What your claim status means | veterans affairs

DISABILITY CLAIM STATUSES STEP 1: CLAIM RECEIVED We received your claim in our system. STEP 2: INITIAL REVIEW We’re checking your claim for basic information we need, like your name and

Social Security number.  If information is missing, we’ll contact you. STEP 3: EVIDENCE GATHERING We’re reviewing your claim and making sure we have all the evidence and information we need.

If we need more evidence to decide your claim, we may gather it in these ways: * Ask you to submit evidence * Ask you to have a claim exam Learn about VA claim exams * Request medical

records from your private health care provider * Gather evidence from our VA records This is usually the longest step in the process. NOTE: You can submit evidence at any time. But if you

submit evidence after this step, your claim will go back to this step for review. STEP 4: EVIDENCE REVIEW We’re reviewing all the evidence for your claim. If we need more evidence or you

submit more evidence, your claim will go back to Step 3: Evidence gathering. STEP 5: RATING We’re deciding your claim and determining your disability rating. If we need more evidence or you

submit more evidence, your claim will go back to Step 3: Evidence gathering. STEP 6: PREPARING DECISION LETTER We’re preparing your decision letter. If you’re eligible for disability

benefits, this letter will include your disability rating, the amount of your monthly payments, and the date your payments will start. If we need more evidence or you submit more evidence,

your claim will go back to Step 3: Evidence gathering. STEP 7: FINAL REVIEW A senior reviewer is doing a final review of your claim and the decision letter. STEP 8: CLAIM DECIDED You can

review and download your decision letter in the claim status tool. We also sent you a copy of your decision letter by mail. It should arrive within 10 business days, but it may take longer.