Start, Restart or Appeal a VA Benefits Claim
The Claims Process
File Your VA Disability Claim
- If a veteran has a medical or mental condition related to their active duty military service, they can file a claim for disability benefits with VA at any point following their service but however, there are exceptions. The sooner a veteran files a VA claim, the better.
- To apply for disability compensation, military veterans should file a claim with VA through their website.
- To reopen a previously denied claim, veterans can also file a Supplemental Claim by submitting “new and relevant” evidence. A change in the law, for example, the PACT Act-related conditions which were previously denied, is also a reason to file a Supplemental Claim.
- Examples of new and relevant evidence include:
- Medical diagnoses
- Medical nexus opinions
- Service personnel records
- Service treatment records
- Lay evidence
The Appeals Process
If Your Claim Was Denied
- Under the Appeals Modernization Act (AMA), veterans have multiple appeal options from which they can select the one best suited to the unique needs of their case. These are:
- Higher-Level Review: Request a review of your current claim by a senior VA employee;
- Supplemental Claim: Submit new and relevant evidence as part of a Supplemental Claim; or
- Notice of Disagreement: File a Notice of Disagreement with the Board of Veterans’ Appeals.
Why You Need An Accredited Attorney and Agent
Hiring a VA Disability Lawyer for Your Appeal
- A VA disability lawyer can help take the burden of the VA appeals process off your shoulders. Veterans’ claims agents and attorneys have knowledge and experience when it comes to navigating VA’s claims and appeals system.
- When researching representatives to handle your VA disability claim or appeal, it is important to determine whether a representative is accredited by VA. VA-accredited attorneys or representatives are individuals recognized by VA as legally authorized and capable of assisting claimants in pursuit of benefits before VA.
- Claimants can use the VA Office of General Counsel (OGC) database to find out if the representative who wants to help them is accredited.