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This is one of the most important first steps in the VA claim process. Understanding it can make a significant difference in your benefits.
What is an Intent to File (ITF)?
An Intent to File (VA Form 21-0966) is a simple form that tells the VA you plan to file a claim for disability benefits. Submitting this form sets your effective date, which is the date from which the VA may start paying you benefits if your claim is approved.
Essentially, it "locks in" your start date. After you submit the ITF, you have up to one year to gather all your evidence and submit your full claim. If your claim is eventually granted, you could receive back pay all the way to the date you submitted your Intent to File.
Example: You submit an ITF on January 1, 2025. You take ten months to gather medical records and submit your full claim on November 1, 2025. If the VA approves your claim, your payments will be back-dated to January 1, 2025, not November 1.
Go to VA Form 21-0966Your official military records, including your DD Form 214 and service medical records, are essential for filing a VA claim. These documents are stored at the National Archives and can be requested online.
Click the button below to go to the official National Archives website. You can request your complete Official Military Personnel File (OMPF), which includes your DD214, service records, and medical history.
Request Your Records OnlineAccess comprehensive health benefits, find VA medical centers, and learn about specialized care programs for physical and mental health.
Learn More →Utilize your GI Bill and other educational benefits for college, vocational training, and career development programs.
Learn More →Find resources for job training, career counseling, and assistance for veteran-owned small businesses.
Learn More →Learn about VA-backed home loans, housing grants for disabled veterans, and resources for preventing homelessness.
Learn More →Apply for disability compensation, pension benefits, and other financial support for wartime veterans and survivors.
Learn More →Explore VA life insurance options and get information on burial benefits and memorial services.
Learn More →This section explains how a VA Rater determines your disability percentage for compensation purposes.
A disability rating is a percentage (from 0% to 100% in 10% increments) assigned to a service-connected condition. This percentage represents the average impairment in earning capacity caused by the disability. A 0% rating acknowledges a service-connected condition but indicates it doesn't currently impair your ability to work. A 100% rating represents total disability. The rating directly determines the amount of monthly tax-free compensation you receive.
Raters use a guide called the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD). This schedule lists specific symptoms, signs, and functional limitations for thousands of conditions. The rater reviews all the medical evidence in your file (from service records, VA doctors, private doctors, and C&P exams) and finds the diagnostic code that matches your condition. They then compare your documented symptoms to the criteria listed under that code to assign the appropriate percentage. They must assign a rating based on the criteria that best fits the evidence.
There are three critical pieces of evidence a rater looks for:
VA ratings are not simply added together. The VA uses a "whole person theory." You start as 100% "whole." Your highest rating is subtracted from 100%. For example, a 50% rating leaves you 50% "whole." The next rating is then calculated based on the remaining 50%, not the original 100%. So, a second 30% rating would be 30% of 50%, which is 15%. This 15% is added to the original 50% for a combined value of 65%. This final number is then rounded to the nearest 10% (so 65% becomes a 70% combined rating). This process continues for all disabilities, which is why it becomes harder to reach 100% with multiple smaller ratings.
Have a specific question about your benefits, the claims process, or VA programs? Ask our AI assistant for an explanation based on publicly available information.
For certain conditions, the VA automatically assumes ("presumes") they are related to your military service. This means you do not need to provide a medical nexus.
A presumptive condition is a disease or disability that the VA presumes was caused by your military service because of the specific circumstances of that service (e.g., where and when you served). If you have a diagnosed presumptive condition and meet the service requirements, you only need to show your diagnosis and service history; you do not need to prove the in-service event or provide a medical nexus. This makes the claim process much simpler.
Veterans who served in specific locations in Vietnam, the Korean DMZ, or other designated areas may be presumed to have been exposed to Agent Orange. The list of presumptive conditions includes many types of cancer, Type 2 Diabetes, Parkinson's Disease, and Ischemic Heart Disease.
Veterans who served in the Southwest Asia theater of operations may be eligible for presumptive service connection for conditions like chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and certain infectious diseases. The PACT Act has significantly expanded the list of presumptive conditions related to burn pit exposure for these veterans.
Veterans and family members who lived at U.S. Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune or MCAS New River for at least 30 days between August 1953 and December 1987 may be eligible for benefits for a list of presumptive conditions, including various cancers and other serious illnesses.
The PACT Act created a new framework for handling claims related to toxic exposures, known as TERA.
What is a Toxic Exposure Risk Activity (TERA)?
TERA refers to any activity that may have exposed a veteran to toxic substances, such as chemicals, radiation, or airborne hazards, during their military service. The PACT Act requires the VA to consider a veteran's TERA whenevaluating claims for related health conditions.
If a veteran provides evidence of a TERA and has a condition that could plausibly be caused by that exposure, the VA is now required to obtain a medical opinion to assess the connection. This lowers the burden of proof for the veteran, as you no longer have to definitively prove the exposure event yourself—you only need to show you participated in a TERA.
