If you’re in the process of applying for VA disability benefits or appealing your VA disability rating, you likely want to know what’s going on with your claim. This post explains how you can check your VA claim status.
Talk to Us About Your Claim:
(812) 426-7200
Waiting by the phone, repeatedly checking your inbox, or impatiently waiting for the mail to arrive each day can get frustrating quickly, especially if you’re waiting on word about your VA claim’s status. You don’t have to sit around and wait, though. You can check your VA claim status throughout the process in multiple ways. This post explains.
In this article about your VA claim status:
How to check your VA claim status
There are multiple ways you can check your VA claim status. You can either check it online, telephone the VA, or visit your regional VA office.
Checking your VA claim status online
One of the easiest and most up-to-date ways to check your VA claim status is through the VA’s website. All you have to do is create an account. If you have a Login.gov or ID.me account, you can also use these credentials to sign in.
Once signed in, you must navigate to the My VA dashboard by clicking on the link at the top right-hand corner of the page. Then, scroll down to Track Claims. Here you should be able to see a list of any open claims and appeals.
To check the VA status of a claim in more detail, click on View Status. Here you also can view supporting evidence such as medical reports and test results. You can also use the portal to upload additional evidence to support your claim, but only for a disability claim, not for an appeal.
If you have an eBenefits account, you can also use this to view your claim status. Simply log in using your ID.me or Login.gov information, navigate to “manage benefits,” and the portal will redirect you.
You can also use this online tool to see any evidence you’ve submitted digitally, what additional evidence the VA may be requesting from you, other types of VA claims and their statuses, like claims related to the GI bill or VA health care, and more.
Checking your VA status by phone
If you’re not computer savvy or don’t have the ability to get online to check your status, don’t worry. You also can check the status of your VA claim by phone.
All you’ll need to do is call the VA and follow the prompts.
The number to call is 1-800-827-1000.
Checking your VA claim status by visiting a VA office
If you’d rather seek answers face-to-face and speak directly to a person, you can check your VA claim status by visiting your regional VA office.
If you don’t know the address of your regional VA office, you can use this location finder. Once you locate the regional office, it’s a good idea to check their hours before going there. Be certain you know the regional office’s time zone, as well, if it’s not in your own city. Some veterans may have to travel several hours to their RO.
When you visit the VA office, be sure to have your personal details, ID, and claim number so the representative you speak with can find your claim more easily.
VA claim statuses and meanings
Once you have your claim status, how do you know what it means?
Here are the main VA claims statuses and what they say about the progress of your claim. Keep in mind the VA does not always use identical, exact language to describe these statuses or steps, but some of the most common statuses you might see include:
Claim Received
Once the VA receives your claim, its status is “claim received.” This status means the VA officially acknowledges it has your claim.
Under Initial Review
If your claim is “under initial review,” it means a VA service representative is reviewing it to find out if any more information or clarification is needed at a basic level before a formal review. They will also make sure you’ve filled out the correct form.
Gathering of Evidence
If a claim is in the “gathering of evidence” stage, it means the service representative determined that more information or evidence is required. If you’ve appealed a decision and requested the VA gather more evidence, your claim could also end up in this stage for that reason. A VA representative may collect this evidence from you, your doctor, or any other appropriate sources to fulfill its duty to assist. However, remember that it can sometimes be your or your VA-accredited attorney’s responsibility to provide this information. If the VA service representative needs additional evidence from you, they will typically notify you.
Review of Evidence and Decision
During this stage, all the requested information for your claim is present, and the VA is reviewing the evidence. This is when an adjudicator will decide whether to grant your claim for service connection and if so, what rating you will be assigned for your condition.
Preparation for Notification
If you see this status on your claim, it means that the decision is being prepared to be sent to you as a packet in the mail. This packet should include specific information on why your claim was or was not granted.
Complete Status
“Complete” means your claim is finalized, and the decision has been sent to you. You should receive your packet and also be able to see the decision online within 7-10 business days. Once a decision on a claim is complete, you have the right to appeal if you disagree with it.
How long do VA claim decisions take?
How long a VA disability claim takes depends a lot on the regional office’s workload and how complicated your claim is. The current average wait time for a VA initial claim decision is 140.5 days . If you are appealing a decision, this wait time varies based on many other factors – you can read more here.
“The amount of time it takes to make a decision is dependent upon how many steps VA has to work through in order to make a decision and if they believe additional steps are necessary,” VA disability lawyer Joseph Scott said.
“It is possible that VA will move faster or move on to a different or separate step sooner than you might anticipate. That can happen if you’ve submitted all necessary evidence to make the decision.”
Current average wait time for VA claims:
How to speed up your VA claim
There’s not much you can do to speed up your VA disability claim unless you qualify to expedite it. To qualify for an expedited claim, you must be experiencing extreme financial hardship, terminal illnesses, or effects from a serious illness or injury that ended your service. This expedited option is also available for Medal of Honor recipients, Purple Heart Award recipients, former prisoners of war, veterans of advanced age, and some other circumstances.
The only other thing you can do to help the claims process go more quickly and smoothly is to ensure that your claim information is as complete as possible. To help make sure your claim is complete, take a look at these tips for your VA disability claim.
A few tips include ensuring you’ve filled out the correct form and provided as much relevant evidence as possible. Make sure all documents are completed accurately and that any supplemental information to help the VA decide your case is included.
How and when to appeal your VA claim
Once you receive the VA’s rating decision, if you disagree with it, you can appeal your claim. If you decide to appeal the VA’s decision, you must do it within a year of notification of the decision to preserve your earliest effective date.
The VA makes mistakes, so appealing is often worth it if you think its ruling was incorrect. Because of the low appeals success rate, the different methods of appealing available, and the additional time it takes for an appeal, you may consider hiring a VA-accredited attorney to represent you through the process.
“From the day we contacted [Woods and Woods], they made us feel so comfortable. They treated us like we mattered and we were not just clients but family.”
L.B., a Navy veteran and wife in Florida
Woods and Woods can help
Woods and Woods has worked with thousands of veterans nationwide to get them the VA benefits they deserve. Call us for a free case evaluation to find out how we can help. If we take your case, you only pay us a percentage of back pay and case expenses if we win your case.
Talk to Us About Your Claim:
(812) 426-7200
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
You receive notification in the mail from the VA about whether your claim is approved. Your decision should also be available in your eBenefits account. If your claim was not approved, you can appeal if you think the decision was incorrect or other information should be considered.
How long it takes to receive approval on a VA claim depends a lot on your claim, how complete and straightforward it is, and how busy your regional VA office is. VA claims at the regional office level generally take a few months to process, but they can take longer.
Neil Woods
VA disability attorney
Woods & Woods
Neil Woods is the firm’s owner and president. He received his law degree from Western Michigan University.
