How to Check Your VA Disability Claim Status

After gathering your medical records and evidence and completing your application, the period between filing your initial claim for benefits and receiving a determination from the VA can seem unbearably long. Managing that disability claim on your own may be incredibly frustrating—and you may have more than enough already on your plate. Fortunately, it is possible to check your VA disability claim status online.

Read on to learn how to check your VA disability claim status, what each status means, and what to do if you receive a benefits claim denial.

How to Check Your VA Disability Claim Status

You can check your claim status on the VA website through the “My VA” dashboard. You will need to log in using your username and password for one of the following:

• DS Logon
• My HealtheVet
• ID.me

Next, check the “Track Claims” section. You may have more than one open claim or appeal. Choose the one that you want to check, and then click the “View Status” button for that claim.

Once you have opened the “View Status” option, you will be able to view more information about that particular claim, from where you are in the VA disability claim review process to when the VA is expected to complete that review.

What Does Each VA Disability Claim Status Mean?

When you check the status of your VA disability benefits, you may assume that it will provide you with critical information. However, you need to understand what the various statuses mean and how they may apply to your claim in order to determine whether you need additional help or what steps you need to take next.

• Claim Received: The VA has likely just received the information about your claim. You are just beginning the process, and the VA has not yet provided additional information about your next steps.
• Initial Review: A VA reviewer has been assigned to your claim. The reviewer will go over your claim and make sure it has all the information needed to progress through the disability claim process and determine if you might need to provide more information.
• Evidence Gathering, Review, and Decision: The VA is in the process of collecting evidence related to your claim. This process may take considerable time since the VA may need to look at evidence provided by multiple sources in order to get a good idea of the extent of your disability.
• Preparation for Notification: The VA has made a decision about your disability claim, but has not yet sent out that notification. You can expect the decision letter to arrive soon.
• Complete: The VA has made a decision about your disability claim and mailed a letter to you with the decision and information about how the VA came to that decision.

What to Do if Your Claim Is Denied

It is common for the VA to deny an initial disability claim. Some types of denials, including denials of VA pensions or a request for an increased disability rating, may require you to file a new claim in order to change the resolution. In other cases, filing an appeal can help reverse the VA’s decision. If you intend to file an appeal, you must file a Notice of Disagreement within one year of the date of your claim denial. You may also have the right to request that a senior rating specialist review your case, which may help change the outcome of your disability claim.

If you have had your VA disability claim denied, start by contacting a VA disability lawyer. A VA accredited attorney can help review your claim, determine why it may have been denied, and increase the odds that your claim will be approved the second time, whether that means collecting additional evidence on your behalf or including more critical information as part of your claim.

How a Lawyer Can Help

Working with a VA disability lawyer offers vital advantages:

A Lawyer Can Help You Choose the Right Way to Appeal Your Claim

You may have multiple options for appealing your claim, from requesting a senior rating specialist for your case to filing a supplemental claim that may help provide more evidence about the extent of your disability. The right option for your needs may depend on why your claim was denied in the first place as well as what evidence you have already presented. A lawyer can help you determine the right choice for your needs.

A Lawyer Can Help Present Your Disability Claim in a More Compelling Way

A compelling claim can help you better establish the full extent of your disability and the impact of your military service on that disability. With that compelling claim behind you, it can be much easier to get your claim approved. Your lawyer can also help guide you to more effective evidence or present an expert witness who can help testify about the extent of your disability.

Was Your VA Disability Claim Denied?

A first-time denial is not necessarily your final answer. Contact a VA disability lawyer to learn more about your rights and how to appeal your claim. Schedule a free case review with a VA accredited attorney from VetLaw today.