Never filed a VA claim? We’ll walk you through it.
Coach is a free five-question preview that turns “I don’t know where to start” into an educational next-step plan. The Founding Veteran Pass unlocks the dashboard, where you can organize evidence and export a packet for your VSO.
The five-question preview is free. No credit card. The dashboard — saved tools, decision-letter upload, and packet export — requires the Founding Veteran Pass.
Answer 5 questions
First claim or appeal? Current rating? Service era? Branch? Conditions? Takes two minutes.
Follow your path
Review an educational path built around your answers and bring your questions to a VA-accredited representative.
Preview the packet format
See how saved conditions, evidence, and statements can be organized for a VA-accredited representative.
The 9 steps, start to finish
For first-time filers (Track A). Each step uses the tools and guides already on this site — nothing to learn twice.
- 1Intent to File
- 2Identify conditions
- 3Gather evidence
- 4Supporting documents
- 5Personal statements
- 6Lay statements
- 7File 21-526EZ
- 8C&P exams
- 9Monitor status
About the process — the full path, in plain English
A VA claim isn’t one step. First-time filers follow 9 steps (Track A); veterans adding secondaries follow 10 steps (Track B). Most vets bail somewhere in the middle because nobody laid it out. Here’s the broader path.
What we cover today
- Phase 1 — Figure out if you qualify. (1 evening) Learn what kind of claim fits your service and your symptoms.
- Phase 2 — Gather your paperwork. (1–2 weeks) DD-214, service treatment records, and any medical records you have.
- Phase 3 — Get your medical evidence lined up. (2–8 weeks) Current diagnoses, symptom logs, and nexus letters where they help.
- Phase 4 — Line up buddy statements and lay evidence. (1–2 weeks) The stuff that isn't in your medical file — your story, in your words and theirs.
- Phase 5 — Pick someone to file with you. (1 week) A free VSO (DAV, VFW, American Legion) or a paid claims agent. Never go it alone.
What happens next (on your own, with your rep, or on VA.gov)
- Phase 6 — File the claim. (1 day to file, backdated up to 1 year) Intent to File first (locks your effective date), then the full 21-526EZ.
- Phase 7 — The wait — and your C&P exam. (3–6 months) Prep for your compensation exam. Keep logging symptoms. Answer VA requests fast.
- Phase 8 — Read your rating decision. (1 evening) Verify the combined-rating math and check for dependent adjustments.
- Phase 9 — If denied or under-rated — appeal. (4–18 months) HLR (same evidence, new reviewer), Supplemental (new evidence), or Board.
- Phase 10 — Stay on top of it — forever. (Ongoing) Increases, secondaries, TDIU, SMC, and using your VA healthcare.
Total: 10 phases. 5 are handled inside this site today; the rest live on VA.gov and with your accredited rep. Typical start-to-decision time is 6 to 12 months.
Coach is a free educational preview, not legal advice, and is not affiliated with the VA. We don’t file anything for you — you stay in control of every step. A free account can keep these five answers; the dashboard is the paid product.