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Deadlines & Countdown Tracker
Track your Intent to File expiration, appeal windows per condition, and upcoming C&P exam dates — all in one place.
What is an Intent to File?
An Intent to File (VA Form 21-0966) tells the VA a claim is coming and locks in your effective date for up to one year — no evidence required.
Your ITF protects your back pay. If you filed an ITF and your claim is granted within 12 months, the VA owes you back to your ITF date — not when you filed your claim. One year is all you get.
Missing the window costs veterans thousands of dollars in back pay. Enter your filing date below to see exactly how much time you have left.
ITF questions, answered
How do I file an ITF?
Three free ways: start (but don't submit) a disability claim at VA.gov — that automatically records an Intent to File; call the VA at 1-800-827-1000; or submit VA Form 21-0966 by mail or through an accredited representative. You'll get a confirmation showing your effective date.
Can I file online?
Yes — the easiest way. When you start a disability claim application on VA.gov and save it without submitting, the VA records an ITF as of that date. You then have one year to finish and submit the claim.
What if my ITF expires?
The protected effective date is gone — back pay on a later claim starts from the new filing date instead. If you can't finish your claim in time, file a newITF before the old one lapses so a fresh one-year window starts. There's no limit on filing a new ITF, but they don't stack: only the one active when you submit your claim counts.
Does VA Claim Commander file the ITF for me?
No — we help you build the claim documents. The ITF must be filed directly with the VA (online, by phone, or via VA Form 21-0966). VA Claim Commander generates the documentation — nexus letters, personal statements, buddy statements — that goes into the claim you file.
What's the difference between an ITF and a claim?
An ITF is a placeholder: it tells the VA a claim is coming and locks your effective date, with no evidence required. The claim is the real filing — your conditions, evidence, and forms. The ITF protects your back pay while you build the claim properly.
Ready to build your claim documentation?
VA Claim Commander generates nexus letters, personal statements, and buddy statements — built to the evidentiary standard raters evaluate against.
Generate my documentation →Not affiliated with or endorsed by the Department of Veterans Affairs. VA Claim Commander is not a VSO, law firm, or accredited representative.