VA Disability Claims Process and Timeline: A Step-by-Step Guide (2023)

FAQs

What are the steps in the VA claims process? ›

The VA estimates that it takes them 94 days to review a VA disability application. However, many cases take much longer than that. Here are some factors that can shorten or extend the time it takes to reach a decision: Type of claim filed.

As of June 2021, the average time it takes for the VA to issue a decision on VA benefits is 134.4 days. If your application is denied and you want to complete the appeals process, it will take approximately 125 days for a Supplemental Claim or Higher-Level Review and more than one year for a Board Hearing.

After your VA C&P exam, and once your claim is complete, the VA estimates it could take 3-4 months before you hear a decision.

Generally, you are eligible for back pay from the first day of the month following your “effective date” for benefits. In most cases, your effective date is when the VA received your disability application.

For veterans waiting for disability compensation, a huge backlog could mean waiting into 2022 and perhaps beyond. This backlog includes pension claims and disability compensation that requires a VA rating to process and approve.

Veterans can file a Priority Processing Request using VA Form 20-10207 to ask VA to address their claim in a more expedient manner. In order to be eligible, veterans must submit documentation, if not already on file, indicating that they meet one of the following criteria: Experiencing extreme financial hardship.

If you don't receive your letter within 10 days, please call us at 800-827-1000 (TTY: 711).

After your VA C&P exam, and once your claim is complete, the VA estimates it could take 3-4 months before you hear a decision.

Can I see my VA decision letter online? ›

Sign in to get your VA benefit letters

Sign in with your existing Login.gov, ID.me, DS Logon, or My HealtheVet account. If you don't have any of these accounts, you can create a free Login.gov or ID.me account now.

The best, and often only, way to tell if a C&P exam went well for the veteran is to read the exam report. However, VA does not issue the veteran a copy of the report unless they specifically request it. To do this, veterans can send a letter requesting a copy of their exam report to their Regional Office.

No, you do not do a C&P exam in order to file your VA disability claim application. However, the VA may require you to submit to a C&P exam as part of the VA's evaluating of your claim and reaching a decision. A C&P exam is an optional step in the veteran's disability claim process at the option of the VA.

VA disability pay for 2023 increased by 8.7%. The new disability compensation rates took effect on December 1, 2022. See the current VA disability pay chart, and calculate your monthly compensation.

Don't Lie or Stretch the Truth. This is a big one. Don't ever lie or stretch the truth when it comes to your VA disability claim. At your C&P exam, you should think, look, act, and speak as you would on a normal day.

Pending Decision Approval) If it is determined that more evidence or information is required, the claim will be sent back in the process for more information or evidence. (

Step #3 of the 8-step VA claim process is “Gathering of Evidence” and is typically the longest step in the process and takes between 30 and 60 days. You might see your claim move back-and-forth between various steps—don't panic—this is completely normal!

If a veteran receives a rating less than 10%, they will not qualify for compensation, leading the VA to deny any financial compensation for their VA disability claim. Providing further evidence of your disability, be it more medical records, buddy statements, medical bills, service records, etc.

What Is the Most Approved Disability? Arthritis and other musculoskeletal system disabilities make up the most commonly approved conditions for social security disability benefits. This is because arthritis is so common. In the United States, over 58 million people suffer from arthritis.

To qualify for disability benefits, a person must not be able to engage in substantial gainful activity (SGA) earning up to a certain amount. If you are able to make more than the SGA, then you will not qualify. For 2022 the threshold is $1,470 per month. For an applicant who is statutorily blind the amount is $2,460.

Is disability back pay paid in a lump sum? ›

Back pay is received as a lump sum, while future benefits are paid monthly. Since 2011, the SSA has required that all disability recipients have a bank account to receive payments via direct deposit.

What is VA Disability Back Pay? Veterans qualify for disability benefits before their claims are processed, but won't start receiving the benefits until after they are fully processed. The VA pays Back Pay for the period of time when the veteran qualified to receive benefits to the time the benefits begin.

Your VA benefits will last for your whole life. Even if your disability is classified as less than total and not permanent, if you've been collecting benefits for 20 years or more, the amount of your benefit won't go down.

The VA denies around 30% of disability claims each year. It can be frustrating to learn that your claim for VA compensation was denied. You may feel like you did everything they asked of you and provided all the evidence necessary to get the disability compensation you deserve.

All you need to do to seek an increase in your VA disability rating is to request the VA review your rating and provide evidence that your condition is worsening.

