📋 Filing a First Claim

Before you do anything else, submit VA Form 21-0966. This locks in your effective date for back pay. You can do it online in 5 minutes. Once filed, you have one year to submit your full claim. This one step could mean thousands of dollars in back pay.

The VA decides claims based on evidence. You need: your service treatment records (STRs), any private medical records showing current diagnosis and treatment, and ideally a nexus letter from a doctor connecting your condition to service. The stronger your evidence, the faster and better your outcome.

Buddy statements (also called lay statements) are written accounts from people who witnessed your condition during service or can describe how it affects your daily life. Fellow service members, family, friends, and coworkers can all write these. They carry real weight with the VA.

Veterans Service Organizations like the DAV, VFW, and American Legion offer free claim filing assistance. Their representatives are trained and accredited by the VA. They can review your evidence, help you fill out forms correctly, and represent you throughout the process. This costs you nothing.

This is the main disability compensation claim form. You can file online at VA.gov, with a VSO, or by mail. Include all your evidence. List every condition you're claiming. Be thorough — it's easier to include everything now than to file additional claims later.

After filing, the VA will likely schedule a Compensation & Pension (C&P) exam. This is not a regular doctor visit — it's an evaluation. Be honest, describe your worst days, don't minimize your symptoms. The examiner's report has massive influence on your rating. Know what to expect before you walk in.