VA forms · 26 in plain English
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Verified against VA.gov August 10, 2026 (opens in a new tab)Form route index
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26 forms on this route
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File a disability claim
File a disability claim21-0966
Intent to File
What it does: Tells VA you plan to apply and may establish an earlier potential effective date.
Use it when: When you are not ready to submit a complete claim yet. Starting certain verified online applications already creates an intent to file, so a separate Form 21-0966 is not always needed.
- Varies by submission method
- Online · Phone · Mail · In person
- VA revision February 2023
- VA must receive the completed application for the same benefit within 1 year to use the potential effective date from this intent.
File a disability claim21-526EZ
Disability Compensation Claim
What it does: Apply for disability compensation, add a new condition, or request an increase.
Use it when: When filing your first disability claim, claiming a new condition, or requesting an increase for a worsening condition.
- 1-3 hours depending on number of conditions
- Online · Mail · Fax · In person
- VA revision January 2026
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Send evidence or records
Send evidence or records21-10210
Lay/Witness Statement (Buddy Statement)
What it does: A written statement from someone backing up your claim — friends, family, or fellow service members.
Use it when: When you or another witness can give relevant, specific observations that support your own claim or another Veteran's or eligible family member's claim.
- 30-60 minutes per statement
- Online · Mail
- VA revision June 2021
Send evidence or records21-4142
Authorization to Disclose Information to VA
What it does: Authorizes non-VA sources to disclose relevant records or information to VA.
Use it when: When relevant records are held by a non-VA provider or other source and you want VA to request them. Do not submit it for records you have already provided or plan to obtain yourself, because an unnecessary request may add time.
- 15-20 minutes
- Online · Mail
- VA revision August 2024
Send evidence or records21-4142a
Medical Provider Information
What it does: Lists the non-VA providers and treatment details VA needs to request your records.
Use it when: When you want VA to request records from a private doctor, hospital, or other non-VA provider. Follow the current VA instructions for Forms 21-4142 and 21-4142a together.
- Online · Mail
- VA revision August 2024
Send evidence or records21-0781
Mental Health Traumatic Event Statement
What it does: Reports traumatic events connected to a claimed mental health condition, including PTSD and MST-related conditions.
Use it when: When you have a diagnosed mental health condition related to a traumatic event during service. Since June 28, 2024, this form also covers personal assault, sexual assault or harassment, and MST; VA discontinued Form 21-0781a.
- 1-2 hours
- Online · Mail
- VA revision March 2024
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Update benefits after a rating
Update benefits after a rating21-686c
Add/Remove Dependents
What it does: Add your spouse, kids, or parents to your benefits. Can increase your monthly payment.
Use it when: Whenever you get married, have a child, adopt a child, or have a change in dependent status. Must be 30%+ rated to receive dependent pay.
- 30-45 minutes
- Online · Mail
- VA revision August 2025
Update benefits after a rating21-8940
TDIU Application
What it does: Apply for increased compensation when service-connected disabilities prevent substantially gainful employment.
Use it when: When service-connected conditions prevent you from keeping substantially gainful employment. The usual schedular thresholds are one disability rated at least 60%, or multiple disabilities with one at least 40% and a combined rating of at least 70%, but VA may consider some claims below those thresholds.
- 30-60 minutes
- Online · Mail
- VA revision July 2024
Update benefits after a rating21-4140
Employment Questionnaire
What it does: Use this only when VA asks you to verify employment while receiving Individual Unemployability benefits.
Use it when: Only when VA sends you a notice asking you to verify your employment status. VA uses wage matching and does not require every TDIU recipient to submit this annually.
- Online · Mail
- VA revision August 2024
Update benefits after a rating21-2680
Aid & Attendance Examination
What it does: Apply for extra help if you need daily assistance due to your disabilities.
Use it when: When a Veteran or eligible survivor needs regular help with daily activities or is substantially confined because of permanent disability, and is applying for an added compensation or pension amount.
- Requires a physician examination
- Online · Mail · In person
- VA revision February 2023
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Challenge a decision
Challenge a decision20-0995
Supplemental Claim
What it does: Ask VA to review a decision using new and relevant evidence.
Use it when: When you have new and relevant evidence that VA did not consider in the decision, or when a change in law may affect the outcome.
- 30 minutes plus evidence gathering
- Online · Mail · In person
- VA revision May 2024
- You can file later, but filing within 1 year of the decision generally preserves continuous pursuit and may protect the earliest possible effective date.
Challenge a decision20-0996
Higher-Level Review
What it does: Ask a senior reviewer to reconsider an eligible decision using the existing record; follow the deadline in your decision letter.
Use it when: When you believe the VA made an error in applying the law or policy to your evidence. No new evidence can be submitted with this form.
- 20-30 minutes
- Online · Mail · In person
- VA revision March 2024
- Follow the deadline in the decision letter. Many HLR requests use a 1-year deadline, but the eligible options and timing depend on the decision type.
Challenge a decision10182
Board Appeal (Notice of Disagreement)
What it does: Ask the Board of Veterans' Appeals to review an eligible decision, with or without a hearing; follow the deadline in your decision letter.
Use it when: When you want a Veterans Law Judge to review an eligible decision. Choose Direct Review, Evidence Submission, or a Hearing based on whether you need to add evidence or speak with a judge.
- 30-45 minutes
- Online · Mail · Fax · In person
- VA revision June 2026
- Follow the deadline in the decision letter. Many Board appeals use a 1-year deadline, but the eligible route and timing depend on the decision type.
