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How Long Does Evidence Gathering?

How Long Does Evidence Gathering
How Long Does A Claim Take To Fully Process? – Veterans often wonder about the duration and timeline of the whole claim process. Usually, it takes about 120-160 days for the VA to review your claim and assign a rating on an original claim for compensation.

  1. However, sometimes it takes much longer.
  2. Again, if VA needs more evidence, you will be asked to submit it, and thereby, the process will take a longer time.
  3. In the case that you suspect that your claim is stuck or held up for some reason, you need to make some effort to find out the reason so you can resolve it quickly.

Always respond to all letters and communications from the VA within 7 days of receipt of the correspondence. It is also highly advised that you always respond in written form, rather than calling the VA, in order and in an effort to leave a paper trail others can later point back to if needed.

You can begin by checking the current status of your VA claim. You can visit your profile at or download the VA’s mobile app to check the status of the claim. Here you will get the current status and some indication of where the claim is in the process. If you are unable to find the information about your current status on the website, you can ask your accredited VA representative for help.

VA can assist you in this. Your claim agent would be happy to help you find out what is holding up your claim if it is indeed stalled. The VA National Call Center 1-800-827-1000 hotline can provide you with the status of your claim as well. You can give them a call to check the status but remember it’s best to keep most communications with VA in writing.

How long does it take to complete preparation for decision?

Preparation for Decision VA: What Does Preparation for Decision Mean in a VA Claim? – How Long Does Evidence Gathering VA Preparation for Decision is Step #5 of the 8-step VA claim process. In this step, your entire VA disability claim file (VA C File) gets sent to the VA Rater (RVSR). The RVSR will review your entire claim application, medical records, personnel records, statements in support of a claim, buddy letters, pictures, any other supporting information, and C&P exam results to make a final decision on your VA disability claim.

How long does VA preparation for decision take 2023?

How long do VA claims take? – 120-150 Days. As of March 2023, the VA is averaging 120-150 days to process all claims and appeals except the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (BVA).120-150 days. As of March 2023, VA supplemental claims are averaging between 120-150 days to complete.

What is the time frame for the VA?

I hope you enjoy reading this blog post. If you want to learn how to implement these strategies to get the VA benefits you deserve, click here to speak with a VA claim expert for free. Today, we will explore the VA Fully Developed Claim Timeline 2022 in-detail, as well as the factors that can affect how long it takes the VA to issue a rating decision on your claim.

After you’ve filed for disability benefits, it’s natural to wonder: “How long does a VA claim take?” The answer depends on whether you’ve submitted a VA Fully Developed Claim (FDC) or a Standard Claim (Non-FDC), as well as a variety of other factors we deep-dive below. The VA publishes its claims processing timelines, and in general, you can expect to receive a VA rating decision within 90 to 120 calendar days (3-4 months) from beginning to end.

However, VA disability claim decision timelines can vary drastically—from just a few days to two years or more. Why is that? Well, there are a variety of factors that can impact the VA disability claim timeline, so let’s take a minute to explore them thoroughly.

How long does it take for a higher-level review?

How long does a Higher-Level Review take? Our goal for completing Higher-Level Reviews is an average of 125 days (4 to 5 months). Note: If you ask for an informal conference as part of your Higher-Level Review, it may take us longer to complete.

How long after preparation for notification?

Is “Preparation for Notification” a good sign? – Preparation for Notification is the 5th step in the disability claims process. This is when you’re near the final stages of a VA rating decision: approval, denial or deferral. At this point, you can expect to have a decision, possibly within as little as 30 business days.

What does pending decision approval mean?

