Filing a VA disability claim is easier to navigate when you know what the process actually looks like. This guide walks through the claim step by step exactly as the VA describes it, and each step links to the VA page or regulation it comes from.
Each step in the process also has its own detailed guide in this series, linked throughout.
Step 1: Filing the claim
The claim starts when you file. The VA accepts claims online through VA.gov, by mail, in person at a VA regional office, or with the help of an accredited representative. The VA's how to file a claim page lists the forms and the information it asks for.
At filing, the VA looks for evidence supporting three things: a current diagnosed condition, an event, injury, or illness during service, and a link between the two. Our guide on what evidence the VA needs covers each element in detail.
Step 2: Initial review and evidence gathering
After filing, the VA reviews what you submitted and begins gathering evidence. Under 38 CFR 3.159, the VA has a duty to assist: it will make reasonable efforts to get relevant records you identify, including federal records such as service treatment records and VA medical records.
The duty to assist has limits. Private medical records, private opinions, and lay statements generally have to come from you. This is the stage where claims most often stall - the VA is waiting on records, or the veteran does not know the VA is waiting on them.
Step 3: The claim exam (C&P exam)
If the VA decides it needs more medical information, it schedules a Compensation and Pension exam, usually called a C&P exam. The examiner documents your condition and answers specific medical questions; the exam is not treatment. Our guide on what to expect at a C&P exam explains what the VA says happens there.
Where veterans start
Every case is different, and there is no obligation at any step. When veterans want to understand what their records actually support, these are the two most common starting points:
- Medical records review
A licensed physician reviews your records for a $250 flat fee and identifies which conditions the available evidence may support. The fee is refunded in full if nothing supportable is identified.
- Nexus letter
When the records support one, a licensed provider writes the medical opinion that addresses the link between your condition and your service.
Step 4: The rating decision
Once the evidence is in, a VA rater decides whether service connection is granted and, if so, assigns a percentage using the rating schedule. How percentages work - including how multiple ratings combine under 38 CFR 4.25 - is covered in our guide on how the VA assigns disability ratings.
The VA then mails a decision packet explaining the outcome. The same decision appears in your VA.gov account. How long this takes after the exam is covered in our decision timeline guide.
Step 5: If you disagree with the decision
Every decision letter includes your review options. Under the VA's modern decision review system, there are three: a Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence, a Higher-Level Review by a more senior reviewer, or an appeal to the Board of Veterans' Appeals. Our decision review options guide compares them side by side.
The option you choose has consequences for your effective date, which controls how far back payment reaches. The VA explains effective dates on its effective date page.
Where medical evidence fits
The process above is the same for every claim. What differs is the evidence in the file. When a claim is denied, the reason is usually medical: the record lacks a current diagnosis, an in-service event, or the medical link between them. Our guide on where medical evidence fits in a claim explains how the VA weighs the medical opinion evidence in the file.
This guide is educational. It summarizes the VA's own published rules and links to the exact sources it relies on. It is not legal or claims advice, and it is not a substitute for an accredited representative, who can advise you about your specific claim. Accredited help is free - search the VA's accreditation database to find a Veterans Service Organization, accredited agent, or attorney.
Frequently asked questions
What are the steps of a VA disability claim?
According to the VA's published process, a claim moves through filing, an initial review, evidence gathering (which may include a VA claim exam), a rating decision, and delivery of the decision packet. You can follow your claim's status through your VA.gov account.
How long does a VA disability claim take?
The VA publishes a current average processing time on its website, and it changes month to month. Individual claims vary widely depending on how much evidence must be gathered and whether a claim exam is needed. See our guide on how long it takes after a C&P exam for the decision-stage picture.
What happens if my claim is denied?
A denial is not the end. The VA's decision review system gives you three options: a Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence, a Higher-Level Review, or a Board Appeal. Each is covered in this series.
Do I have to pay for help with a VA claim?
No. Accredited Veterans Service Organizations, agents, and attorneys can help, and VSO assistance is free. Separately, independent medical evidence such as a nexus letter is medical documentation, not representation - it addresses the medical element of a claim, while accredited representatives address the claims process itself.