Apply for a Disability Rating

This guide will help you submit a disability claim and possibly obtain a
disability rating. A disability rating could be between 0%–100%. A
disability rating may give you access to certain VA benefits, such as
compensation and ongoing health care.

A checklist to help you file your disability GET HELP

claim and get your disability rating: You can receive free help with
preparing your claim from
a VA-accredited representative
or an employee at a VA Regional
1 PREPARATION Office. Refer to next page for more
□ Learn about different types of claims you can file (refer to next page) information.

□ Collect the documents necessary to file a claim:

WHERE CAN I FIND MY
→ Discharge papers (DD214 member-4 or equivalent)
DISCHARGE PAPERS?
→ Military medical records
To find out more about how to get
→ VA medical records and hospital reports related to your disability your military service records, visit
→ Private medical records and hospital reports related to your disability https://www.va.gov/records/get-
military-service-records
□ Submit any medical evidence related to your illness or injury
(doctor’s reports, X-rays, and medical test results)
CAN VA HELP OBTAIN
PRIVATE MEDICAL
2 APPLICATION RECORDS?
□ Apply by submitting all documents in one of these ways:
Yes, you can obtain records
→ Submit a claim online by visiting https://www.va.gov/ from private doctors or
disability/how-to-file-claim hospitals yourself or you can
→ Complete a claim form in-person at a VA Regional Office sign a release authorizing VA to
obtain these records for you.

3 REVIEW AND DECISION

□ Visit us online at https://www.va.gov/claim-or-appeal-status to track
HOW LONG WILL
the status of your claim
IT TAKE?
□ Provide more information and documentation if requested by VA The length of time it takes to
□ Attend VA medical examination(s) if requested by VA process a claim depends on:
• The type of claim filed
• How many injuries and
4 NEXT STEPS disabilities you claimed
If approved, take steps to access the benefits you are eligible for: • How long it takes for VA to
gather supporting evidence
□ Review your award letter to understand your rating
• How many claims were
□ Review the VA benefits handbook that is sent to you submitted when yours was
filed

CONTACT US VISIT US ONLINE VA.gov CALL: 800-827-1000 VISIT US IN PERSON at your VA Regional Office
Information you’ll need to know to file OTHER QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE:

your claim and get your disability rating:

Why is receiving a disability rating
Am I eligible for benefits? important?
You may be eligible for VA disability benefits if VA finds you have a disease, If you have a service-connected disability, you
injury, or condition that resulted from service or was made worse during may be entitled to additional VA benefits and
your military service. services, including:
Common conditions include: • Disability compensation
• Hearing loss and ringing in the ears • Respiratory disease • Veteran Readiness and
• Knee, ankle, or back pain or injury • Ulcers Employment (VR&E)
• Post traumatic stress disorder, • Loss of range of motion
• Level of VA health care coverage
anxiety, depression • Cancer (due to hazardous exposures)
• Increased preference in federal hiring
• Traumatic brain injury
Note: If you believe you have an illness or injury that you believe was caused • VA Home Loan fee exemption
or made worse by your military service, you should file a claim with VA. • Specially Adapted Housing Assistance
• To find out more, visit, https://benefits.
Who can file a disability claim?
va.gov/benefits/derivative_sc.asp
• Veterans
• Service members preparing to separate from the military
• Surviving family members seeking benefits owed to Veterans on a pending claim Note: You can apply for a disability
• Veteran Service Organizations (VSOs), attorneys, and claims agents rating anytime throughout your life.
representing claimants
How does my disability rating
Who can help me?
affect my family?
You can receive free help with preparing your claim from a VA-accredited
If you are eligible for disability
representative or an employee at your VA Regional Office.
compensation, you may be paid additional
Accredited representatives are individuals or organizations who are familiar amounts if you have a spouse, dependent
with the process of filing a claim. Many accredited representatives work for child(ren), or dependent parents, and they
VSOs and may provide help free of charge. may be eligible for additional benefits.
Note: It is unlawful for any person or organization to charge a fee for assistance in • To learn more, call us at:
preparing an application for VA benefits. VA-accredited agents and attorneys 800-827-1000, or visit us online at
may charge fees for assisting with a claim for VA benefits only after VA has made its https://www.va.gov/disability
first decision on the claim.
• To find a representation, visit us online at https://www.va.gov/ogc/apps/
accreditation
• To locate your nearest VA Facility, visit https://www.va.gov/find-locations

How do I file a claim?

• There are several ways to get your claim started. Review the chart below
to determine what best fits your circumstances. For more information,
visit https://www.va.gov/disability/how-to-file-claim/when-to-file

WHEN YOU FILE HOW TO FILE WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

Pre-discharge Benefit Delivery at Discharge Filed 180 - 90 days before separation; processed faster than post-discharge claims
More information at https://www.va.gov/ (BDD)
disability/how-to-file-claim/when-to-file/pre-
discharge-claim

Post-discharge Standard VA can help you gather documents

More information at
https://www.va.gov/disability/how-to-file- Fully-developed You gather your own documents; processed faster than a standard claim
claim/evidence-needed/fully-developed-claims

Last updated: 10/01/2022