Here’s what happens when you’ve filed your claim. Please note that the information in parentheses corresponds to the stages you may see if you choose to follow up on your claim via eBenefits :

The VA receives your claim. ( Claim Received ) A Veterans Service Representative (VSR) examines your claim to determine if the VA needs any additional information to make a decision. ( Under Review ) If the VA needs additional information, the VSR requests it from you, your Veteran Service Officer, or may ask for it from the necessary facility or agency on your behalf. ( Gathering of Evidence )Once the VA obtains, or has completed its efforts to obtain, all of the information it needs, the VSR ensures that each issue claimed is ready for a decision. ( Review of Evidence ) The VSR electronically routes the claim and supporting information to a Rating Veterans Service Representative (RVSR) for a review. ( Preparation for a Decision ) The RVSR decides your claim and makes a final award approval decision after reviewing all evidence in your record, including the initial application, examination reports, and service treatment records. ( 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. ( Deferred for Further Development )

After deciding the claim, the RVSR routes it to a VSR to input the decision and draft the decision letter. A Senior Veterans Service Representative (SVSR) reviews the completed documents, then authorizes release of the letter and any payment. ( Preparation for Notification )

The VA sends you a decision packet by U.S. mail, including details of the decision, the award and the Notice of Disagreement Form 21-0958, ( Complete )

How can I speed up my VA decision?

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.

Why does the VA take so long to make a decision?

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 us to collect the evidence needed to decide your claim

What does a reviewer is examining your new evidence mean?

Higher-Level Review status –

Status What it means
Status A higher-level reviewer is reviewing your case What it means We received your request for a Higher-Level Review and assigned it to a higher-level reviewer. They will determine if we need any more information from you.
Status We are correcting an error What it means The higher-level reviewer found an error that must be corrected before they decide your case. We’ll contact you if we need more information.
Status We made a decision What it means We sent you our decision on your Higher-Level Review.
Status Your Higher-Level Review was closed What it means We closed your Higher-Level Review. This may be because you didn’t take an action VA requested.

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Status What it means Status You’re waiting for your hearing to be scheduled What it means We received your request for a hearing but haven’t scheduled it yet. Status Your hearing has been scheduled What it means We’ve scheduled your hearing. You’ll receive the hearing information by mail. You can also find information about your hearing in the claim status tool. Check your VA claim status Status Your appeal is waiting to be sent to a judge What it means Your appeal is at the Board of Veterans’ Appeals. We haven’t assigned it to a Veterans Law Judge yet. Status Your appeal is with your Veterans Service Organization What it means Your Veterans Service Organization (VSO) is reviewing your appeal to prepare additional arguments to support your case. Status A judge is reviewing your appeal What it means A Veterans Law Judge at the Board of Veterans’ Appeals is reviewing your appeal. Status The judge is seeking more information before making a decision What it means The judge is getting more evidence or an outside opinion from a legal, medical, or other professional. This additional information will help them make a decision about your appeal. Status The Board is waiting until a higher court makes a decision What it means A higher court is reviewing a group of appeals. The Board of Veterans’ Appeals is waiting for their decision because it may affect your appeal. Status The Board made a decision on your appeal What it means The Board of Veterans’ Appeals sent you a decision letter about your appeal. Status Your appeal was merged What it means The Board of Veterans’ Appeals merged your appeal with one of your older appeals that was closer to receiving a Board decision. The Board merges appeals so that you can receive a single decision on as many appeals as possible. Status Your appeals file is open for new evidence What it means The Board of Veterans’ Appeals is holding your case open for new evidence for 90 days. Status We corrected an error What it means A judge at the Board of Veterans’ Appeals either:

Found an error and had it corrected, or Made a decision that changes your disability rating or eligibility for benefits

We sent you a corrected decision. Status The Board made a decision on your appeal What it means The Board of Veterans’ Appeals sent you a decision letter about your appeal. Status We granted your appeal What it means We decided to overturn the original decision. Status You withdrew your appeal What it means You told us not to continue your appeal. Status Your Motion for Reconsideration was denied What it means The Board of Veterans’ Appeals decided not to reopen your appeal. Status The appeal was closed What it means VA records show that the Veteran filing the appeal is deceased, so we closed this appeal. Status Your appeal was closed What it means We dismissed or closed your appeal. Please contact your Veterans Service Organization (VSO) or representative for more information.

