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Use the checks below to identify the evidence you need, choose the correct claim type, and file through the current VA process.
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Start with VA’s eligibility screen
VA describes a qualifying claimant as someone with a current condition affecting the mind or body and qualifying service. Its eligibility page uses the wording, “You have a current illness or injury (known as a condition) that affects your mind or body.” Read the complete criteria at VA’s eligibility for disability benefits page.
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Your claim needs a present physical or mental disability, not only an event that happened during service. A diagnosis, treatment record, examination, or other competent medical evidence can establish the current condition. Symptoms and functional effects described by you or another person may support the claim, but lay observations do not replace a medical diagnosis when a diagnosis is required.
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2. Confirm qualifying service
VA’s general screen includes active duty, active duty for training (ACDUTRA), and inactive duty training (INACDUTRA). The rules are not identical for each category. In particular, INACDUTRA has narrower qualifying-event rules than active duty.
3. Find a service relationship
At least one of these relationships must apply:
- The condition began during service or resulted from an in-service injury, disease, or event (direct service connection).
- A condition that existed before service was made worse by service (aggravation).
- A service-related condition caused or contributed to another condition that appeared later (secondary service connection).
- A presumptive rule applies because your service and condition meet a specific VA requirement.
4. Check discharge character
VA’s general compensation overview says the claimant must have been discharged under conditions other than dishonorable. An other-than-honorable, bad-conduct, or dishonorable discharge can affect eligibility, but the label alone does not always end the inquiry. VA identifies two possible avenues: seek a discharge upgrade or request a Character of Discharge review. Get advice on the specific record before assuming you are barred.
5. Understand the disability-rating threshold
VA’s Disability Compensation overview states that compensation eligibility generally requires at least a 10% disability rating for a qualifying injury or disease. A rating is separate from proving service connection: first establish that the condition qualifies, then VA evaluates its severity under the rating schedule.
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Build the three-part proof for an original claim
For an original claim connected to active duty, VA’s evidence guidance organizes the proof into three elements:
| Element | What it establishes | Examples of supporting material |
|---|---|---|
| Current disability | You have a present physical or mental condition. | Diagnosis, medical records, test results, treatment notes, or examination findings. |
| In-service event, injury, or disease | Something during qualifying service could have caused or affected the condition. | Service treatment records, personnel or separation records, incident documentation, and credible statements about observable events. |
| Connection between them | The current condition is related to the in-service event, injury, or disease. | A medical opinion, medical history, continuity evidence, and relevant lay statements. |
VA may consider medical records, a doctor’s opinion, and lay evidence. A lay statement can describe what a person personally saw, experienced, or observed—such as an injury, symptoms, or changes in daily functioning. It generally cannot establish a complex medical diagnosis or causation by itself.
Match the evidence to your service type
The event that qualifies for one service category may not qualify for another. Use the category that matches your orders and records.
| Service category | VA’s evidence focus | Important limit |
|---|---|---|
| Active duty | Current disability, an in-service event, injury, or disease, and a link between them. | The ordinary three-part proof applies. |
| Active duty for training (ACDUTRA) | Current condition, disease or injury—or worsening during training—and a link to that training. | Show the qualifying disease, injury, or aggravation during the training period. |
| Inactive duty training (INACDUTRA) | Current condition and a link to an injury or worsening during training; VA also identifies specified acute heart attack or stroke events. | For INACDUTRA, a disease that merely first appears during training is not treated the same way as an injury, heart attack, or stroke under the general summary. |
When your service history includes several categories, separate the dates and events. A claim should identify which period supports which condition rather than treating all service as one uninterrupted period.
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Check whether a presumption applies
A presumption can remove the need to prove the ordinary causal link when you meet the rule’s service and condition requirements. VA’s overview identifies categories that include certain chronic diseases appearing within a specified period after discharge, conditions associated with toxic exposure, and conditions related to prisoner-of-war service. The exact requirements differ by condition and service facts.
Use VA’s current Presumptive Service Connection Eligibility information to check the named condition, qualifying dates or locations, and any time limits. A deployment, exposure, or diagnosis by itself does not automatically satisfy every presumption. If the presumption does not fit, you can still consider direct, aggravation, or secondary theories when the evidence supports them.
Choose the correct claim category
Evidence that is persuasive for one claim type may not answer the issue in another. The VA evidence guidance distinguishes these common routes:
| Claim type | What VA has already decided | What you must show now |
|---|---|---|
| Original claim | No service-connected award for the condition has been established. | A current disability, qualifying in-service event, injury, or disease, and the relationship between them. |
| Increased claim | The disability is already service connected. | Current evidence that the service-connected condition has worsened. Medical records, opinions, and relevant lay evidence may help show the change. |
| Secondary claim | An underlying disability is already service connected. | A new condition and evidence that it was caused or aggravated by the service-connected disability. |
| Supplemental claim after denial | VA previously denied the issue. | New and relevant evidence: information not previously submitted that tends to prove or disprove something material to the prior decision. |
Before filing, read the prior decision if one exists. Identify the element VA found missing—current disability, qualifying event, connection, severity, or another requirement—and submit evidence aimed at that specific gap.
