Get Intent To Claim

You can submit an Intent to File through the eBenefits website, by mailing the form to your regional office, or by speaking to a VA representative in person or on the phone. If you have someone helping you, such as a Veterans Service Officer, they can contact the VA on your behalf and submit the information for you.

What is the intent to file process? This process allows you more time to collect information to support your claim. It also protects the earliest possible effective date for any benefits resulting from your claim. The date VA receives your intent to file will be protected as your effective date.

You can file a claim up to 180 days before leaving the service: If you have 180-90 days left on active duty, you may be able to file a pre-discharge claim through the Benefits Delivery at Discharge (BDD) program. This may help speed up the claim decision process so you can get your benefits sooner.

The date that the VA receives your intent to file for each specific benefit will be protected as the effective date for the benefit that you applied. ... Thus, you can not file for two claims simultaneously for the same benefit category. Once a completed claim is filed, the intent to file for that claim becomes inactive.

Once you send your intent to file claim to the VA, they may send you a letter acknowledging that they've received your claim. They may include VBA Form 21-527EZ or VBA Form 21-534EZ with this letter of acknowledgment. This is the form you will use to submit your full claim when you're ready.

Appeals Process Timeline In an effort to streamline the very lengthy disability appeals process, VA implemented the Appeals Modernization Act (AMA) in February 2019. Under the new system, VA's goal for issuing decisions on appeals in both the supplemental claim and higher-level review lanes is 125 days.

Claimants with access to http://www.ebenefits.va.gov can submit an intent to file simply by starting the application for compensation. To ensure you reach the correct point, a Veteran must fill out application information until application informs the applicant that an 0966 intent to file has been submitted.

Using an "Intent to File" to establish an Effective Date before the claimant has sufficiently prepared his or her application will allow the claimant to receive a larger lump sum retroactive payment than he or she otherwise would have.

Go online through eBenefits at www.ebenefits.va.gov. Use the support of a VSO through the Stakeholder Enterprise Portal. You must follow this process: o Initiate a claim. o Complete the personal information page.