You do not need a confirmed diagnosis before starting the process. An Intent to File (VA Form 21-0966, or submitted online through VA.gov) simply locks in an effective date for up to one year while you gather evidence. You can file an ITF yourself at any time, whether or not you are working with a Veterans Service Organization (VSO), and you do not need anyone’s permission to do so. If you already have a VSO listed as your representative, you can still submit forms yourself, though some regional offices route correspondence through the VSO unless you formally revoke that representation using VA Form 21-22a or by submitting a new one naming yourself or a different representative.
When you do file the actual claim (VA Form 21-526EZ), you generally need some evidence connecting a current condition to service — this can include an in-service event, a current diagnosis, and a medical nexus. If you do not yet have an official diagnosis for a condition, you can still file, but the claim may be developed further, and the VA will often schedule a Compensation and Pension (C&P) exam to establish a diagnosis and opinion on service connection. You do not need to arrange this exam yourself; the VA schedules it once your claim is opened and evidence development begins.
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 →Regarding a previously missed C&P exam: under 38 CFR § 3.655, if you fail to report for a scheduled exam without good cause, VA may deny the claim based on the evidence of record or, in some cases, deem you not entitled to a rating increase. This does not permanently bar you from filing future claims, but it can result in denial of that specific claim, and you may need to explain any scheduling confusion or provide evidence of attempts to reschedule if a similar situation arises again. Filing a new claim starts a fresh process, though repeated missed exams without explanation can slow determinations.
If a private provider (like a PCP) is not available soon enough, VA-run or VA-contracted C&P exams are separate from routine primary care and are scheduled based on your claim, not your civilian medical calendar — so long backlogs at your PCP do not delay the VA’s own exam scheduling.
As a next step, submit an Intent to File through VA.gov today to preserve your effective date, then proceed with filing your claim even if some diagnoses are pending, noting in your application which conditions still need evaluation.
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