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When you file a VA disability claim, you will need to submit, or give us permission to gather evidence to support that your claimed condition is associated with an in-service event or injury or that show your rated disability has gotten worse. Evidence could include:

• VA medical and/or hospital records that relate to your claimed condition or that show your rated disability has gotten worse.

• Private medical and/or hospital records that relate to your claimed condition or that show your rated disability has gotten worse.

• Supporting statements from family, friends, coworkers, clergy, or law enforcement personnel with knowledge about how and when your disability happened or how it got worse.

You should also submit your DD214 or other separation documents. As needed, VA will assist with obtaining relevant records, which includes verification of your service.

Once you file a claim for disability compensation, you may upload more evidence to support your claim online or mail into the Claims Intake Center. Evidence may include supporting documents like medical test results, doctor’s reports and other records. You can upload evidence to support that claim using our claim status tool. To learn more about uploading evidence, visit www.va.gov/disability/upload-supporting-evidence/. You are encouraged to submit the evidence as soon as you can. If you do not provide any evidence or the information VA needs to help obtain the evidence within 30 days, VA may make a decision on your claim. Contact VA at 800-827-1000 if you have any questions or concerns regarding evidence for your claim.

If you plan to file your claim using a paper form, but do not have all of your evidence ready to submit with your claim, you may first want to submit an intent to file. This form serves as a place holder, giving you time to gather evidence while holding a potential start date (also called an effective date). Your effective date is the day VA determines your service-connected benefits begin. The assigned effective date impacts the amount of retroactive compensation you may receive. When VA receives your intent to file, you may be able to get a retroactive payment (compensation that starts at a point in the past) back to that date. You have one year from the date you send in your intent to file to submit your claim. If a claim is not received within one year, the intent to file expires. If you file for disability compensation online, you do not need to notify VA of your intent to file. Your intent to file automatically sets on the date you start filling out your claim online. Your online application needs to be completed within one year to hold the intent to file date.

No. VA will only ask you to attend a claim exam if more information is needed to decide your claim. If there is enough medical evidence in your file to support your claim, you may not need to report to an exam. Medical evidence may include treatment records from a VA medical center, doctor or hospital reports, test results and other documents.

This is new and relevant evidence.  Its new because it is evidence that was not considered or was not part of your original clam when it was adjudicated.  It is relevant because it pertains to your specific condition you originally claimed.  To place a supplemental claim you would use VA Form 20-0995.

This is something you can do when you have no additional evidence to submit to support your claim, but you believe that the VA made a mistake or an error in their decision.  This is done through VA Form 20-0996.  If you plan to file a higher-level review, you have 1 year to do so from when you received your notification letter.

This is when you want a judge who is supposed to be an expert on veterans' law to review your case. You will have 3 options for your appeal.

1. Direct Review - This is where the judge reviews what is already submitted. No new evidence and there is no hearing.

2. Evidence Submission - This is where you get to submit new evidence for a judge to review. This evidence must be submitted within 90 days from the date the Board received your request.

3. Request a hearing - This option lets you have a hearing with a judge.  You can submit new evidence at the hearing or up to 90 days after the hearing.  The hearing can be virtual, video conference from a VA location, or in person at the Board in Washington, D.C.