The Claim
All Conditions You Want Considered
- Be specific about each condition you believe is related to your military service.
- Include every condition, no matter how minor, as some may develop into more significant issues over time.
Supporting Evidence
- Provide all necessary documentation to establish aย service-connectionย for each condition.
- Include evidence that aligns with the VA Disability Rating requirements to demonstrate the severity of your conditions.
Pro Tip:ย Review theย VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD)ย or consult with a Veterans Service Organization (VSO) to ensure your evidence is complete and specific to your conditions.
Once your VA Disability Claim is submitted, the process moves to the Compensation and Pension (C&P) Exam.
- The VA will schedule this exam and notify you of the date and time.
- A VA physician (or contracted examiner) will assess the nature and severity of each condition listed in your claim.
- The exam results provide critical evidence for the next stage of the process.
- The examiner will not determine your rating but will document findings that influence the VAโs decision.
- Be honest and thorough when discussing your symptoms.
- Provide any additional documentation not already included in your claim, such as medical records or notes from specialists.
The Rating Decision is the final step in the VA Disability Process.
- After the C&P Exam, your claim is reviewed by a VA Rating Authority, whose responsibilities include:
-
Determining Service-Connection
- The adjudicator assesses if each condition is directly linked to your military service.
-
Assigning a Disability Rating
- Each service-connected condition is rated based on its severity, using the VASRD.
-
Evaluating Special Monthly Compensation (SMC)
- Additional compensation may be granted for severe disabilities requiring special care or assistance.
-
Determining Service-Connection
- If you have multiple service-connected conditions, the VA usesย VA Mathย to calculate yourย Total Combined Rating.
- This combined rating determines your monthly compensation.
- Once the adjudicator makes a decision, the VA Disability Process concludes.
- You will receive an official notice outlining the VAโs decision, including the ratings assigned and the effective dates of compensation.
- After the Rating Decision, youโll begin receiving yourย monthly disability payments.
- Payments are tax-free and based on your combined rating and number of dependents
- If your conditions worsen or improve over time, you can file for anย Increased Evaluationย by submitting a new claim.
- If you disagree with the Rating Decision, you can file an appeal to request a higher authority to review your case.
- Options include aย Higher-Level Review,ย Supplemental Claim, or an appeal to theย Board of Veterans' Appeals.
Document Everything
Keep copies of all correspondence and documents submitted during the process.
Be Patient
The process can take several months, but thorough preparation ensures a smoother experience.
Seek Assistance
Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) are available to help you navigate the process and strengthen your claim.
Be One of the First to Subscribe!
Donโt miss your chance to be part of the SentinelSyx community. Join the first 10,000 veterans and gain exclusive access to AI-powered support designed to simplify your VA benefits.
