There is no deadline for filing a VA disability compensation claim. Veterans can file at any point after discharge, even decades later, using VA Form 21-526EZ. The length of time that has passed does not disqualify a claim, and a short period of active duty or a brief record of treatment does not automatically mean a condition is not service connected.
To establish service connection for a mental health condition such as depression, anxiety, or PTSD, the VA generally looks for three things: a current diagnosis, an in-service event or stressor, and a medical nexus linking the current condition to that event. A single meeting with a mental health provider during service, even if brief, can serve as evidence of an in-service event, especially if it is documented in service treatment records. If those records cannot be located, a request through the National Personnel Records Center or a formal records request from the VA can help establish what documentation exists.
Official 2026 VA monthly compensation, including the 2.8% COLA increase.
Dependent add-ons start at a 30% rating. Child-only and dependent-parent rates: see the full 2026 pay chart.
| Rating | Monthly (2026, incl. 2.8% COLA) |
|---|---|
| 10% | $180.42 |
| 20% | $356.66 |
| 30% | $552.47 |
| 40% | $795.84 |
| 50% | $1,132.90 |
| 60% | $1,435.02 |
| 70% | $1,808.45 |
| 80% | $2,102.15 |
| 90% | $2,362.30 |
| 100% | $3,938.58 |
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Analyze my claim free →For PTSD claims specifically tied to a fear of hostile military or terrorist activity, 38 CFR 3.304(f)(3) allows a veteran's own statement about the stressor to be sufficient corroboration in some cases, without needing extensive combat documentation, if a VA psychiatrist or psychologist confirms the stressor is adequate to support a diagnosis and is consistent with the places, types, and circumstances of service. Lay statements from fellow servicemembers, family, or friends describing behavioral changes after the deployment can also strengthen a claim, particularly when official records are sparse.
A veteran filing this kind of claim will typically be scheduled for a Compensation and Pension (C&P) examination, where an examiner evaluates current symptoms and offers an opinion on whether they are at least as likely as not related to service. The outcome of these exams varies significantly depending on the individual case, current diagnosis, and quality of supporting evidence, so no particular result should be assumed in advance.
The concrete next step is to file VA Form 21-526EZ, gather any available service treatment records and personal or witness statements about the deployment and its aftermath, and consider seeking help from an accredited Veterans Service Officer (VSO) through organizations like the VFW, DAV, or American Legion, who can assist at no cost in building and submitting the claim.
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