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Status What it means Status A Decision Review Officer is reviewing your appeal What it means We received your Notice of Disagreement and assigned your appeal to a Decision Review Officer. They will determine if we need any more information from you. Status Please review your Statement of the Case What it means We sent you a Statement of the Case (SOC) that explains why we can’t grant your appeal. To continue your appeal, you have 60 days to take one of these actions:

Submit VA Form 9 to the Board of Veterans’ Appeals, or Opt in to the decision review process

Get VA Form 9 to download Status The Decision Review Officer is finishing their review of your appeal What it means We received your VA Form 9. The Decision Review Officer is reviewing all the evidence in your appeal. Status Please review your Supplemental Statement of the Case What it means We sent you a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC) because:

New evidence was added to your case, or We’re requesting more evidence, or We can’t grant your full appeal

Status You’re waiting for your hearing to be scheduled What it means We received your request for a hearing but haven’t scheduled it yet. Status Your hearing has been scheduled What it means We’ve scheduled your hearing. You’ll receive the hearing information by mail. You can also find information about your hearing in the claim status tool. Check your VA claim status Status Your appeal is waiting to be sent to a judge What it means Your appeal is at the Board of Veterans’ Appeals. We haven’t assigned it to a Veterans Law Judge yet. Status Your appeal is with your Veterans Service Organization What it means Your Veterans Service Organization (VSO) is reviewing your appeal to prepare additional arguments to support your case. Status A judge is reviewing your appeal What it means A Veterans Law Judge at the Board of Veterans’ Appeals is reviewing your appeal. Status The judge is seeking more information before making a decision What it means The judge is getting more evidence or an outside opinion from a legal, medical, or other professional. This additional information will help them make a decision about your appeal. Status The Board is waiting until a higher court makes a decision What it means A higher court is reviewing a group of appeals. The Board of Veterans’ Appeals is waiting for their decision because it may affect your appeal. Status The Board made a decision on your appeal What it means The Board of Veterans’ Appeals sent you a decision letter about your appeal. Status Your appeal was merged What it means The Board of Veterans’ Appeals merged your appeal with one of your older appeals that was closer to receiving a Board decision. The Board merges appeals so that you can receive a single decision on as many appeals as possible. Status You requested a decision review under the Appeals Modernization Act What it means You asked to continue your appeal through the decision review process. Status Your appeals file is open for new evidence What it means The Board of Veterans’ Appeals is holding your case open for new evidence for 90 days. Status We corrected an error What it means A judge at the Board of Veterans’ Appeals either:

Found an error and had it corrected, or Made a decision that changes your disability rating or eligibility for benefits

We sent you a corrected decision. Status The Board made a decision on your appeal What it means The Board of Veterans’ Appeals sent you a decision letter about your appeal. Status We granted your appeal What it means We decided to overturn the original decision. Status You withdrew your appeal What it means You told us not to continue your appeal. Status Your Motion for Reconsideration was denied What it means The Board of Veterans’ Appeals decided not to reopen your appeal. Status The appeal was closed What it means VA records show that the Veteran filing the appeal is deceased, so we closed this appeal. Status Your appeal was closed What it means We dismissed or closed your appeal. Please contact your Veterans Service Organization (VSO) or representative for more information.

ul> Check your VA claim status

Claim status tool FAQs Supplemental Claims Higher-Level Reviews Board Appeals Board of Veterans’ Appeals (BVA) hearing

What is the average VA rating for depression?

The 70 percent disability rating criterion for depression and anxiety is the most inclusive insofar as it represents a wide array of symptoms, including a progression of symptoms noted in the lower disability ratings.

Can I see my VA decision letter online?

Skip to content An official website of the United States government Here’s how you know Official websites use,gov A,gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Secure,gov websites use HTTPS A lock ( Lock A locked padlock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the,gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. How Long Does Evidence Gathering A VA.gov sign-in gives Veterans access to their disability claim decision letter Lead Public Affairs Specialist If you’ve filed a VA disability claim and are awaiting a decision letter, you can access it online once it’s ready. Veterans with a VA.gov sign-in can use this online option to access their disability decisions whenever they need them.

  1. No need to store hard copies or request reprints from VA.
  2. The ability to view and download your VA decision letters online saves you time.
  3. Quick access to your disability decisions and benefits summaries could save you a call to VA if you have questions about your decision or need an official copy of your paperwork.

No need to wait for a paper letter in the mail. Follow these steps to access your past and current VA decision letters:

  1. Navigate to VA.gov and sign in using any of the sign-in options.
  2. Click on VA Benefits and Health Care at the top of the VA website. You will see a dropdown menu. Select Disability, then Check your claim or appeal status.
  3. Find the claim you are looking for. If there has been a decision, it will say Status: Closed. Remember that, if your claim is not closed, a decision letter will not be available yet.
  4. To locate your VA decision letter, click on View details.
  5. On the next page, click Get your claim letters. You will see a list of letters sent by VA in chronological order, with the most recent mailing at the top.
  6. Select the letter you need. The decision letter will be downloaded as a PDF file that can be viewed and saved to your computer or mobile device.

VA strives to provide Veterans with choices that meet their needs and preferences. Timely access to VA decision letters allows Veterans to quickly see their disability decisions, allowing faster access to other federal and state benefits. To learn more about VA disability compensation, visit www.va.gov/disability/,

  1. Bonnie J Amburn March 22, 2023 at 22:36 I am a discouraged spouse and widow of WWII veteran who died July 6 1922. I have filed a claim with help from Va specialistthree times last one saying lack of signature which l had signed with power of attorney. Claim for DIC l am anxiety over this matter!
  2. Niama Duarte March 22, 2023 at 20:28 It is great to hear about decision letters being available now because when you order your records you only seem to get what they want you to have. I found how to download decision letters a few weeks back and none were in my ROI responses. So this is helpful.
  3. Penny Cacoulidis February 27, 2023 at 09:45 Just a note some states like Texas who require on our VA annual rating letter that it include the state issuing and when the Veteran initially became disabled. Not sure what the relevance of this is to getting exemptions for benefits from the County Boards.
  4. Penny Cacoulidis February 27, 2023 at 09:41 Awesome info that many do not know about. Please make this printable so it can given to out Veterans
  5. Margaret J Morris February 27, 2023 at 09:06 Says service is unavailable.
  6. carl watson February 24, 2023 at 12:24 Will we be able to receive information about the Board’s claim?
  7. Curtis Palachuk February 24, 2023 at 11:30 This is something we have been able to do for a while. Now if the VA can make Referral Authorization’s available online that would be great also as I don’t always get my copies via snail mail. I have always had to call the VA, Tricare or Triwest, to get my copies.
  8. Douglas House February 23, 2023 at 22:37 There is one more item that is important to me. I was deigned my grade E5. The officer I served under disappeared and I am not sure whether he stayed in the service or took his second wife and left the service. He should have stayed in the service for eight more years and then retired. The officer that replaced him said did not want to waste the promotion on me seeing I was not staying in the service.
  9. Douglas House February 23, 2023 at 22:29 I am not able to do many things on computers. I was drafted as an Alien Resident holding a green card. When I went through the medical tests at every station, I was offered a chair to sit down. I did not take the chair I may have been the oldest in the group. Yes, I had many surgeries on both feet. I guess because Americans were running to foreign counties to avoid the draft. The government wanted the ranks to be filled. My problems were caused by the Army. First my legs could not take the boots. My parents doctor a Major in the reserves when the post was closed to get my legs back in Plaster of Paris to my knees. I was to return for December 25 to do Kitchen Police. Most of my military time I was on cutch’s At Fort Ord and Fort Hood. Then when we were issued our weapons, the Army found out the weapons were not made or tested for left-handed people. The shells released to the right. For a right-handed person the shells to the right of the person. To the left-handed like me the shells went down our backs. The Post Commander said all left persons should do shirt buttons up to their necks. Do jacket sippers as high as possible. The only problem the recoil from the weapon separated the clothing and the shells still went down our backs. Then the noise damaged our hearing. This being an air cooled\weapon. This weapon damaged our eyes. One thing that will not show in the medical records. We were waiting for it to get dark. For some reason I was holding the weapon in my right hand. For some reason a shot was fired and missed my foot. Then I was hit on the head and cussed at. After a while the person turned to face me. I still could not see the face. The cursing continued. Then the person stopped cursing and asked to see my weapon and the safety was still on and the person walked away. No apologies. I now have braces on both legs and my hands have supports on. I have both eyes with the cataracts gone.
  10. Barbara Cohoon February 23, 2023 at 18:28 I am a Veteran, and I am disabled. But my disability did not happen while I was active duty. However it did happen when I was working at a VA hospital. Is there any one that can assist me. I am filling out the forms to receive my care at a VA clinic. I need to see comp and pen Thank you
  11. Jeffrey Woten February 23, 2023 at 18:17 I saw that update a few months back which is so great to utilize and see the letters but for some reason the “Rating Decision Code Sheet” is still not available to print out and review. Is this going to be available in the near future via the VA.gov website?
  12. Helkena J Anni February 23, 2023 at 17:43 I don’t have a US phone number, how do I sign in?

Comments are closed.

  • How Long Does Evidence Gathering From the moment the pandemic hit, VA’s public servants mobilized around one core mission: provide world-class care and benefits to Veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors during this time of need. Throughout the pandemic, our public servants executed that mission by risking their own lives, sacrificing time with their families, sleeping overnight at hospitals, and much more – all to save and improve the lives of Veterans.
  • How Long Does Evidence Gathering In time for Memorial Day weekend this year, NCA has expanded the Veterans Legacy Memorial platform to include 27 Department of Defense-managed cemeteries, including Arlington National Cemetery.
  • How Long Does Evidence Gathering Veterans have several no-cost options to choose from when logging in or creating an online account for VA.gov. Regardless of the option you choose, take a moment to ensure you’re accessing your account securely.

What happens when the VA makes a mistake?

If you’ve been denied disability compensation or got a low rating, check if the VA made any of these mistakes on your claim. – If you’ve been denied disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) or believe your disability should have received a higher rating, you have the right to appeal the VA decision,

How long do VA appeals take?

The Veterans Benefits Administration prepares a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC) (optional) – You can submit new evidence for your appeal at any time in the process. If you submit new evidence after you receive a Statement of the Case, we may need to prepare a Supplemental Statement of the Case before sending your case to the Board of Veterans’ Appeals.

  • You can continue the legacy appeals process. Go to step 5.
  • Or you can opt in to 1 of the 3 new decision review options. You can opt in within 60 days from the date on the Supplemental Statement of the Case. The remaining legacy appeals steps don’t apply if you opt in to 1 of the new options. Learn how to choose a decision review option
  • Is VA correcting an error a good thing?

    Higher-Level Review: – One status that may signify approval of an appeal is “We are correcting an error.” This is a good sign for a Veteran because it means that mistakes were made on the VA’s part and not on the Veteran’s part. Claims are often denied because of a lack of evidence or simple mistakes on the Veteran’s part, but if it is because of the VA, then the Veteran can have some relief knowing that it was not completely because of them.

    How long does VA pending decision approval take?

    Factors That Can Affect the Time it Takes to Begin Receiving VA Disability Benefits – 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, There are many different types of claims filed for disability benefits, and some take longer than others to process. For example, if you file your claim under the “fully developed claim” program, you may receive a quicker decision. However, if you must appeal a denial of benefits or are reopening your claim, it could take longer to obtain the evidence you need and for the VA to review it. Number of disabilities claimed, The number of disabilities or injuries you are claiming benefits for, and their complexity, can affect how long the application process will take. If you have numerous, complex injuries, it will take the VA longer to make a decision. Evidence needed, If you do not include all the evidence necessary to support your application or the VA requests additional documents, this could slow down the VA review process. Field office location, The time period can also be affected by the field office where you file your claim. If you live near one that serves more Veterans, it could take longer for the VA to reach a decision than if you lived near an office that serves fewer Veterans.

    In some situations, you can ask that your claim be expedited. For example, if you suffer from a terminal disease, are 77 years old or older, or are suffering severe financial hardship, such as possible homelessness, you can ask that your application be fast-tracked.

    What does it mean when the VA says preparation for decision?

