If you are a Veteran, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs provides several benefits, including disability compensation. Yet, getting these benefits can often feel like an uphill battle. It can take months to receive a response from the VA, and you will need to monitor your claim status throughout the process.
At Marc Whitehead & Associates, a national disability benefits law firm, we believe that Veterans deserve the highest level of care possible when injured or become ill due to their service and any VA disability benefits they’re entitled to. Please call for a free consultation if you need help with your VA benefits, and since it’s essential to regularly check your claim status, here are the three main ways to do this.
Three Main Options to Check Your VA Claim Status
There are three ways to check your VA claim status, and they are as follows. Choose the one that works best for you.
1. Visit Your Local VA Office
You likely already know your closest VA regional office. If not, a simple Google search will give you the answer. For example, there is a regional VA office for Houston:
- Located in: Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center
- Address: 6900 Almeda Rd, Houston, TX 77030
2. Call the VA Office
You likely won’t have the number for your regional office. The general number you can call is 800-827-1000.
3. Use the VA Tracker Tool
The VA provides a simple online tool for monitoring your claim status. These step-by-step instructions explain how to use it:
- Sign in to VA.gov. You have several options for signing in: your ID.me account, DS Logon, or My HealtheVet.
- Receive authentication code. When you sign in, the VA will need to confirm your identity. It does this by asking you where to send an authentication code. You can choose a text or phone call.
- Complete your sign-in by entering the authentication code. Once received, you can enter the authentication code to complete your sign-in.
- Navigate to the claim status tool. You can find this by choosing “Check your claim or appeal status” under the Disability header. This will display all available claims. Click the one you need to review.
- Check the status. When you click the “Status” tab, you can review your claim status in a timeline form. It provides details on when you submitted the claim, the current status, and a decision if one has been made. The timeline also provides details on what to expect for the upcoming steps.
- Review the files. If you click the “Files” tab, you can see additional information about the documents you have submitted. You can also add other files if requested.
- Read the details. Under the “Details” tab, you can find summarized data on the claim type, what you filed a claim for (such as hearing loss caused by combat), the date received, and the entity representing you for your VA claim(s).
The Meanings of Different Claim Statuses
Whether you visit in person, call, or use the online tool, you will likely encounter various VA claims statuses. Here are the meanings for each:
- Claim received: This is an official confirmation from the VA that it has received your claim. It is in the queue, awaiting review.
- Under initial review: At this point, a VA representative has started reviewing the claim. This person determines whether you need to provide additional information or clarification.
- Gathering of evidence: If the VA representative decides the claim needs more information, you will see it change to this status. Sometimes, the VA will collect this evidence for you. This status can also result from filing an appeal.
- Review of evidence and decision. At this stage, the VA acknowledges it has all the evidence it needs to make a decision. An adjudicator decides on the services or benefits you receive and the rating assigned.
- Preparation for notification. The VA is preparing to send you a packet with specific information about your claim and the decision.
- Complete: Keep an eye on your mail. You should receive a response within 7 to 10 business days from when this claim status originally appeared.
The Importance of Monitoring Your VA Claim Status
As you can see, the VA claims process moves through several stages. If you don’t monitor it regularly, you might miss necessary updates. Imagine if the VA representative needed more information, but you didn’t see the status or provide the requested information.
Here are some additional reasons you should monitor the status of your claim:
- Detect fraud. You can quickly spot unauthorized changes to your VA claim.
- Stay informed. You should know the exact status and timeline for each claim in progress.
- Get help. If you need a veterans disability attorney, they can use this information to evaluate your case more effectively.
A common question people ask is how often they should check their claim status. Ideally, you should check it once per week. At the very least, after you submit the claim, review its status once per month until a decision is made.
Contact Marc Whitehead & Associates for a Free Consultation
If you need help with your VA disability claim, we charge no money upfront and take clients nationally. We leverage our experience and knowledge to build a strong case for a favorable outcome while working closely with your doctors to achieve this. We monitor the progress of your case and provide additional evidence, information, or clarification if requested. Schedule your free consultation to get started.
