8 Step VA Claim Process Explained: Learn What Happens After You File Your Claim (2022) (2023)

FAQs

What happens after you file a VA disability claim? ›

We'll let you know when we receive your VA disability claim. If you file your claim online, you'll get an on-screen message from us after you submit the form. If you mail your application, we'll send you a letter to let you know we have your claim.

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.

In 2022, you can expect to receive a VA rating decision within 4 to 6 weeks after your last C&P exam. If it's been longer than 6 weeks, pick up the phone, call the VA hotline, and ask to speak to a VA representative at 1-800-827-1000.

It should show-up in eBenefits within 7-14 days. Any questions, please call the VA hotline phone number at 1-800-827-1000 and speak to a VA representative. This step normally takes around 7-14 days.

Generally, if your application for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is approved, you must wait five months before you can receive your first SSDI benefit payment. This means you would receive your first payment in the sixth full month after the date we find that your disability began.

Generally, you can expect to receive a VA rating decision within 30 business days of the Preparation for Decision phase.

Pending Decision Approval: The VA representative's decision is reviewed, and a final award approval is made. (During the approval process, it might be decided that more evidence is needed, and your claim moves back to Step 3.)

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The VA typically only pays disability compensation going back to the date of discharge to veterans who apply for their VA disability benefits within one year of being discharged. All of this underscores the need to submit your VA disability benefits claim as soon as possible.

What does it mean when VA sends a decision letter? ›

A VA Rating Decision Letter is the first decision you will receive after filing a claim for service-connected compensation. The VA Rating Decision Letter will inform you that VA has reviewed your case and determined whether your claimed conditions are related to service.

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

Preparation for Decision: A decision will be recommended. Your claim may be sent back to Step 3: Gathering of Evidence if there is not enough medical evidence to make a decision. Pending Decision Approval: The recommended decision will be reviewed, and a final award will be made.

Application processing can take up to 60 days, and in some cases, up to 120 days. Since hiring decisions are made locally, you will need to call the VA facility where you submitted your application.

The VA currently claims an average time of 149.4 days (around five months, in case you don't have a calculator handy) from claim filing to decision, but it often takes longer than that.

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%.

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)

SSI disability benefits accrue from the date that you filed your application. Even though you may have been subsisting on very limited resources for months, you will not always receive your Back Pay immediately after your case is approved.

How long after I receive my award letter will I get my money? ›

You can usually expect your back pay and first monthly check to start 30-90 days after the award letter. As far as insurance is concerned, if you were approved for SSI, you will receive If approved for SSI, will receive Medicaid benefits automatically depending on the state you live in.

Fully Favorable Decision

If your Notice of Decision letter is fully favorable, it means that the judge has found you disabled – and that the judge agrees that the alleged onset date (AOD) listed on your claim is the date your disability began.

All SSDI claims are subject to a waiting period for benefits. The earliest payments can start is five months from the date that Social Security determines your disability began, based on the medical evidence you provide.

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.

There are two ways a lender may process VA home loans: "prior approval" or "automatic." When the loan is processed on a prior approval basis, the lender takes your application, requests VA to appraise the property, and verifies your income and credit record.

When you apply for this type of mortgage, the underwriter will make sure that your application meets both the lender's standards as well as the requirements created by the VA. Part of this will include verifying that you meet the service requirements for VA loan eligibility. On average, VA loans take 57 days to close.

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.

The most common reason why VA home loan applications get denied is because of errors on the application itself. Lenders can't issue loans unless they're sure that your personal and financial details are correct. Before you submit your application, take the time to review each statement you make and numbers you enter.

pending decision means that an application for planning permission or permission in principle has been made or is deemed to have been made and has not been finally disposed of; Sample 1. pending decision .

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.

What are favorable findings on VA decision letter? ›

Importantly, even if your claim is denied, the VA will include favorable findings identified in this decision. These favorable findings could show that you do in fact have a diagnosis for the injury or illness for which you applied.

The VA calculates VA disability back pay based on your disability effective date, not on your application or approval date. You may also receive back pay if the VA approves your previously denied claim after a review or an appeal.

Disability payment benefits for a particular month are paid the first business day of the following month. When the first business day of the month falls on a non-business day or a holiday, VA benefits will be paid on the last business day of the preceding month.

We date back increases in the disability rating to the earliest date when you can show there was an increase in disability. This is only if we get the new claim request within one year from that date. Otherwise, the effective date is the date we get the claim.

Your claim is considered “decision-ready” if you provide all relevant medical records and supporting evidence when you submit your claim, including federal records and VA claim exam results provided on Disability Benefits Questionnaires (DBQs).

You can choose to get your VA pension payments, disability compensation, and education payments through direct deposit. If you switch from getting paper checks to receiving your payment through direct deposit, you'll get your payments faster because you won't be waiting for your check to arrive by mail.

Generally, there are eight steps that disability claims follow: Claim Received. Your claim is moved to this stage once it has been received by VA.

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.

Priority Group 8: Veterans with income and/or net worth above the VA national income threshold and the geographic income threshold who agree to pay co-pays.