiding a later potential start date (also called an effective date). When you notify us of your intent to file, you may be able to get retroactive payments (compensation that starts at a point in the past).
Note: If you file for disability compensation online, then you don’t need to notify us of your intent to file. This is because your effective date gets set automatically when you start filling out the form online—before you submit it.
Find out how to submit an intent to file form
What happens after I file my VA disability claim?
Find out what happens after you file
You don’t need to do anything while you’re waiting unless we send you a letter asking for more information. If we schedule exams for you, be sure not to miss them.
How long does it take VA to make a decision?
More information about filing disability claims
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Claim types and when to file
Learn about standard claims, supplemental claims, secondary claims, and more.
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Evidence needed for your disability claim
Find out what evidence we’ll need to support your disability claim.
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Disabilities that appear within 1 year after discharge
Find out if you can get disability benefits if you have signs of an illness within a year after being discharged from service.
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Get help from an accredited representative
Find out how to work with a trained professional called an accredited representative to file your claim.
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Supporting forms for VA claims
Find additional forms that you may need to support your claim.
Below is a link to the VA's website explaining disability compensation before you leave the service. It has some good information, so I've included it for you below.
Click the link to download the mlc-disability.pdf
Disability Compensation MILITARY LIFE CYCLE (MLC)
ONLINE RESOURCE GUIDE
The VA Disability Compensation module introduces the VA disability compensation (pay) benefit. This Online Resource Guide (ORG) provides web links to important resources
related to the course. The VA.gov website offers current resources, tools and contact information for all VA benefits and services.
VA TAP ONLINE COURSES
The VA TAP Course Catalog is a comprehensive resource that includes information about all VA TAP course offerings, direct links to on-demand web-based training, and downloadable resource materials.
To access these courses, navigate to the VA TAP Course Catalog. You may also scan the QR code at the top of this page. Then, select from the courses available in the VA TAP Curriculum.
KEY VA RESOURCES
Links
The VA.gov website offers current resources, tools, and contact information for all VA benefits and services that may be available to Service members, Veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors.
- VA home page
- COVID-19 Information
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VA benefits hotline: 1-800-827-1000
- Hearing impaired: 1-800-829-4833
- Technical Issues: 1-800-983-0937
- VA Regional Offices
VA DISABILITY COMPENSATION
- VA Disability Compensation
- Video, “Paul applied for VA disability compensation before he left the military.”
- Video, “For Greg, VA disability compensation makes life easier.”
- Video, “With VA disability compensation, Maranda can focus on healing and advancing her career.”
- Video, “VA has understood that I needed things that I didn’t even realize I needed.”
- Eligibility for VA disability benefits
SERVICE CONNECTION
- Video: “Compensation 101: What is Service Connection?”
- PACT Act
- Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs)
DISABILITY RATINGS AND COMPENSATION RATES
HOW TO APPLY
DISABILITY PROCESS CLAIMS SELF-SERVICE TOOL VA.GOV
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Videos: “The New 526 Disability Form on VA.gov”
- “Getting Started: Section 1 of the Digital 526 Disability Compensation Tool at VA.gov”
- “Add Contentions: Section 2 of the Digital 526 Disability”
- “Add Evidence: Section 3 of the Digital 526 Disability Compensation Tool”
- “Getting Started: Sections 4 and 5 of the Digital 526 Disability Compensation Tool”
- Self-Service Disability Compensation Claims Tool at VA.gov
DISABILITY COMPENSATION AND OTHER PAYMENTS
- DOD Wounded, Ill, and/or Injured Compensation and Benefits Handbook
- Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay (CRDP)
- Combat Related Special Compensation (CRSC)
- Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC) (VA.gov)
- Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC) and Concurrent Retirement Disability Pay (CRDP)
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES