If you are a transitioning service member one of the first steps you will want to take is getting registered with the VA Hospital in your area. First, you will want to visit your local VA and get registered. Click here to locate a VA location closest to you. Next, you will want to establish a benefits claim. Below are the steps for a Disability Compensation claim. While they can be completed by following these steps it is always nice to have an advocate. Veteran Service Organizations, like the VFW and American Legion offer claim assistance; as well as the Virginia Department of Veteran Services (DVS). To locate your DVS Office click here.

To dowload the forms to start your claim on your own, click here.

Claims Process

There are eight distinct steps that most claims for disability compensation follow. These phases may vary in time depending on the complexity of the claim, the amount of evidence that must be gathered to support the claims, and the type of evidence. You are strongly encouraged to submit as much evidence as possible with your claim to help minimize processing time. The eight steps of claims processing are as follows:

Step 1. Claim Received

Your claim has been received by the VA. If you applied online with VONAPP Direct Connect, you should see receipt in your list of Open Claims within one hour. If you applied through the U.S. mail, please allow mailing time plus one week for us to process and record receipt of your claim.

Step 2. Under Review

Your claim has been assigned to a Veterans Service Representative and is being reviewed to determine if additional evidence is needed. If we do not need any additional information, your claim will move directly to the Preparation for Decision phase.

Step 3. Gathering of Evidence

The Veterans Service Representative will request evidence from the required sources. Requests for evidence may be made of you, a medical professional, a government agency, or another authority. It is common for claims to return to this phase, should additional evidence be required.

Step 4. Review of Evidence

We have received all needed evidence. If, upon review, it is determined that more evidence is required, the claim will be sent back to the Gathering of Evidence phase.

Step 5. Preparation for Decision

The Veterans Service Representative has recommended a decision, and is preparing required documents detailing that decision. If more evidence is required, the claim will be sent back in the process for more information or evidence.

Step 6. Pending Decision Approval

The recommended decision is reviewed, and a final award approval is made. If it is determined that more evidence or information is required, the claim will be sent back in the process for more information or evidence.

Step 7. Preparation for Notification

Your entire claim decision packet is prepared for mailing.

Step 8. Complete

The VA has sent a decision packet to you by U.S. mail. The packet includes details of the decision or award. Please allow standard mailing time for your packet to arrive before contacting a VA call center.

How Long Will This Process Take?

The length of time it takes to complete a claim depends on several factors, such as the type of claim filed, complexity of your disability(ies), the number of disabilities you claim, and the availability of evidence needed to decide your claim.

You can track the status of your claim by registering for eBenefits at www.ebenefits.va.gov. You can also visit VA's ASPIRE web site. Here you can find the average processing days for the regional office that is working on your claim. To find the average processing days for your state:

• Find your state on the map, place your cursor within the state and click
• This will open the Veterans Benefits Administration Aspire • Benefits site. Click "Enter"
• You should see a split table. On the left table click on "Compensation"
• This will expand the table. Approximately five rows down is "Rating Claims Processing Time"
• Follow that row to the right until you locate the cell located within the column of your regional office.

The number you see is the average processing days to complete a claim that requires a disability rating. The average is based on completed claims since October 1st in a given fiscal year.