    What to Expect After Submitting Your VA Disability Application – Your application will go through several steps before you are approved (or denied) VA disability benefits, and each step can take weeks or longer to complete. Here are the usual steps that a claim will go through in order to be processed by the VA:

    Receipt of your claim, The VA will send you a notice when it has received your claim. If you applied online, you should be able to see confirmation of your application in your list of Open Claims within an hour of submission. If you sent a paper application by mail, it may take a week or more for the VA to send notice that it received your claim. Evidence review, After it is received, your claim will be assigned to a Veterans Service Representative (VSR). The representative will look over your claim to see if any further evidence of your condition is required to make a decision. If more information is needed, your VSR will request further evidence; otherwise, your claim will be prepared for decision. Gathering of evidence, If your VSR needs more information to process your claim, he or she will request evidence from you, your doctor, other treating sources, government agencies, or another source of information. Claims may stay in this phase until all evidence has been supplied, and may return to this phase if additional evidence is required later. Evidence review, At this stage, the VA has received enough evidence to make a determination, but has not yet made a recommendation in your case. Preparation for the decision, This means that your VSR has made a decision, but is still preparing a detailed letter outlining the reasons for the decision. Approval of the decision, The VSR must now send the detailed decision back to the VA for review. This must be done whether you have been approved or denied benefits. Your reviewers may request further evidence at this stage to make sure the decision is fully supported. Notification preparation, Your claim decision packet is complete and is being prepared for mailing. Decision mailing, After the VA has sent your decision packet to you by mail, it will consider your case completed. If you disagree with the decision, you may reopen your claim by filing an appeal.

    What is the average VA disability rating?

    What is the Average VA Disability Rating? The average VA disability rating is 10%. The average VA disability payment is $165.92 per month (10% rating).

    Does pending decision mean rejection?

    In my experience, ‘decision pending’ means that the editor has already received the reviewers’ reports. Now it’s the editor’s turn to come to a final decision. This can take another few days or 1-2 weeks, and it certainly doesn’t mean ‘rejection’ at this stage.

    What is the difference between pending approval and approval pending?

    I’m not a native english speaker so there are still some things that I don’t fully understand. What is the best way to say, in a software, that an item is waiting for the approval of someone? “Pending approval” or “Approval pending”?, Internet gave me ambiguous responses. Waiting for your comments! thanks. asked Nov 26, 2014 at 0:34 Salvador Sarpi Salvador Sarpi 133 1 gold badge 1 silver badge 4 bronze badges I think both versions can be used. Pending approval = the item is pending approval from someone; Approval pending = the approval of the item is pending someone’s action; So you can use whichever version is more appropriate for you. Arsen Y.M. Arsen Y.M.1,325 8 silver badges 12 bronze badges 0

    What is the higher level review decision phase?

    VA Appeals Processes – In 2017, Congress passed the Appeals Modernization Act (“AMA”), which aimed to address the backlog of VA benefits claims and speed up the review process going forward. One of the major goals was to simplify the process of appealing claims that veterans believed were wrongly denied.

    1. Higher-Level Review: A veteran can request that a senior adjudicator (Decision Review Officer) review their original application and decide if the initial reviewer was wrong to deny it. The Decision Review Officer is authorized to overturn the original decision if they find errors or disagree with the denial.
    2. Supplemental Claim: Veterans can submit new and relevant evidence to supplement the information in their original claims. The new evidence might include additional nexus opinions for service connection, medical records, work history, or any other evidence to support a claim. The VA has a duty to assist you in locating and providing additional material for a supplemental claim.
    3. Appeal to the Board of Veterans’ Appeals: Veterans can choose to appeal directly to the Board of Veterans’ Appeals. This process used to take three years or longer for resolution. Under the AMA appeals system, the VA tries to render a decision in 12 months or less.

    Which appeal lane you choose depends on whether you need to submit additional information or not. If your initial claim was comprehensive, requesting a higher-level review may be the best option for appeal. In addition, in situations where your claim needs more evidence, but more time is needed to obtain the evidence, a higher-level review appeal can be filed to buy more time.

    What does it mean when the VA says preparation for decision?

