The Five Stages of a VA Claim

STAGES OF A VA CLAIM

     NEW                                                    (Including Estimated Times):                                                                 OLD

Stage 1

CLAIM RECEIVED

STAGE 1

Approximately 7-14 business days

The VA will let you know when they receive your VA disability claim.

• If you file your claim online, you’ll get an on-screen message from the VA after you submit the form. Take a photo or screenshot and save.

• If you mail your application, we’ll send you a letter to let you know we have your claim. You should get this letter about 1 week, plus mailing time, after we receive your claim. Keep a copy.

Stage 2

INITIAL REVIEW

STAGE 2

Approximately 7-21 business days

The VBA will review your claim. Your claim will move to step 3 if the VBA does not need any more evidence to support it.

Stage 3

EVIDENCE GATHERING AND REVIEW

STAGE 3, 4, 5

Approximately 30-60 business days

During this step, the VBA do 3 things:

• Ask for evidence from you, health care providers, government agencies, or others including C&P exams

• Review the evidence

• Make a decision

If the VBA needs more evidence during the review, your claim may return to this step more than once.

Stage 4

PREPARATION FOR NOTIFICATION

STAGE 6, 7

Approximately 7-21 business days

The VBA will get your entire claim decision packet ready to mail.

Stage 5

CLAIM COMPLETE

STAGE 8

Approximately 14 business days

The VBA will send you a packet by U.S. mail that includes details of the decision on your claim. Please allow 7 to 10 business days for your packet to arrive before contacting a VA call center.

The time it takes to review your claim depends on these factors:

• The type of claim you filed

• How many injuries or disabilities you claimed and how complex they are

• How long it takes to collect the evidence need to decide your claim

• Average time for claims is 125 days

How to Expedite Your Claim-File a VBA Form 20-10207

Extreme Financial Hardship or Homelessness:  Veterans can request expedite a VA disability claim if they are experiencing extreme financial hardship, if they are homeless or at imminent risk of becoming homeless.

Advanced Age:  If a veteran is over age 85, they can request to have a claim expedited. Age75 or more at the Board of Veterans Appeals.

Terminally Ill:  VA is instructed to prioritize claims in which the veteran is terminally ill.  Veterans must submit evidence of a terminal illness in order for VA to expedite the claim.

MOH or PH: A Medal of Honor or Purple Heart recipient can request expedited processing.