How to file a VA disability claim

By Larry Dandridge

This article and my next article for The Island News will answer many of the questions associated with filing a VA claim for disability compensation.

I always tell veterans that the best person to answer questions about VA benefits and how to file for those benefits is a VA-accredited Veterans Service Officer (VSO). VSOs are formally trained, background checked, attend annual continuing education, and swear to provide honest and free services.

Some attorneys and claims agents are also VA-accredited. Veterans may have to ask an attorney for help with some appeals and more difficult situations, but attorneys do charge for their services. A VSO can be relied on to tell a veteran when they may want to get help from a VA-accredited attorney.

Use a VA-accredited VSO

A VSO is trained by the VA, the South Carolina (or another state’s) Department of Veteran Affairs, and a Veterans Service Organization like the American Legion, VFW, DAV, and other Veterans Service Organizations.

Find a VSO

I also tell veterans that they can find S.C. County VSOs at https://bit.ly/3qbLVSL and can find Georgia VSOs at https://bit.ly/44KMVA7. They can also search for VA-accredited representatives nationwide at https://bit.ly/3QnCk5Mand they can search for VA-accredited representatives at VA Regional Offices at https://bit.ly/3TahNn1.

Some S.C. VSOs in the footprint of The Island News include:

•  Beaufort County, 100 Clear Water Way, Beaufort, S.C. 29906, 843-255-6880, website https://bit.ly/3ryd5qS (Dr. Caroline P. Fermin is the new Director).
•  Beaufort DAV Chapter, VSO Michael Vergantino, 843-301-2543 and mlv1030@gmail.com.
•  Jasper County, Alton Jenkins, 651 Grays Highway, Ridgeland, S.C. 29936843-726-7727, ajenkins@jaspercountysc.gov and jcwebsite@jaspercountysc.gov.
•  Colleton County, Janet Smith, 219 S. Lemacks Street, Suite 124, Walterboro, S.C. 29488, 843-549-1412, cvao@colletoncounty.org.

Some Georgia VSOs in the footprint of The Island News.

•  Chatham County, Ga., Manager Miguel Rivera (Bi-Lingual), 912-920-0214, Ext. 2412191, Miguel.rivera5@va.gov, 1170 Shawnee Street, Savannah, Ga., 31419. Also, VSO Sheri Shellman, 912-920-0214 Extension 412194, and VSO Robert Jones 912-920-0214, Extension 412193. Located in the Savannah VA Outpatient Clinic.
•  Liberty County & Hinesville, Ga., Shannon Daniels, 912-408-2948, shannon.daniels@vs.state.ga.us, and Dennis Boothe, 912-408-2900 ext. 352750, dennis.boothe@vs.state.ga.us, 500 East Oglethorpe Highway, Hinesville, Ga., 31313. Located inside the Hinesville VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic.
•  Brunswick Ga., Veterans Field Service Office (located in the VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic), 93 Benchmark Way, Brunswick, Ga., 31520, Manager Stephanie Jordon, Phone: 912-264-7360, Email stephanie.jordan1@vs.state.ga.us.

Average time for the VA to process a claim

The VA says that the average number of days to complete disability-related claims in July 2023 was 104.1 days.

How do veterans prepare before starting their application?

According to the VA webpage HOW TO FILE A VA DISABILITY CLAIM, at https://www.va.gov/disability/get-help-filing-claim/, veterans should do the following things to prepare for filing a claim.

1. Find out if you are eligible for VA disability compensation by reading the criteria at https://www.va.gov/disability/eligibility/ and asking your VSO to help you.

2. File an Intent To File Form. Learn more about this form at the VA webpage About VA Form 21-0966, found at https://bit.ly/3W9mzlP. Use VA Form 21-0966 if you are still gathering information to support your claim, and want to start the filing process. Submitting an intent to file can secure the earliest possible effective date for any retroactive payments you may be eligible for.

3. Fill out your claim forms completely.

4. Gather any and all evidence (supporting documents) you will submit when you file your disability claim. The VA encourages veterans to send in all their supporting documents along with their claims. This will help the VA process the claim quickly.  Read about Fully Developed Claims at https://bit.ly/3CTtFV0.

For the VA to consider your claim fully developed, you will need to:

•  Submit your completed Application (VA Form 21-526EZ) and submit all the evidence (supporting documents) you have or can easily get along with your claim; and
•  Certify that there is no more evidence that the VA might need to decide your claim and go to any VA medical exams required by the VA to decide your claim.

5. Find out if you will need to turn in any additional forms with your claim. Go to https://bit.ly/3XgpDxU and ask your VSO to determine what other forms you will need. There are forms for submitting your intent to file, authorizing the release of your medical records, authorization of the release of non-VA medical information, lay witness statements, Individual Unemployability, Claiming PTSD, PTSD based on Personal Assault, Claiming Specialty Adapted Housing, Auto adaptive equipment, Aid and Attendance (A&I), and many more.

6. Watch the Veteran Benefits Administration) Disability Claims Video which is found at https://bit.ly/45lZEck.

What evidence does a veteran need to support their claim?

Veterans can support your VA disability claim by providing these documents:

1. VA medical records and hospital records. These could relate to the veteran’s claimed illnesses or injuries or they could show that their rated disability has gotten worse or appeared after they got out of the military. Veterans should also ask their VA doctor (and other doctors) to write a letter supporting their claim. Veterans should make sure that other doctors, Physician’s Assistants (PAs), Nurse Practitioners, and Medical Specialists are also writing supporting letters.

2. Private medical records, hospital reports, and test results. These could relate to your claimed illnesses or injuries or they could show that your disability has gotten worse.

3. Supporting statements. These could be from family members, friends, clergy members, law enforcement personnel, doctors, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, or people the veteran served with. These statements should tell the VA more about the veteran’s claimed condition and how and when it happened or how it got worse.  Read more about Lay Witness statements in The Island News veterans’ benefits article dated 26 July 2023 titled, Lay Witness (Buddy) statements.

Next week’s article will provide sample supporting statements, how to submit a claim online, how to submit a claim by mail, and how to submit a claim in person.  Next week’s article will also cover:

•  Claim types and when to file;
•  Disabilities that appear within 1 year after discharge;
•  More on Getting help from an accredited representative; and
•  Helpful References.

Larry Dandridge is a Vietnam War wounded warrior, disabled veteran, ex-Enlisted Infantryman, ex-Warrant Officer Pilot, and retired Lt. Colonel. He is a past Veterans Service Officer, a Patient Adviser at the RHJ VA Hospital, the Fisher House Charleston Good Will Ambassador, and the VP for Veteran Affairs for the local Army Association Chapter. Larry is the author of the award-winning book Blades of Thunder and a contributing free-lance writer with the Island News. Contact him at