Ten Essential Factors Impacting The Duration Of Your VA Claim Approval And Ways To Speed Up The Process

After submitting your disability benefits application to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), it's natural to desire a swift decision. Nonetheless, patience is necessary. The VA typically takes about 134.4 days to decide on your VA disability benefits. as of June 2021.

In case of a VA claim denial and your pursuit of the appeals process, expect around 125 days for a Higher-Level Review or Supplemental Claim and over a year for a Board Hearing.

Ten Factors Impacting The Duration OF Your VA Claim Approval

Several factors may influence the duration of the VA's claim processing, including:

1. Initial VA claims may take a little longer because of the need for a Claims Assistant at the VA to request your Service Treatment Records (STRs) and personnel file.
2. The duration of your claim's rating decision is influenced by the total number of disability conditions you've submitted. More conditions lead to a lengthier processing time.
3. Opting for either a VA Fully Developed Claim (FDC) or a Standard Claim (Non-FDC) impacts processing time. Standard Claims require extra development by a Veteran Service Representative (VSR) involving obtaining personal records or private treatment records.
4. The sufficiency and comprehensiveness of your medical evidence for VA rating purposes play a role. When the medical evidence isn't clear, additional claim development by a VSR is necessary, potentially causing claim delays.
5. The timing of your contact and scheduling for Compensation and Pension (C&P) exams also has an impact. Certain disability conditions necessitate an in-person examination, while others can be conducted virtually through telehealth or solely via records review, referred to as an ACE Exam.
6. The adequacy of your C&P exam findings for rating purposes is also significant. It encompasses situations where the VA Rater requires additional information from the examiner or if the DBQ was inaccurately completed.
7. The VA Claims Backlog can influence the timing of a VA Rater's assignment to your case.
8. Filing a VA claim for PTSD without a combat medal extends the processing time, as the VA needs to verify your stressor through the Joint Services Record Research Center (JSRRC).
9. Submitting a "specialty" VA claim exclusive to specific Regional Offices can affect processing time. For instance, claims related to Contaminated Water, Radiation Exposure and Burn Pit Exposure fall under this category.
10. If the VA selects your claim for "Quality Review." Each VSR (Veteran Service Representative) and RVSR (Rating Veteran Service Representative) undergoes a monthly random selection of five VA claims for quality review evaluation.

How To Speed Up Your VA Claims Approval Process?

To swiftly access your benefits, you can take specific measures to prevent unwarranted delays:

File A Claim As Soon As Possible

Initiate your initial claim or request an increased rating as soon as you deem yourself eligible. Avoid delaying potential improvements in your condition or handle financial matters without relying on VA disability benefits.

Include Every Important Detail

Incorporate all secondary service-connected disabilities within your initial application rather than attempting to include them later. Be attentive to all filing deadlines and promptly provide any requested documentation to the VA.

Avoid Unnecessary Documents

Refrain from resubmitting evidence or presenting unrelated documentation, which will only delay the VA's decision-making process. Also, ensure your application or appeal encompasses all essential evidence and presents a solid legal argument.

Request A Priority Review

If you are facing financial hardship, have been diagnosed with a severe illness, or are dealing with extenuating circumstances that validate an Advanced-on Docket status, consider requesting a priority review. (It's important to note that individuals aged 75 or older are automatically eligible for a priority review.)