Disability claim can be filed by veterans via the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Veterans will be required to go through a standard process usually in stages. Navigating through the complexities of each stage can be overwhelming especially without the right guidance. Therefore, understanding the requirements in each stage of claiming your VA disability benefit will make the process a breeze. The process basically takes 151.2 days according to the United States Government and to claim the VA disability benefits you will be required to go through five stages.
What are the 5 stages of the VA claim process
The 5 stage of the VA claim process include:
Claim Received
On filing your VA disability claim, the U.S Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will notify you that your claim has been received. If your claim was filed online via the official VA site, you will be sent an on-screen message notifying you of the status of your claim.
However, if you decide to send your application by mail via the department of veteran’s affairs intake center then you will be sent a letter to let you know the veterans affairs have successfully received your application.
The notification will include your claim identification number which you’re advised to keep handy for future reference. Additionally, during this stage you’re advised to submit all the necessary documents like your military service records, medical records, and any other important paperwork to support your claim. Submitting all documents can also significantly quicken your application process.
Initial review
In this stage basic information such as your name, and social security number will be checked to ensure your information is complete. You will be contacted if any of your information is missing to provide additional documents or clarifications. Ensure to be on the lookout to provide any additional information to avoid your claim being placed on hold. So ensure to keep a close eye on your email or mail box.
Evidence gathering
Your claim will be thoroughly evaluated in this stage to ensure that all the evidence is accurate. So the VA may request to have additional documents, claim examination, medical record from your private healthcare provider plus other evidence from their VA records. Note that this is usually the longest step in the process so you will need to be patient. Also, you can submit any evidence before this stage but evidence submitted after this stage will result in repeating this entire stage again.
Evidence review and decision
All evidence submitted for your VA disability claim will be reviewed. This is one of the most critical stages veterans have to go though. Veterans medical records, service records, medical exams and any other documentation provided will be analyzed. In this stage, your disability will be examined to determine if it is connected to your service. The severity of your disability will also be examined. During this stage, all you will have to do is keep an eye on the VA online portal to see your veteran disability claim status.
Claim decided
This is the final stage where you receive the VA decision regarding your claim. This decision will state their findings and the benefits you can receive. You will be notified of their decision including your disability rating percentage, the date your VA disability benefits take effect and the specific benefits you will receive if your claim is approved . Regardless, if you do not agree with their decision, you have the option to appeal.
For more information, visit the VA website.
