By Larry Dandridge
Editor’s note: This article is the fourth in a series of five.
This is the fourth article of five on the steps veterans need to take to prepare for and file a claim for service-connected disability compensation.
The first article was published on Oct. 9, 2025, and can be read online at https://bit.ly/4hluGb9. The first article covered:
· The basic sources of information available to veterans, including the Welcome to VA.gov website, VA Welcome Kit, 2025 Federal Benefits Guide for Veterans, VA YouTube Network, VHA website, VBA website, VA Podcast Network, SITREP, VA Facebook, VA NEWS Blog, and others; and …
· Things to do while the veteran is still serving in the military to prepare for filing for service-connected disability compensation, including 1) keeping copies of evidence of service-connection; 2) getting a copy of all military personnel and medical records; 3) using a VA-accredited Veterans Service Officer (VSO); 4) asking your battle buddies, witnesses, and family for Lay Witness Statements; 5) making an inventory of your service-connected conditions and symptoms/frequency — and how these conditions effect your social and work life; 6) making an inventory of your medications and why you take each medication; and 7) Making an inventory of your medical equipment and devices.
The second article was published on Oct. 16, 2025, and can be read online at https://bit.ly/3JiYmZX. The second article covered things the veteran should do after being discharged from the military. The second article covered:
· Using a VA-accredited Veterans Service Officer (VSO) or, if justified, a VA-accredited Claims Agent or Attorney.
· Ordering your DD214 or other separation documents, military personnel, medical, dental, and other records from the National Archives and/or the military; and
· Enrolling in VA Healthcare, understanding your VA Patient Aligned Care (PACT) Team, and getting treated for your service-connected health conditions.
The third article was published on Oct. 22, 20125, and can be read online at https://bit.ly/4noy06Q. The third article provided a warning and a call to action to assist veterans and their families. It also covered how to become your (veteran’s) own best advocate by doing your homework, by reading the referenced 34 web pages and The Island News articles, and by reading everything the VA and other reputable resources publish about filing a claim for service-connection.
This article will cover ways to prepare for filing a claim and gathering all of your evidence and supporting documents.
Prepare for filing a claim
According to the VA webpage “How to file a VA disability claim,” at https://bit.ly/3JrT4LJ, veterans should do the following things (with the help of their VSO) to prepare for filing a claim.
· Find out if you are eligible for VA disability compensation by reading the criteria at the VA web page “Eligibility for disability benefits” at https://www.va.gov/disability/eligibility/ and asking your VSO to help you.
· File an Intent-To-File Form (if you are not filing online). Learn more about this form on the VA webpage, “About VA Form 21-0966,” 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 to which you may be eligible:
· Fill out your claim forms completely.
· Gather “all” evidence (and supporting documents) you will submit when you file your disability claim. The VA encourages veterans to submit all 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:
1. 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
2. Certify that there is no more evidence that the VA might need to decide your claim and go to any VA medical exams (which will be scheduled by the Veterans Benefits Administration — VBA claims adjudicator) required by the VA to decide your claim.
· Find out if you will need to turn in any additional forms with your claim. Go to the VA webpage “File additional forms for your disability claim” at https://bit.ly/3XgpDxU and ask your VSO to help you 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, Automobile adaptive equipment, Aid and Attendance (A&I), and many more.
· Watch the VBA’s “How to file a claim” Video, available at https://bit.ly/45lZEck.
More on gathering all your evidence
Veterans can support their VA disability claim by providing these documents:
· VA medical records and hospital records. These could relate to the veteran’s claimed illnesses, wounds, injuries, traumas, events, medical conditions, scars, or HAZMAT exposure injuries/diseases (and resulting injuries/conditions), 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 – civilian and military) to write a Nexus letter supporting their claim. Veterans should ensure that other Physicians, Physician Assistants (PAs), Nurse Practitioners (NPs), physical therapists, and other medical specialists are also writing supporting letters. Drafting a letter to your doctors and other medical professionals will increase the likelihood that they will finalize and sign it.
· 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.
· Supporting Lay statements. These could come from family members, battle buddies, friends, clergy members, law enforcement personnel, doctors, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, or individuals with whom the veteran served. 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 articles, dated April 24, May 1, and May 8, 2025, Parts 1, 2, and 3, titled “Lay Witness (Buddy) Statements,” at https://bit.ly/3KZCaVu, https://bit.ly/470Slu9, and https://bit.ly/49jRxSq.
Continued next week.
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 VA-accredited Veterans Service Officer, a Patient Adviser at the Durham and RHJVA Medical Centers, a Fisher House Charleston Goodwill Ambassador, the Service Officer for the Coastal Carolina AUSA Chapter, and Veterans Benefits Advisor for the Cary, NC VFW Post 7383. Larry is also the author of the award-winning Blades of Thunder (Book One) and a contributing freelance writer with The Island News. Contact him at ldandridge47@gmail.com or 843-276-7164.
