Starting a first VA disability claim can feel overwhelming, especially with a large medical record and years of unaddressed symptoms, but the process breaks down into a few concrete steps.
The first step is filing an intent to file, either online through VA.gov or by submitting VA Form 21-0966. This locks in an effective date for potential back pay while you gather evidence, giving you up to one year to submit the full claim without losing that earlier date.
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 →The actual claim is filed using VA Form 21-526EZ, either online, through the mail, or with help from a Veterans Service Officer (VSO). A VSO from an organization like the VFW, American Legion, DAV, or a county/state veterans service office can help at no cost, and is often the most efficient way for someone unfamiliar with the process to organize evidence and identify every condition worth claiming.
Each condition claimed needs three basic elements to establish service connection under 38 CFR 3.303: a current diagnosis, an in-service event or injury, and a medical nexus linking the two. A two-week inpatient mental health hospitalization during active duty is strong evidence of an in-service event for a mental health claim, and service treatment records documenting that stay should be included. If there is no separate nexus statement in the record, a current diagnosis plus ongoing symptoms since service can still support a claim, and VA will often schedule a Compensation and Pension (C&P) exam to help establish the connection.
Difficulty holding a job or completing school since service can be relevant both to the rating criteria for a mental health condition and, in more severe cases, to a claim for Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) if the condition prevents substantial gainful employment.
Reviewing the 300-page record before filing is not necessary; a VSO or accredited representative can help identify which portions are relevant to the claimed conditions. It also helps to write a personal statement (VA Form 21-4138 or a lay statement) describing symptoms and their impact since separation, since VA relies heavily on both medical evidence and the veteran's own description of continuity of symptoms.
The concrete next step is to file an intent to file today, then contact an accredited VSO to help prepare and submit VA Form 21-526EZ along with the relevant service treatment records and a personal statement.
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Analyze Your Claim FreeVetAid is a free veterans claims tool, not a VA-accredited representative — it does not file anything with VA for you, and it works alongside your accredited VSO, claims agent or attorney. About VetAid