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Use education or employment benefits
Use education or employment benefits22-1990
Application for VA Education Benefits
What it does: Apply for, update, or switch eligible GI Bill education benefits.
Use it when: When applying for one of the covered GI Bill programs for the first time, or when the current VA application says you can use it to update or switch an existing benefit.
- About 15 minutes online
- Online · Mail
- VA revision June 2024
Use education or employment benefits22-1995
Change of Program or Place of Training
What it does: Change a school, program, or place of training while using eligible education benefits.
Use it when: When changing a school or training program while using covered benefits, including DEA, Fry Scholarship, transferred Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits, or benefits used by a Veteran or service member. This form replaced dependent Form 22-5495.
- Online · Mail
- VA revision September 2024
Use education or employment benefits22-5490
Dependents’ VA Education Benefits
What it does: Apply for DEA or Fry Scholarship benefits as an eligible dependent or survivor.
Use it when: For an eligible spouse, child, or survivor applying for DEA or Fry Scholarship benefits, including qualifying situations involving permanent and total disability, death, MIA, capture, or detention. Benefit length varies by program and eligibility dates.
- Online · Mail
- VA revision January 2025
Use education or employment benefits28-1900
Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E)
What it does: Apply for career counseling, job training, or education if your disability affects your ability to work.
Use it when: When you have a service-connected disability and want VA to evaluate whether VR&E services can help with employment, training, education, or independent living goals.
- Online · Mail · In person
- VA revision December 2025
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Enroll in or update health care
Enroll in or update health care10-10EZ
Healthcare Enrollment
What it does: Enroll in VA healthcare. This is your application.
Use it when: When applying for VA health care for the first time. Eligibility depends on service, discharge, and other factors that VA reviews.
- 20-30 minutes
- Online · Phone · Mail · In person
- VA revision February 2025
Enroll in or update health care10-10EZR
Health Benefits Update
What it does: Update your financial info for VA healthcare. Can affect copays and priority group.
Use it when: When your income, insurance, or dependent status changes. Updating may move you to a higher priority group or lower your copays.
- Online · Phone · Mail · In person
- VA revision February 2025
Enroll in or update health care10-10d
CHAMPVA Application
What it does: Apply for CHAMPVA cost-sharing health coverage as an eligible spouse, child, or survivor.
Use it when: When VA’s current eligibility rules cover you as the spouse, child, or survivor of a qualifying Veteran and you are not eligible for TRICARE.
- 30-45 minutes
- Online · Mail · Fax
- VA revision April 2025
Enroll in or update health care10-7959C
CHAMPVA Other Health Insurance Certification
What it does: Declare other health insurance with a CHAMPVA application or report coverage changes after enrollment.
Use it when: When you are applying for CHAMPVA and have other health insurance to declare, or when you are already enrolled and need to report a coverage or beneficiary change. If you are already enrolled, VA says to wait for the enrollment packet before submitting this form.
- Online · Mail
- VA revision March 2025
Enroll in or update health care10-7959A
CHAMPVA Claim Form
What it does: Submit a claim for CHAMPVA reimbursement after seeing a provider.
Use it when: When you've seen a healthcare provider who didn't bill CHAMPVA directly. You pay out of pocket and submit this form for reimbursement.
- Online · Mail · Fax
- VA revision March 2025
- VA generally must receive a CHAMPVA claim within 1 year of the date of service, or within 1 year of discharge for inpatient care.
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Apply for home or housing benefits
Apply for home or housing benefits26-1880
Request for a Certificate of Eligibility
What it does: Shows that VA has verified service-based home-loan eligibility; lender approval and other loan rules are separate.
Use it when: When a lender needs a Certificate of Eligibility documenting service-based eligibility for a VA-backed home loan. A VA-backed loan may allow no down payment and does not require monthly mortgage insurance, but lender approval and other credit, income, funding-fee, and closing-cost rules still apply.
- Online · Mail
- VA revision December 2025
Apply for home or housing benefits26-4555
Specially Adapted Housing or Special Home Adaptation Grant
What it does: Apply for help acquiring or adapting housing for a qualifying service-connected disability.
Use it when: When a qualifying service-connected disability creates housing accessibility needs. VA determines whether SAH or SHA rules apply.
- Online · Mail · In person
- VA revision May 2024
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Apply as family or survivor
Apply as family or survivor21P-534EZ
DIC, Survivors Pension, and Accrued Benefits
What it does: Apply for one or more survivor benefits through the current VA application.
Use it when: When an eligible surviving spouse, child, or parent is applying for DIC, Survivors Pension, accrued benefits, or a combination VA allows on this application.
- 45-60 minutes
- Online · Mail
- VA revision August 2025
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Apply for Veterans Pension
Apply for Veterans Pension21P-527EZ
Veterans Pension
What it does: Apply for needs-based pension benefits as a wartime Veteran.
Use it when: When the applicant is a Veteran with qualifying wartime service who meets current age or disability and financial eligibility rules. Survivors use Form 21P-534EZ instead.
- Online · Mail · In person
- VA revision December 2025
Before you submit
A short field check beats a preventable delay.
These habits apply across the directory. Claim-specific advice is called out separately so it is not mistaken for a rule for every benefit.
General form filing check
- Make a copy of everything before you submit it.
- Use black ink on paper forms.
- Write “N/A” when a field does not apply instead of leaving it blank.
- Use exact dates whenever you can.
- Sign and date every required signature field.
- Save your confirmation number or proof of delivery.
Filing a disability claim?
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