How to Check the Status of Your VA Disability Claim

If you’ve applied for VA disability benefits or have filed an appeal, it’s understandable to feel impatient. The VA is known to be slow at approving claims, and it’s not uncommon for cases to take several years to resolve. However, you can easily check the status of your VA disability claim at any given time. 

Ways to Request an Update

There are two ways to check the status of your VA disability claim:

Visit the VA website.

Veterans can visit the VA website and sign in with their DS Logon, My HealtheVet, or ID.me account to check their claim status. If you use the “What Happens Next?” feature, you can see an estimated timeline for reaching the next stage of the application process. The tool can also tell you what evidence has already been received and if there are any specific documents or forms you need to complete before your claim can be evaluated. If you have new evidence readily available, it can be submitted using this tool.

Call for an update.

If you don’t have reliable online access or have trouble using the VA website, call the VA’s national toll-free phone number at 800.827.1000 for assistance. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. ET.

The VA can’t provide a precise date when you will receive your decision letter. However, if your claim is labeled as “complete,” this means the letter has already been mailed. It generally takes seven to 10 business days to arrive.

If you are applying for more than one type of benefit, these same options can provide status updates for pension benefits, automobile or clothing allowance claims, Aid & Attendance benefits, GI Bill claims, VA health care, and other claims for other programs administered by the VA.

Do You Need to Speak With a Veterans Benefits Lawyer?

If you need to speak with an experienced veterans benefits lawyer, please contact us online, or call our Virginia Beach office to schedule your free consultation. We have offices throughout Virginia, including Chesapeake, Newport News, Norfolk, and Suffolk.