In crisis? Dial 988, then Press 1

Veteran Benefits Navigator

Know your rating. Know your benefits.

a community resource by
Revive Veteran Institute

General information only. This tool does not file claims, give legal advice, or represent you before the VA. Free help from VA-accredited Veterans Service Organizations is available at no cost.

How a VA claim works

A plain-language walkthrough of how the VA decides a disability claim, and how to appeal. This is general information — not legal advice or claims representation.

The claim lifecycle

1
Intent to File (optional)
Filing an Intent to File reserves a potential effective date and gives you up to a year to gather evidence before submitting the claim.
2
Claim submitted
You, a VSO, or your representative submits the claim through VA.gov or by mail to the intake center.
3
Open / development
The VA gathers evidence: C&P exams, private and VA medical records, service treatment and personnel records, and records from other agencies like the SSA.
4
Ready for decision
Development is complete. The claim is assigned to a Rating Veteran Service Representative (RVSR) to be rated.
5
Rating decision complete
After the RVSR rates each condition, an authorization team reviews everything for accuracy, discrepancies, and errors.
6
Closed / decision issued
The claim closes and you receive a decision letter explaining what was decided and why.

A claim can return to the open phase — a deferral — if the reviewer decides more development is needed for a condition (for example, late-arriving medical evidence or exam clarification). The decision letter explains what further action is being taken.

Three things a claim needs (service connection)

All three are generally required for a condition to be granted.

1. A current diagnosis

Medical evidence of a condition you have now.

2. An in-service event, injury, or disease

Shown by treatment or complaints in your service records, your military job, or assignment to a location where exposure is presumed (such as Vietnam or Southwest Asia).

3. A nexus (link) between the two

Medical evidence connecting your current condition to that in-service event, injury, or disease.

Continuity of care — a common reason claims are denied

This is a principle, not a strict requirement, but it drives many denials. If your records show a condition in service but then a long gap with no treatment, a reviewer may conclude the current condition is less likely related to service and more likely from something after service.

Example: a veteran files for back pain in 2026. Service records show a few complaints while deployed from 2010–2014, but there are no records of treatment from 2014 to 2026. With no evidence of ongoing care across that gap, an examiner may find the back pain is less likely due to service.

A gap is not the end of a claim. A medical evaluation and a well-supported medical opinion are exactly how a treatment gap gets addressed — and a free accredited VSO can help you build that evidence.

If you disagree: appealing a decision

If you disagree with a decision, you have three options. Two of them must be requested within one year of the decision date — miss that window and you may lose your earliest potential effective date. A Supplemental Claim can be filed any time, but filing within a year protects that date too.

Supplemental Claim

Any time

For when you have new and relevant evidence the VA didn't have before.

New evidence: required

Higher-Level Review

Within 1 year of decision

A senior reviewer re-examines the same evidence for an error or difference of opinion. No new evidence is allowed.

New evidence: not allowed

Board of Veterans' Appeals

Within 1 year of decision

A Veterans Law Judge reviews your case.

Options with and without new evidence and a hearing

Appeal deadline helper

Two of the three appeal options must be requested within one year of your decision letter. Enter the date on your decision letter to see your one-year date. This is a calendar calculation, not legal advice.

Date on your decision letter

Find free accredited help at VA.gov ↗

Deadlines and rules can change and depend on your specific decision. Confirm dates with VA.gov or a free accredited VSO.

Get free, accredited help

A VSO can file and appeal your claim — at no cost

Accredited Veterans Service Organizations help veterans prepare and appeal claims for free. Find an accredited representative at VA.gov.

VA.gov →

Loading… / Cargando…

In crisis? Dial 988, then Press 1

Call 988 Text 838255

Veteran Benefits Navigator

Know your rating. Know your benefits.

a community resource by
Revive Veteran Institute

General information only. This tool does not file claims, give legal advice, or represent you before the VA. Free help from VA-accredited Veterans Service Organizations is available at no cost.

How a VA claim works

A plain-language walkthrough of how the VA decides a disability claim, and how to appeal. This is general information — not legal advice or claims representation.

The claim lifecycle

1
Intent to File (optional)
Filing an Intent to File reserves a potential effective date and gives you up to a year to gather evidence before submitting the claim.
2
Claim submitted
You, a VSO, or your representative submits the claim through VA.gov or by mail to the intake center.
3
Open / development
The VA gathers evidence: C&P exams, private and VA medical records, service treatment and personnel records, and records from other agencies like the SSA.
4
Ready for decision
Development is complete. The claim is assigned to a Rating Veteran Service Representative (RVSR) to be rated.
5
Rating decision complete
After the RVSR rates each condition, an authorization team reviews everything for accuracy, discrepancies, and errors.
6
Closed / decision issued
The claim closes and you receive a decision letter explaining what was decided and why.

Three things a claim needs (service connection)

All three are generally required for a condition to be granted.

1. A current diagnosis

Medical evidence of a condition you have now.

2. An in-service event, injury, or disease

Shown by treatment or complaints in your service records, your military job, or assignment to a location where exposure is presumed (such as Vietnam or Southwest Asia).

3. A nexus (link) between the two

Medical evidence connecting your current condition to that in-service event, injury, or disease.

Continuity of care — a common reason claims are denied

If you disagree: appealing a decision

Supplemental Claim

Any time

For when you have new and relevant evidence the VA didn't have before.

New evidence: required

Higher-Level Review

Within 1 year of decision

A senior reviewer re-examines the same evidence for an error or difference of opinion. No new evidence is allowed.

New evidence: not allowed

Board of Veterans' Appeals

Within 1 year of decision

A Veterans Law Judge reviews your case.

Options with and without new evidence and a hearing

Appeal deadline helper

Date on your decision letter

Find free accredited help at VA.gov ↗

Deadlines and rules can change and depend on your specific decision. Confirm dates with VA.gov or a free accredited VSO.

Get free, accredited help

A VSO can file and appeal your claim — at no cost

Accredited Veterans Service Organizations help veterans prepare and appeal claims for free. Find an accredited representative at VA.gov.

VA.gov →