Key Takeaway: If you believe you were exposed to toxins during your service (e.g., burn pits, contaminated water, industrial chemicals), you should mention your TERA in your claim. This triggers a duty for the VA to assist in developing your claim further.
Learn More about the PACT ActThis tool helps you identify potential connections between your military service, toxic exposures, and current health conditions. Provide as much detail as possible for a more relevant analysis.
Select the primary era or location relevant to your exposure concerns.
List any specific substances or hazards you were exposed to (e.g., burn pits, CARC paint, asbestos, industrial solvents, radiation).
List your current medical diagnoses. Please separate each condition with a comma.
Enter your Military Occupational Specialty (MOS, AFSC, NEC) to identify potential occupational health hazards associated with your job.
Knowing which type of claim to file is a critical step in the process.
This is the very first claim a veteran files for disability benefits for one or more conditions they believe are related to their military service. It's the starting point for receiving compensation.
This type of claim is for a new disability that was caused or aggravated by an existing service-connected condition. For example, if a service-connected knee injury causes you to develop arthritis in your hip, you can file a secondary claim for the hip arthritis.
If a condition that is already service-connected has worsened over time, you can file a claim for an increased rating. You will need to provide medical evidence showing that the severity of your disability has increased since your last rating decision.
If your initial claim was denied, you can file a Supplemental Claim. This requires you to submit new and relevant evidence that was not part of the original claim. The VA has a duty to assist you in gathering any new evidence you identify.
If you disagree with a VA decision but have no new evidence to submit, you can request a Higher-Level Review. A more experienced rater will review the original claim and the evidence on record to determine if an error was made. You cannot submit new evidence with an HLR request.
Enter a medical condition to generate key rating information and a nexus letter template to discuss with your doctor. This tool is for informational purposes only.
What is a Nexus Letter?
A Nexus Letter is a crucial piece of evidence written by a medical professional that connects a veteran's current medical condition to an event, injury, or illness that occurred during their military service. It serves as a medical 'bridge' or 'link' (a nexus) that helps the VA understand how your service caused or aggravated your disability. A strong nexus letter significantly increases the chances of a successful disability claim.
A strong Lay Statement (or "Buddy Letter") can be powerful evidence. This tool helps you or a friend/family member structure a clear and effective statement.
What is a Lay Statement?
A lay statement is a written account from someone who has firsthand knowledge of your condition and how it affects you. This can be you, your spouse, a family member, or a friend you served with. It provides a non-medical perspective on the real-world impact of your disability.
Enter a primary service-connected condition to see a list of other conditions that are commonly caused or aggravated by it.
Nervous about your C&P Exam? Practice with our AI Coach. Enter your condition, and the coach will ask you relevant questions to help you prepare.
Look up the official rules. Search the 38 CFR for regulations or the M21-1 for rater procedures.
Calculate your combined rating and check for potential Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) eligibility.
Based on your 100% rating, you may be eligible for SMC. Please answer the following:
Review the public DBQ forms the VA uses to evaluate specific conditions. This can help you and your doctor prepare for your exam.
You can find all public DBQ forms on the official VA website. Clicking the link below will take you directly to the VA's DBQ page.
Go to VA DBQ LibraryBeyond federal VA benefits, your state offers valuable resources. Select your state to see a summary of potential benefits like tax exemptions, education programs, and more.
Information on key benefits available to the families of Veterans.
DIC is a tax-free monthly benefit paid to eligible survivors of military Service members who died in the line of duty or eligible survivors of Veterans whose death resulted from a service-related injury or disease.
The Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) is a health care program for the spouse or widow(er) and for the children of a Veteran who is rated permanently and totally disabled for a service-connected disability, or died from a service-connected disability.
The DEA program offers education and training opportunities to eligible dependents of Veterans who are permanently and totally disabled due to a service-related condition or who died while on active duty or as a result of a service-related condition.
Get free, professional help with your claim by finding an accredited Veterans Service Officer (VSO) near you.
Find contact information for your local VA Regional Office and Patient Advocate.
What is SMC?
SMC is a higher rate of tax-free compensation for veterans with severe disabilities, such as the loss of a hand or foot, blindness in both eyes, or the need for daily aid and attendance from another person. It is paid in addition to the standard disability compensation and is not based on the combined rating formula. There are many levels of SMC, each with its own eligibility criteria, so it's important to review them carefully if you have a severe disability.
If you are a Veteran who is homeless or at imminent risk of homelessness, immediate help is available.
1-877-4AID-VET (1-877-424-3838)
This hotline is free, confidential, and available 24/7. It connects homeless and at-risk Veterans with trained VA counselors and local resources.
The VA offers several programs, including the HUD-VASH program, which combines HUD housing vouchers with VA supportive services to help homeless Veterans and their families find and sustain permanent housing.
Explore VA Homeless ProgramsConfidential support is available 24/7. If you are a Veteran in crisis or concerned about one, connect with caring, qualified responders for free, confidential help.