Know every step before you file
Most claim denials happen because veterans didn't know what was coming. Here's the full process — no surprises.
The road · average 6–18 months
- Intent to FileToday
- 01File Your ClaimDay 1
- 02VA Acknowledges ReceiptDays 1–14
- 03Initial ReviewWeeks 2–8
- 04Evidence GatheringWeeks 4–16
- 05C&P Examination (if ordered)Weeks 8–20
- 06Review of EvidenceWeeks 16–40
- 07Decision NotificationWeek 40–52+
- 08Appeal if NecessaryWithin 1 year of decision
Step 0 · time-sensitive
File your Intent to File — right now
Before you do anything else — before you gather records, before you see a doctor, before you even know exactly what you're claiming — file an Intent to File (ITF) at VA.gov. It locks in your effective date.
Your effective date determines when your monthly payments START and how much back pay you receive. Every month you wait costs you money.
File ITF at VA.gov (free, 2 minutes)- Filing date
- Today
- Takes
- 2 minutes
- Valid for
- 12 months
An ITF is good for 12 months. File it TODAY even if your documents aren't ready.
Average time: 6–18 months
The 8 steps of a VA disability claim
Knowing each step removes the anxiety of not knowing what's happening to your claim.
- 01Day 1
File Your Claim
Submit VA Form 21-526EZ online at VA.gov or through a VSO. Include your DD-214, medical records, nexus letters, and buddy statements. A complete package filed on day one avoids development letters that delay your claim by months.
Tip: VA Claim Commander generates your complete draft package before you file.
- 02Days 1–14
VA Acknowledges Receipt
The VA sends a confirmation letter and assigns a claim number. You can track your claim status at VA.gov or through the VA mobile app. This step is automatic — no action required from you.
Tip: Save your claim number. You'll need it for every future communication.
- 03Weeks 2–8
Initial Review
A VA claims processor reviews your submission for completeness. If they need additional evidence, they'll send a 'development letter' requesting it. Submitting a complete package upfront skips this entirely.
Tip: A nexus letter and buddy statement in your initial filing significantly reduces development letters.
- 04Weeks 4–16
Evidence Gathering
The VA attempts to gather your military service records, VA medical records, and private medical records (if you signed a release). They're required to help gather evidence under the Duty to Assist (38 CFR § 3.159).
Tip: Don't rely on VA to gather private medical records — upload them yourself in your initial filing.
- 05Weeks 8–20
C&P Examination (if ordered)
The VA may schedule a Compensation & Pension exam with their contracted provider. The examiner reviews your records and may physically examine you. If they schedule one, ALWAYS attend — missing it can result in denial.
Tip: Use your C&P Exam Prep Guide (generated in VA Claim Commander) to know what to expect and how to describe your worst days accurately — honestly and specifically.
- 06Weeks 16–40
Review of Evidence
A VA rater reviews all evidence: your claim, records, nexus letter, C&P results, and buddy statements. They assign a proposed rating for each condition based on VASRD criteria (38 CFR Part 4).
Tip: Strong documentation submitted upfront means the rater has everything they need to make a fully informed decision.
- 07Week 40–52+
Decision Notification
The VA sends a Rating Decision letter explaining: which conditions were service-connected, what rating was assigned, what effective date was used, and how back pay was calculated.
Tip: Read every page carefully. If anything is wrong — wrong effective date, wrong rating, missed condition — you have 1 year to appeal.
- 08Within 1 year of decision
Appeal if Necessary
If denied or under-rated, you have options: Supplemental Claim (new evidence), Higher-Level Review (senior rater), or Board of Veterans Appeals. Many claims are strengthened and won on supplemental claim or appeal — a denial is not the end.
Tip: A better nexus letter is often all it takes to overturn a denial on supplemental claim.
How service connection is decided
Three things every claim has to prove.
Veterans law calls it the Caluza triangle — after Caluza v. Brown, the case that set the three elements VA looks for. Miss one corner and the claim is denied, however strong the other two are. Every claim in the app is built corner by corner, and it reads Ready to file only when all three are covered.
- 1A current disabilityMedical evidence of a current condition.Your records read for the diagnosis — or what to add if it's missing.
- 2An in-service eventMedical or lay evidence of what happened in service.Your statement, a buddy's statement, and your service records.
- 3The link between themA medical opinion that the two are connected.A medical opinion drafted from your file, for a licensed clinician to review and sign if they agree.
Most ready to file: your four pieces in — story, daily impact, diagnosis, treatment — and all three corners covered, with a signed opinion for the link.
Caluza v. Brown, 7 Vet. App. 498, 506 (1995); Shedden v. Principi, 381 F.3d 1163, 1167 (Fed. Cir. 2004).
All three covered
Ready
to file
Ready to build your claim?
A complete package on day one — statements, the medical opinion, your evidence and a cover sheet listing all of it.
VA Claim Commander is not affiliated with the VA and does not file claims for you. VA decides every claim.