What your claim status means

Disability claim statuses

Step 1: Claim received

We received your claim in our system.

Step 2: Initial review

We’re checking your claim for basic information we need, like your name and Social Security number. 

If information is missing, we’ll contact you.

Step 3: Evidence gathering

We’re reviewing your claim and making sure we have all the evidence and information we need. If we need more evidence to decide your claim, we may gather it in these ways:

• Ask you to submit evidence
• Ask you to have a claim exam
  Learn about VA claim exams
• Request medical records from your private health care provider
• Gather evidence from our VA records

This is usually the longest step in the process.

Note: You can submit evidence at any time. But if you submit evidence after this step, your claim will go back to this step for review.

Step 4: Evidence review

We’re reviewing all the evidence for your claim.

If we need more evidence or you submit more evidence, your claim will go back to Step 3: Evidence gathering.

Step 5: Rating

We’re deciding your claim and determining your disability rating.

If we need more evidence or you submit more evidence, your claim will go back to Step 3: Evidence gathering.

Step 6: Preparing decision letter

We’re preparing your decision letter.

If you’re eligible for disability benefits, this letter will include your disability rating, the amount of your monthly payments, and the date your payments will start.

If we need more evidence or you submit more evidence, your claim will go back to Step 3: Evidence gathering.

Step 7: Final review

A senior reviewer is doing a final review of your claim and the decision letter.

Step 8: Claim decided

You can review and download your decision letter in the claim status tool.

We also sent you a copy of your decision letter by mail. It should arrive within 10 business days, but it may take longer. 

Statuses for other types of claims

Step 1: Claim received

We received your claim. We haven’t assigned the claim to a reviewer yet. 

Step 2: Initial review

We assigned your claim to a reviewer. The reviewer will determine if we need any more information from you.

Step 3: Evidence gathering, review, and decision

We’re getting evidence from you, your health care providers, government agencies, and other sources. We’ll review the evidence and make a decision. 

Step 4: Preparation for notification

We’ve made a decision on your claim. We’re getting your decision letter ready to mail to you.

Step 5: Complete

We’ve sent you a decision letter by U.S. mail. This letter includes details about how we made the decision on your claim.