The Fast Track program is a special, expedited claim processing system for certain types of claims for disability compensation. It typically requires a veteran to do a lot more leg work to prepare a disability claim than is required by standard claims processing.

Yes, Preparation for Decision is a good sign! This means your VA claim is progressing and nearing the final stages of a VA rating decision: approval, denial, or deferral. Generally, you can expect to receive a VA rating decision within 30 business days of the Preparation for Decision phase.

Depression VA Ratings depend on the severity of a veteran's mental health symptoms, meaning, the more severe your symptoms, the higher the VA rating for Depression. The average VA Rating for Depression is currently at 70%, but veterans can be rated from 0% to 100% with breaks at 10%, 30%, 50%, 70%.

A VA Rating Decision Letter is the first letter veterans will receive from VA after filing a claim for service-connected disability compensation. The rating decision letter will notify you that VA has reviewed your case and determined whether the claim was related to service.

What is the difference between C&P exam and QTC exam? ›

QTC is a contractor for the VA that performs medical examinations for the VA. VA medical professionals who perform C&P examinations are VA health care providers whose sole job is to perform compensation and pension examinations for veterans seeking disability benefits.

The processing of a claim for veterans benefits can take an average of three years to result in a final Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA or Board) decision.

#1 Q: What is a VA claim exam, also known as a Compensation and Pension (C&P) exam? If you've filed a claim with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for disability compensation or pension benefits, VA may ask you to go to an examination as part of the claim process.

The DOD will not include the amount of the VA payment on the Form 1099-R. The VA does not report the payments it makes on a Form 1099-R. There are two general scenarios that describe a military retiree's situation when claiming a disability: 1.

A VA award letter will typically begin with VA stating, “we made a decision on your claim for disability benefits.” The letter will then guide the veteran through the details surrounding the decision and include information regarding the next steps a veteran may take now that a decision has been issued.

Within 24 hours, you will receive a text confirming you have verified your enrollment. If you don't reply within 6 days, the conversation will close and you will need to call the Education Call Center (ECC) at 1-888-GIBILL-1 (1-888-442-4551) to verify your enrollment.

You can't get the results at your exam or directly from the provider. To request a copy of the exam report, you'll need to fill out a Freedom of Information Act or Privacy Act Request (VA Form 20-10206). You can submit the form by mail or in person.

You could get a favorable decision under these conditions: The C&P exam went well, meaning you completed all questions, and the exam report was declared veteran-friendly. The attending physician reviewed all medical records and stated as such in their exam report.

Who makes the final decision on VA claims? ›

After the Rating Veterans Service Representative has attempted to secure all the records (or evidence) required by law, he/she reviews your file and makes a decision on the claim according to the law and the particular facts in your case.

The highest rating available for residuals of the total knee replacement is 60%. A 60% rating will be assigned when there is weakness and severe pain with motion.

In summary, all disabled Veterans will benefit from an 8.7% cost-of-living adjustment to their disability benefits from the VA in 2023.

A Veterans Affairs compensation rating of 100% P&T doesn't guarantee that you'll receive Social Security disability benefits. To receive disability benefits from Social Security, a person must have a severe impairment expected to last at least one year or to result in death.

Check your status, or. Contact your nearest VA regional office, or. Call us at 800-827-1000, or. Contact us online through Ask VA.

If the claim is not submitted within 1 year of discharge, all the VA Disability Back Pay that could have been received between the date of application and the date of separation will be lost. For example, Ben applies for VA Disability 9 months after he separated from the military.

The VA denies around 30% of disability claims each year. It can be frustrating to learn that your claim for VA compensation was denied. You may feel like you did everything they asked of you and provided all the evidence necessary to get the disability compensation you deserve.

You should be honest at your C&P exam. Tell the medical professional specific details about your symptoms and how they affect your daily life. Tell them about anything you used to be able to do that you can't do anymore and why.

What to do if VA claim is taking too long? ›

You have the right to file an appeal of the decision. Your first appeal is with the Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ), typically your local VA regional office. If the AOJ denies your appeal, we can move on to the Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA). The BVA examines the case and makes a final decision.

To access their decision letters, Veterans can log in to VA.gov and check the status of their claim. For more details, visit VA News.

Beginning Jan. 1, 2023, Veterans and beneficiaries who receive VA compensation benefits will see an 8.7% increase in their monthly payments—the largest increase in over 30 years. The annual COLA increase is tied to the Social Security rate change and is based on the consumer price index (CPI).