    What to Expect After Submitting Your VA Disability Application – Your application will go through several steps before you are approved (or denied) VA disability benefits, and each step can take weeks or longer to complete. Here are the usual steps that a claim will go through in order to be processed by the VA:

    Receipt of your claim, The VA will send you a notice when it has received your claim. If you applied online, you should be able to see confirmation of your application in your list of Open Claims within an hour of submission. If you sent a paper application by mail, it may take a week or more for the VA to send notice that it received your claim. Evidence review, After it is received, your claim will be assigned to a Veterans Service Representative (VSR). The representative will look over your claim to see if any further evidence of your condition is required to make a decision. If more information is needed, your VSR will request further evidence; otherwise, your claim will be prepared for decision. Gathering of evidence, If your VSR needs more information to process your claim, he or she will request evidence from you, your doctor, other treating sources, government agencies, or another source of information. Claims may stay in this phase until all evidence has been supplied, and may return to this phase if additional evidence is required later. Evidence review, At this stage, the VA has received enough evidence to make a determination, but has not yet made a recommendation in your case. Preparation for the decision, This means that your VSR has made a decision, but is still preparing a detailed letter outlining the reasons for the decision. Approval of the decision, The VSR must now send the detailed decision back to the VA for review. This must be done whether you have been approved or denied benefits. Your reviewers may request further evidence at this stage to make sure the decision is fully supported. Notification preparation, Your claim decision packet is complete and is being prepared for mailing. Decision mailing, After the VA has sent your decision packet to you by mail, it will consider your case completed. If you disagree with the decision, you may reopen your claim by filing an appeal.

    What does preparation for notification mean?

    Your claim status tells you where your claim is in the review process. Keep reading to learn about the terms we use for each stage of the process.

    Check your VA claim status Sign in or create an account

    Claim status What it means
    Claim status Claim received What it means We received your claim. We haven’t assigned the claim to a reviewer yet.
    Claim status Initial review What it means We assigned your claim to a reviewer. The reviewer will determine if we need any more information from you.
    Claim status Evidence gathering, review, and decision What it means We’re getting evidence from you, your health care providers, government agencies, and other sources. We’ll review the evidence and make a decision.
    Claim status Preparation for notification What it means We’ve made a decision on your claim. We’re getting your decision letter ready to mail to you.
    Claim status Complete What it means We’ve sent you a decision letter by U.S. mail. This letter includes details about how we made the decision on your claim.

    ul> What your decision review or appeal status means Claim status tool FAQs How to check your VA claim, appeal, or decision review status online

    How long does it take for a VA disability claim?

    When will I get my first payment? – If your decision notice shows at least a 10% disability rating, you’ll get your first payment within 15 days. We’ll pay you either by direct deposit or check. If you don’t get a payment after 15 days, please call the Veterans help line at 800-827-1000, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. ET.

    Can I see my VA decision letter online?

    Skip to content An official website of the United States government Here’s how you know Official websites use,gov A,gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Secure,gov websites use HTTPS A lock ( Lock A locked padlock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the,gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. How Long Does Evidence Gathering A VA.gov sign-in gives Veterans access to their disability claim decision letter Lead Public Affairs Specialist If you’ve filed a VA disability claim and are awaiting a decision letter, you can access it online once it’s ready. Veterans with a VA.gov sign-in can use this online option to access their disability decisions whenever they need them.

    No need to store hard copies or request reprints from VA. The ability to view and download your VA decision letters online saves you time. Quick access to your disability decisions and benefits summaries could save you a call to VA if you have questions about your decision or need an official copy of your paperwork.

    No need to wait for a paper letter in the mail. Follow these steps to access your past and current VA decision letters:

    1. Navigate to VA.gov and sign in using any of the sign-in options.
    2. Click on VA Benefits and Health Care at the top of the VA website. You will see a dropdown menu. Select Disability, then Check your claim or appeal status.
    3. Find the claim you are looking for. If there has been a decision, it will say Status: Closed. Remember that, if your claim is not closed, a decision letter will not be available yet.
    4. To locate your VA decision letter, click on View details.
    5. On the next page, click Get your claim letters. You will see a list of letters sent by VA in chronological order, with the most recent mailing at the top.
    6. Select the letter you need. The decision letter will be downloaded as a PDF file that can be viewed and saved to your computer or mobile device.