Gather the records that establish eligibility
Separation and service records
- DD214 or another separation document showing service dates and discharge information.
- Service treatment records documenting symptoms, diagnoses, injuries, treatment, or relevant examinations.
- Records identifying ACDUTRA or INACDUTRA dates and the orders or incident reports for those periods.
VA lists DD214 or other separation papers and service treatment records among the useful core documents. If you do not have copies, provide enough identifying information for VA to seek records and submit what you can obtain.
Current medical evidence
Collect doctors’ reports, diagnostic imaging, laboratory or other test results, treatment notes, medication history, and records showing how the condition affects work and ordinary activities. For a claim involving a relationship to service, ask a qualified clinician whether the records support an opinion connecting the current condition to the in-service event or to an already service-connected disability. Do not alter records or ask a clinician to state a conclusion that the evidence cannot support.
Lay and buddy statements
You or someone with relevant knowledge can submit a written statement. VA identifies VA Form 21-10210, Lay or Witness Statement, and VA Form 21-4138, Statement in Support of Claim as ways to provide this evidence. A useful statement explains who the writer is, what they personally observed, when and where it occurred, and how symptoms or limitations changed. Avoid speculation about medical causation unless the writer has the qualifications and firsthand basis to offer it.
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Use a step-by-step eligibility check
- List each condition separately. Write the current diagnosis or main symptoms, approximate onset, treatment, and functional effects.
- Identify the qualifying service period. Mark active duty, ACDUTRA, or INACDUTRA dates and the event or exposure you believe matters.
- Choose the legal theory. Decide whether the facts point to direct service connection, aggravation, secondary service connection, or a named presumption.
- Find the three proof elements. For an original claim, locate one set of records for the current condition, one for the in-service event, and one medical or factual basis for the relationship.
- Check discharge information. If the discharge is other than fully honorable, research upgrade and Character of Discharge options before treating it as an automatic denial.
- Review prior VA decisions. If the condition was previously denied or awarded, select a supplemental or increased claim rather than starting an unrelated original claim.
- Organize exhibits. Use clear filenames or labels, put dates on statements, and explain how each document addresses an eligibility element.
- File and monitor requests. Submit the application and respond to VA requests for records or examinations by the stated deadline.
This sequence is a practical way to apply VA’s evidence and application guidance; it is not a VA-required checklist.
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VA identifies online filing and VA Form 21-526EZ for original and related disability compensation claims. The same application information explains other routes:
- Online: Use VA’s disability-claim application and upload supporting evidence.
- Mail: Send the completed form and evidence to the address specified in the current VA instructions.
- In person: Get help at a VA regional office.
- Representative or agent: Work with an accredited veterans service organization, attorney, or claims agent. Verify accreditation and understand any fees before signing an agreement; paid assistance is not required to file.
Check the live form and filing page for the current revision, submission address, and upload instructions because VA procedures can change. Keep a complete copy of everything submitted and proof of the submission date.
Know what happens after filing
VA may review the application, request additional records, schedule an examination, and evaluate the evidence before issuing a decision. The VA claims-process page explains that completion time varies with claim type, complexity, number of conditions, and availability of evidence. No fixed decision time applies to every claim.
Read every request carefully. A request for authorization to obtain private records, an examination notice, or a question about dates can affect the evidence VA considers. If a record is unavailable, explain what you did to obtain it and submit alternate evidence such as statements or other contemporaneous documents.
Common screening mistakes
- Assuming any diagnosis qualifies: A current diagnosis without qualifying service and a service relationship is not enough.
- Ignoring service category: INACDUTRA has narrower rules, including the specified injury, heart attack, and stroke framework.
- Submitting only a personal conclusion: Explain observable symptoms and events, but provide medical evidence when diagnosis or causation requires it.
- Using the wrong claim route: Worsening, secondary, and post-denial claims require different evidence from an original claim.
- Overlooking presumptions: A qualifying presumption can change what must be proved, but only if the named condition and service facts match the rule.
- Treating discharge status as settled without review: An unfavorable characterization may require a discharge-upgrade or Character of Discharge analysis.
- Sending unorganized records: Label documents and tie each one to a condition, event, or relationship so the relevant evidence is identifiable.
- Relying on outdated forms: Confirm the current VA form and filing instructions before submission.
A quick decision worksheet
You are ready to investigate a claim more closely when you can answer these questions for every condition:
- What current physical or mental condition is documented?
- What type of service and dates could qualify?
- What event, injury, disease, aggravation, or existing service-connected disability is involved?
- What evidence connects the current condition to that service fact?
- Does a specific presumptive rule match the condition and service?
- What does the discharge document show?
- Is this an original, increased, secondary, or supplemental claim?
- Which records, medical opinions, and firsthand statements still need to be obtained?
