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Veterans Disability benefits may be claimed by any veteran with
service-connected physical and/or psychological medical conditions.
Family members of veterans may also qualify for certain benefits.
The VA Claims Process
File a claim with your VA Regional Office
Include information that is helpful to your claim
WAIT to hear from the VA Regional Office
about: C& P Exams
& additional documents they want from you
meanwhile,
continue to submit all new helpful information
WAIT to receive a Rating Decision
REVIEW THE RATING DECISION CAREFULLY!
Do you agree
with everything it says?
Great!
Do you disagree with ANYTHING
in the Rating Decision?
WAIT to hear from the VA Regional Office
about: more C& P Exams
& more documents they want from you
about: a Hearing date, if you asked for a DRO Review
meanwhile,
continue to submit all new helpful information
You MUST file
a
NOTICE of DISAGREEMENT
before the deadline
to appeal expires
WAIT to receive a
Statement of the Case
(& sometimes a Rating Decision)
REVIEW THE
STATEMENT OF THE CASE
CAREFULLY
REVIEW THE
RATING DECISION
CAREFULLY!
You MUST file
a
Form VA9
before the deadline
to appeal expires
You
WON'T agree
with the SOC
You MUST file
a
NOTICE of DISAGREEMENT
before the deadline
to appeal expires
WAIT for a
Hearing
at the
Board of Veterans' Appeals
WAIT for a
BVA Decision
If the BVA REMANDS any part of your claim
WAIT
for the VARO to process the Remand
If the BVA GRANTS any part of your claim
WAIT
for the VARO to issue a Rating Decision
If the BVA DENIES any part of your claim
APPEAL
to the
U S Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims
REVIEW THE
RATING DECISION CAREFULLY!
You MUST file
a
NOTICE of DISAGREEMENT
before the deadline
to appeal expires
If CAVC
denies your appeal,
APPEAL
to the
U S District Courts
The VA claims process is long and complicated. One mistake can mean years of lost benefits
and additional years of waiting for a decision.
A lawyer certified to practice before the VA
could help you get a faster, better result.
There are no up-front costs to hiring a lawyer at the administrative level.
There is no legal fee until benefits are awarded.
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