How to File a VA Disability Claim, Step by Step

Last reviewed: October 2026. Based on VA's How to file a VA disability claim page and the forms named below.

You file a VA disability claim yourself on VA.gov, or a free accredited representative files it with you. YourVABenefits is independent and is not part of VA. This guide walks through each step in order, from setting your start date to getting a decision.

Key forms and deadlines at a glance

What	Form or timeframe
Intent to File	VA Form 21-0966, or start the online claim
Time to finish your claim after an Intent to File	1 year
Disability claim application	VA Form 21-526EZ
Buddy (witness) statement	VA Form 21-10210
Time to send evidence after VA gets your claim	Up to 1 year
Pre-discharge (BDD) filing window	180 to 90 days before you leave active duty
Claim received within 1 year of separation	Effective date can be the day after discharge
Average time to complete a claim	68.4 days (VA's figure for August 2026)

Step 1 — Set your start date with an Intent to File

Before anything else, tell VA you plan to file so your benefits can start from that date. This is called an Intent to File. You then have one year to file the full claim.

There are a few ways to do it:

• Online: If you sign in to VA.gov with a verified account and start the disability claim form, VA records your intent to file automatically. You don't need a separate form.
• By phone: Call VA at 800-827-1000 (TTY: 711), Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. ET.
• By mail or in person: Use VA Form 21-0966.

You can also use our free Intent to File tool to track your date and deadline.

Step 2 — List every condition you want to claim

Write down every health problem you believe is tied to your service. Include physical and mental health conditions. Also include "secondary" conditions, which are problems caused or made worse by a condition VA already rates or that you are claiming.

Go through your service treatment records and recent medical records as you build the list. If you upload your records to YourVABenefits, our Super Intelligence (SI) platform reviews them and flags conditions you may want to ask about. You and your representative decide what to claim.

Step 3 — Gather your evidence

For most first-time claims, the evidence needs to show three things: you have a current disability, something happened during service, and there is a link between the two.

Three kinds of evidence help:

1. Medical records. VA and private doctor and hospital records about your condition.
2. Service records. Your DD214 or other separation papers and your service treatment records. VA also reviews these.
3. Lay evidence. Written statements from you or people who know about your condition, like family, friends, or people you served with. You can use a buddy statement (VA Form 21-10210), a Statement in Support of Claim (VA Form 21-4138), or a signed letter.

You don't have to send any evidence with your claim. VA can request federal records for you and may schedule an exam. But sending what you have can help VA move faster.

Step 4 — Choose a fully developed claim or a standard claim

Decide whether to file a fully developed claim, where you send all your evidence up front, or a standard claim, where VA helps gather evidence for you.

• Fully developed claim (FDC): You send all the evidence you have with your claim and certify there is nothing more VA needs. VA says this can lead to a faster decision, and that there is no risk to using it. If you send more evidence later, VA moves your claim to the standard process.
• Standard claim: You send what you have, and VA helps gather the rest, such as private records you authorize it to request.

Step 5 — Submit VA Form 21-526EZ

Submit the Application for Disability Compensation and Related Compensation Benefits, VA Form 21-526EZ, online, by mail, in person, by fax, or with help from an accredited representative.

1. Online at VA.gov. You can save it and come back. VA counts the day you started as your date of claim if you finish within 365 days.
2. By mail to: Department of Veterans Affairs, Claims Intake Center, PO Box 4444, Janesville, WI 53547-4444.
3. In person at a VA regional office.
4. By fax, using the numbers on VA.gov.
5. With a trained professional. An accredited Veterans Service Organization (VSO) representative helps for free. You can find a VSO near you.

Step 6 — Go to your C&P exam if VA schedules one

VA may ask you to have a claim exam, also called a compensation and pension (C&P) exam. Not everyone needs one. If your records already have enough medical evidence, VA may decide without it.

If VA does schedule an exam, a VA medical center or a VA contractor will contact you. You can't schedule it yourself. Don't miss it. If you must reschedule, call at least 48 hours ahead, and know that rescheduling may delay your claim. Be honest and complete about how your condition affects your daily life.

Step 7 — Get your decision

After you file, VA checks your claim, gathers and reviews evidence, assigns a rating, and prepares a decision letter. Your letter shows your rating, your monthly payment, and when payments start. You can track progress with VA's claim status tool.

If you disagree with the decision, VA offers three review options: a Supplemental Claim, a Higher-Level Review, or a Board Appeal. An accredited representative can help you pick one.

Can I file before I leave the military?

Yes. If you are on full-time active duty and have 180 to 90 days left before your separation date, you can file through the Benefits Delivery at Discharge (BDD) program. VA says this may help you get benefits sooner.

To use BDD, you must:

• Have a known separation date 180 to 90 days away
• Be available for VA exams within 45 days after you file
• Include a completed Separation Health Assessment - Part A Self-Assessment form

Some claims can't use BDD. These include claims that need special handling, such as for a serious injury or terminal illness. If you have fewer than 90 days left, you can still file a standard claim before you separate.

What date will my benefits start from?

If VA receives your claim within one year after you leave active service, your benefits can start from the day after your separation. After that first year, they generally start from the date VA receives your claim, or your Intent to File date if you used one. These rules are in 38 CFR 3.400.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a lawyer to file a VA disability claim? No. You can file on your own at VA.gov. An accredited VSO representative can help you file for free. Accredited attorneys and claims agents can generally charge fees only after VA decides your initial claim.

How long does a VA disability claim take? VA reported an average of 68.4 days to complete disability-related claims in August 2026. Your claim may take more or less time, depending on how many conditions you claim and how long evidence takes to collect.

Do I have to send evidence with my claim? No. VA says you don't have to submit evidence. You have up to a year from the date VA receives your claim to turn in evidence, and VA may schedule an exam to learn more.

What is the difference between a fully developed claim and a standard claim? With a fully developed claim, you send all your evidence up front and certify there is nothing more. With a standard claim, VA helps gather evidence, such as records you authorize it to request.

What is the BDD window for filing before discharge? You can file a Benefits Delivery at Discharge claim when you have 180 to 90 days left on active duty. You must be available for exams within 45 days of filing.

Can I add conditions after I file? Yes. VA says you can still add conditions you want it to consider when it decides your claim. An accredited representative can help you add them the right way.