If several answers are uncertain, an accredited representative or VA regional office can help explain the process and identify missing documentation. The final determination remains VA’s, based on the evidence and applicable rules.
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Keep the rules and forms current
VA updates eligibility explanations, evidence guidance, forms, and presumptive-condition information. The eligibility page was updated April 23, 2025; the evidence page was updated June 8, 2026; and the application page was updated June 21, 2025. A VA presumptive-service-connection document published in March 2026 contains condition-specific rules. Review the current pages for eligibility, evidence, application, and the VA compensation portal when you are ready to file.
Keep a condition-by-condition file
Separate folders or clearly labeled sections can prevent evidence for one condition from being mistaken for evidence for another. For each condition, record the diagnosis or symptoms, first known onset, relevant service period, treatment history, and current limitations. Then make a short timeline connecting the service event, symptoms, treatment, and present diagnosis. This makes it easier to see whether the evidence supports direct service connection, aggravation, a secondary theory, or a presumption.
Put the date and author on every statement and identify whether the writer personally observed an event, symptoms, or functional changes. A statement that simply repeats a conclusion without describing what was seen or experienced is less useful than a specific account. Keep original records unchanged and submit copies or authorized electronic files as directed by VA.
When a record is missing
Lack of a particular service-treatment entry does not mean you should omit the event from the application. Tell VA what happened, identify the approximate date and unit or location if known, and explain what efforts you made to obtain the record. VA may seek records when you provide enough information. You can also submit other contemporaneous documents and firsthand statements that address the event, onset, or ongoing effects. These materials still need to fit the service category and claim theory; an alternate document does not automatically establish medical causation.
Clarify what a presumption does
A presumption changes the proof of the service connection element; it does not eliminate every other requirement. You still need the condition identified by the applicable rule and the service facts, dates, locations, or other qualifying circumstances required by that rule. A condition outside the named list, a diagnosis outside a specified time period, or service that does not meet the rule’s criteria may require ordinary direct, aggravation, or secondary evidence instead. Check the condition-specific VA material rather than relying on a general description of exposure or deployment.
Get help without assuming a paid service is necessary
No special product is needed to check eligibility or submit a claim. VA identifies accredited veterans service organizations, attorneys, and claims agents as assistance options, and a regional office can explain filing procedures. Verify that a representative is accredited through current VA information, read any fee agreement, and understand what work the representative will perform. You can file yourself; paid assistance is not a prerequisite for compensation.
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Separate screening from a final decision
The checklist can show that a claim is worth developing, but only VA can decide whether the evidence satisfies the applicable rules and what rating applies. A complete diagnosis does not by itself prove service connection, and a service event does not by itself prove a current disability. Treat each element as a separate question, answer it with the strongest available evidence, and update the file when VA requests clarification.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Do I qualify if I have a diagnosis but no service record showing it?
A diagnosis is evidence of a current condition, but an original claim generally also needs a qualifying in-service event, injury, or disease and a connection between that event and the current condition. Explain the event and provide alternate records or firsthand statements if a particular service record is unavailable.
Can VA connect a condition that began after I left service?
Possibly. A direct relationship, aggravation theory, secondary relationship to an existing service-connected disability, or a specific presumption may support a condition that appeared later. The applicable theory determines what evidence is needed.
Does every deployment or toxic exposure create automatic eligibility?
No. Presumptions apply only when the named condition and required service facts—such as dates, locations, or other criteria—match the specific VA rule. If they do not, consider ordinary direct, aggravation, or secondary evidence.
Are National Guard or Reserve training periods covered?
VA includes active duty for training and inactive duty training in its general screen, but the qualifying events differ. INACDUTRA generally focuses on injury, worsening of an existing condition, or specified acute heart attack or stroke events, so identify the exact training dates and event.
What if my discharge was other than honorable?
An other-than-honorable, bad-conduct, or dishonorable characterization can affect eligibility, but it does not always resolve the issue. VA identifies discharge-upgrade and Character of Discharge review as possible avenues; obtain advice based on your complete service record.
What is the difference between an increased and a supplemental claim?
An increased claim concerns a disability VA already service connected that has worsened. A supplemental claim follows a prior denial and requires new and relevant evidence addressing a material issue in that decision. They are different from an original claim for a condition not previously established as service connected.
Do I need a lawyer or paid claims service to apply?
No. VA provides online filing, VA Form 21-526EZ, mail, and regional-office options. You may use an accredited organization, attorney, or claims agent, but verify accreditation and fees; paid assistance is not required.
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How long will VA take to decide my claim?
There is no single time for every claim. VA says timing varies with claim type, complexity, number of conditions, and how quickly needed evidence becomes available. Respond promptly to requests and keep proof of what you submit.
The Bottom Line
Check five things: a current condition, qualifying service, a service connection or matching presumption, acceptable discharge status, and the evidence for your specific claim type. Gather service and medical records, add factual lay statements, file through a current VA route, and use an accredited representative or regional office if you need help. VA—not a checklist—makes the final eligibility and rating decision.
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