Filing your claim
How to file a VA disability claim
The whole process, in plain English — so you can file it yourself.
The short version
Six moves: prove you served, gather your proof, lock in your start date, send one form, show up to the exam, get your rating. That’s the whole game — we’ll walk you through each one.
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Confirm you qualify
In general, you may qualify if you served on active duty (or qualifying Reserve/Guard duty), you have a current condition that affects your body or mind, and that condition is connected to your service — what the VA calls a service connection(a “nexus”). A discharge that isn't dishonorable is generally required. Eligibility details live on VA.gov. - 2
Gather your proof
Your claim is only as strong as the evidence behind it. The common pieces: your service treatment records, your current medical records showing the diagnosis and how severe it is, and lay (“buddy”) statements from people who saw the event or your symptoms. For conditions caused by another service-connected condition, that link matters too — see our secondary-conditions notes on each condition page. - 3
Lock in your start date
Before you submit the full claim, you can file an Intent to File(VA Form 21-0966). It sets a potential effective date and generally gives you up to a year to finish your claim — which can protect your back pay. It's a small step with a big payoff; we explain it in the Intent to File guide. - 4
Send the claim form
The disability claim itself is VA Form 21-526EZ. You can file it online at VA.gov, by mail, or with an accredited rep. List every condition you're claiming and connect each to your service. Our free builder organizes your answers the way the VA evaluates them and pre-fills your own forms — you review, sign, and submit everything yourself. - 5
Show up to your exam
The VA may schedule a Compensation & Pension (C&P) examto evaluate your condition. It's an evaluation, not treatment — be honest, and describe your worst days, not just an average one. Our C&P exam guide covers what to expect. - 6
Get your decision
The VA reviews everything and mails a decision with your rating. If you disagree, you generally have one year to ask for a review without losing your effective date — most often a Supplemental Claim with new evidence. See the supplemental-claim guide.
Ready to put this into motion?
Our free builder estimates your rating, organizes your story the way the VA evaluates it, and pre-fills your own forms — no account needed.
Keep reading
Beyond the uniform
The rating is step one. The civilian life it's meant to fund is the real fight.
Most veterans leave service without the one thing that lands the job, the offer, or the rating: preparation built for the civilian side. That's what Beyond the Uniform is for.
Career Translator
Nearly 1 in 3 veterans is underemployed after service — usually a résumé that never translated the military career into corporate language. We do the translation.
Job Interview Prep
About 44% of veterans leave their first civilian job within a year — a prep-and-fit problem, not a skills one. Practice the exact interview before it counts.
C&P Exam Prep
The gap between a 30% and a 70% rating is more than $1,200 a month — your C&P exam decides which. Walk in ready.
This guide is general educational information, not legal advice, and timelines and forms can change — always confirm the current rules at VA.gov. ItsYourBenefits is not affiliated with the VA and is not an accredited representative.