VA Resources
VA Disability Claims: A Practical Guide
A VA disability claim asks VA to decide whether a current condition is connected to military service and, if so, how severely it affects you. The process is paperwork-heavy, and a decision can take time. This guide explains the steps, the evidence that matters, and deadlines that are easy to miss. A claim can be denied even when a condition is real if the service connection or other required evidence is missing.
The basic claim path
Identify each condition you want VA to consider, gather service and medical records, and file the correct claim. VA reviews the application and evidence, may request records or a Compensation and Pension (C&P) exam, and then sends a written decision with a rating for each condition it approves. Read the decision letter carefully: it explains what VA decided, why, the evidence it used, and what you can do next.
- Filing: submit an initial, increased-rating, or secondary-condition claim.
- Evidence: show the current condition and the connection to service or to another service-connected condition.
- Exam and review: attend any scheduled exam and respond to VA requests by their deadlines.
- Decision: check each condition, rating, effective date, and payment information in the letter.
How to file a VA disability claim · Evidence for a VA claim · C&P exams
Start with the decision letter and the date
If VA denies a claim or assigns a rating you disagree with, do not rely on memory or a phone conversation. Save the decision letter and note the date on it. For most compensation decisions, the one-year period to request a decision review is important for preserving continuous pursuit of the claim and a potential earlier effective date. The letter and the specific benefit rules control.
VA appeals and decision reviews · VA: Decision review deadlines and FAQs
A VA rating is not an SSA disability decision
VA compensation and Social Security disability benefits use different laws and tests. A VA service-connected rating can be useful evidence, but it does not automatically qualify you for SSDI or SSI; an SSA decision does not set your VA rating. If you are applying to more than one program, track each agency's forms and deadlines separately.
If immigration proceedings are also active
A VA benefits claim does not pause an immigration court hearing or deadline. If you are dealing with both systems, keep the notices separate and get advice from a representative qualified for each process.
Browse the VA disability guides
-
VA disability guide
Filing a claim
A VA disability compensation claim asks VA to recognize a condition as service connected and assign a rating. In a typical direct-service claim, the evidence must support a current disability, an event, injury, or illness during service, and a link between them. Presumptive, secondary, increased-rating, and other claim types have different rules.
-
VA disability guide
Disability ratings
VA assigns a percentage for each service-connected condition based on the evidence and the rating schedule. The percentage represents the severity of the condition under VA rules; it is not a measure of how deserving a veteran is. Ratings are usually assigned in 10% increments from 0% through 100%.
-
VA disability guide
C&P exams
A Compensation and Pension exam is a claim exam VA may request to gather medical information for a disability decision. It is not a treatment appointment. The examiner's report is one piece of evidence; a VA decision-maker reviews it with the rest of the claim file.
-
VA disability guide
Evidence
The right evidence depends on the claimed condition and the legal path. For many direct claims, VA needs evidence of a current disability, an in-service event or injury, and a link between them. Secondary and presumptive claims use different rules. Strong evidence is specific, consistent, and connected to the question VA must decide.
-
VA disability guide
Common conditions
Many veterans file for the same conditions, but a common diagnosis does not guarantee service connection or a specific percentage. VA evaluates each claim using the evidence and the current diagnostic code. The FY 2025 VA Annual Benefits Report lists tinnitus as the most prevalent service-connected disability among both new compensation recipients and all compensation recipients.
-
VA disability guide
Appeals
If you disagree with a VA decision, read the decision letter before choosing a next step. Under the Appeals Modernization Act (AMA), most newer decisions can be reviewed through a Supplemental Claim, Higher-Level Review, or Board Appeal. The evidence rules differ by lane, and choosing the wrong one can prevent VA from considering information you want to submit.
-
VA disability guide
TDIU
Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU), also called Individual Unemployability, can pay compensation at the 100% rate when service-connected disabilities prevent substantially gainful employment. It does not change the underlying schedular ratings to 100%. Being unemployed by itself is not enough.
-
VA disability guide
Secondary conditions
A secondary condition is a current disability that is proximately due to, the result of, or aggravated by a service-connected condition. VA can recognize either causation or aggravation, but the relationship must be supported by evidence. A condition is not automatically secondary just because it appeared after another diagnosis.
-
VA disability guide
Finding help
You do not have to manage a VA claim alone. A VA-accredited representative can help file a claim or decision review, explain the evidence, and communicate with VA. The right help should be clear about credentials, services, fees, and what it cannot promise.
Related resources
Official VA sources
This page is general information, not legal or medical advice. VA rules and procedures can change, and deadlines or eligibility depend on your records and circumstances. For help with your case, contact VA or a VA-accredited representative. For medical decisions, talk with your health care provider.