    VA strives to provide Veterans with choices that meet their needs and preferences. Timely access to VA decision letters allows Veterans to quickly see their disability decisions, allowing faster access to other federal and state benefits. To learn more about VA disability compensation, visit www.va.gov/disability/,

    1. Bonnie J Amburn March 22, 2023 at 22:36 I am a discouraged spouse and widow of WWII veteran who died July 6 1922. I have filed a claim with help from Va specialistthree times last one saying lack of signature which l had signed with power of attorney. Claim for DIC l am anxiety over this matter!
    2. Niama Duarte March 22, 2023 at 20:28 It is great to hear about decision letters being available now because when you order your records you only seem to get what they want you to have. I found how to download decision letters a few weeks back and none were in my ROI responses. So this is helpful.
    3. Penny Cacoulidis February 27, 2023 at 09:45 Just a note some states like Texas who require on our VA annual rating letter that it include the state issuing and when the Veteran initially became disabled. Not sure what the relevance of this is to getting exemptions for benefits from the County Boards.
    4. Penny Cacoulidis February 27, 2023 at 09:41 Awesome info that many do not know about. Please make this printable so it can given to out Veterans
    5. Margaret J Morris February 27, 2023 at 09:06 Says service is unavailable.
    6. carl watson February 24, 2023 at 12:24 Will we be able to receive information about the Board’s claim?
    7. Curtis Palachuk February 24, 2023 at 11:30 This is something we have been able to do for a while. Now if the VA can make Referral Authorization’s available online that would be great also as I don’t always get my copies via snail mail. I have always had to call the VA, Tricare or Triwest, to get my copies.
    8. Douglas House February 23, 2023 at 22:37 There is one more item that is important to me. I was deigned my grade E5. The officer I served under disappeared and I am not sure whether he stayed in the service or took his second wife and left the service. He should have stayed in the service for eight more years and then retired. The officer that replaced him said did not want to waste the promotion on me seeing I was not staying in the service.
    9. Douglas House February 23, 2023 at 22:29 I am not able to do many things on computers. I was drafted as an Alien Resident holding a green card. When I went through the medical tests at every station, I was offered a chair to sit down. I did not take the chair I may have been the oldest in the group. Yes, I had many surgeries on both feet. I guess because Americans were running to foreign counties to avoid the draft. The government wanted the ranks to be filled. My problems were caused by the Army. First my legs could not take the boots. My parents doctor a Major in the reserves when the post was closed to get my legs back in Plaster of Paris to my knees. I was to return for December 25 to do Kitchen Police. Most of my military time I was on cutch’s At Fort Ord and Fort Hood. Then when we were issued our weapons, the Army found out the weapons were not made or tested for left-handed people. The shells released to the right. For a right-handed person the shells to the right of the person. To the left-handed like me the shells went down our backs. The Post Commander said all left persons should do shirt buttons up to their necks. Do jacket sippers as high as possible. The only problem the recoil from the weapon separated the clothing and the shells still went down our backs. Then the noise damaged our hearing. This being an air cooled\weapon. This weapon damaged our eyes. One thing that will not show in the medical records. We were waiting for it to get dark. For some reason I was holding the weapon in my right hand. For some reason a shot was fired and missed my foot. Then I was hit on the head and cussed at. After a while the person turned to face me. I still could not see the face. The cursing continued. Then the person stopped cursing and asked to see my weapon and the safety was still on and the person walked away. No apologies. I now have braces on both legs and my hands have supports on. I have both eyes with the cataracts gone.
    10. Barbara Cohoon February 23, 2023 at 18:28 I am a Veteran, and I am disabled. But my disability did not happen while I was active duty. However it did happen when I was working at a VA hospital. Is there any one that can assist me. I am filling out the forms to receive my care at a VA clinic. I need to see comp and pen Thank you
    11. Jeffrey Woten February 23, 2023 at 18:17 I saw that update a few months back which is so great to utilize and see the letters but for some reason the “Rating Decision Code Sheet” is still not available to print out and review. Is this going to be available in the near future via the VA.gov website?
    12. Helkena J Anni February 23, 2023 at 17:43 I don’t have a US phone number, how do I sign in?

    Comments are closed.

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