The Playbook › Step 3 of 7: File the claim
VA publishes how long the average VA disability claim takes and updates the figure every month. In August 2026, the average was 68.4 days to complete a disability-related claim. That is an average. A single-condition claim with complete evidence can finish in a few weeks, and a VA disability claim with many conditions, missing records, or several exams can take many months.
Here is what is happening at each stage and what you can do about it.
The short version
- VA’s reported average was 68.4 days in August 2026. Check VA.gov for the current figure.
- Your claim moves through eight steps, and it can move backward.
- The biggest delays are missing records and exam scheduling.
- You can speed things up by submitting evidence up front and never missing an exam.
- Certain veterans qualify for priority processing.
On this page
The eight steps of a VA disability claim
| Step | What VA is doing | What you should do |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Claim received | Logging your claim | Save your confirmation |
| 2. Initial review | Checking the claim is complete | Respond if VA asks for basics |
| 3. Evidence gathering | Requesting records, ordering exams | Answer calls, attend exams, upload what you have |
| 4. Evidence review | Reviewing everything collected | Wait. Claims often bounce back to step 3. |
| 5. Rating | A rater decides service connection and percentages | Wait |
| 6. Preparing decision letter | Drafting the decision | Wait |
| 7. Final review | A second check | Wait |
| 8. Claim decided | Decision issued | Read the letter on VA.gov |
Steps 3 and 4 take the most time. Moving from step 4 back to step 3 is common and usually just means VA wants one more record or exam.
What speeds a VA disability claim up
- Submitting everything with the claim. See the evidence checklist.
- Choosing the Fully Developed Claim option when your evidence is complete.
- Uploading private records yourself rather than asking VA to request them.
- Answering unknown numbers while your claim is open. Exam contractors call to schedule.
- Attending every exam the first time.
- Filing online rather than on paper.
- Keeping the claim focused. Adding new conditions mid-claim can reset the clock.
What slows a VA disability claim down
- Many conditions on one claim, each needing its own exam
- Private providers slow to send records
- Records that are hard to find, such as older paper files or Guard and Reserve records
- A missed or rescheduled exam
- An exam VA finds inadequate, so it orders another
- Claims that need extra development, such as PTSD stressor verification or toxic exposure research
- A change of address VA did not know about
Priority processing
VA will move your claim to the front of the line if you are:
- Homeless or at risk of homelessness
- In extreme financial hardship
- Terminally ill
- Diagnosed with ALS
- Age 85 or older
- A former prisoner of war
- A Medal of Honor or Purple Heart recipient
- Seriously or very seriously injured or ill from service
Request it with VA Form 20-10207 and attach proof, such as an eviction notice, past-due bills, or a doctor’s letter.
How to check your status
- VA.gov, under “Check your claim or appeal status”
- The VA Health and Benefits mobile app
- By phone at 800-827-1000
- Through your accredited representative, who can often see more detail than you can
The estimated completion date shown online is a projection. It changes as the claim moves.
What to do if your claim is stuck
Try these in order:
- Check for an open request. Look on VA.gov for a letter asking you for something.
- Call 800-827-1000 and ask exactly what the claim is waiting on.
- Ask your VSO to look at the file.
- Contact the White House VA Hotline at 855-948-2311.
- Contact your member of Congress. Every congressional office has caseworkers who can make an inquiry to VA on your behalf. This often gets a stalled claim moving.
Slow does not mean lost money
If your claim is granted, VA pays you back to your effective date, no matter how long the decision took. See VA back pay. The wait is frustrating, but it does not reduce what you are owed.
What about decision reviews and appeals?
Those run on separate clocks. Higher-Level Reviews and Supplemental Claims have a goal of about four to five months. Board Appeals take much longer, often a year or more depending on the docket. See Supplemental Claim vs Higher-Level Review and Board Appeals.
Free printable checklist. Everything to gather before you file, what to bring to your C&P exam, and what to check in your decision, on two pages.
Last reviewed October 2026. This guide is general educational information, not legal or medical advice, and this site is not affiliated with the Department of Veterans Affairs. Rules and rates change. Confirm details on VA.gov or with an accredited representative. See our disclaimer and editorial policy.