When a VA disability claim sits in the "evidence gathering" phase, the VA is typically waiting on records it requested from outside sources it does not directly control, and service treatment records (STRs) are one of the most common bottlenecks. After you separate, your STRs are transferred from your service branch to the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) or retained by your branch's records custodian, and the VA has to formally request a copy. This handoff process does not have a fixed timeline, and it can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months depending on the branch, how complete your digital record already is, and backlogs at the receiving records center. If you separated recently, your full STR file may not have finished processing into the searchable systems yet, which adds to the delay.
The claims process itself follows an eight-step model VA publishes on its website, and evidence gathering (step 3) is often the longest step because it depends on third parties responding to VA requests, not on anything the claimant does. Calling and being told "there is nothing more you need to submit" simply means VA has not identified a gap on your end, not that the wait will end soon.
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 often-cited average processing time is a national figure that blends fast administrative decisions with complex multi-condition claims, so an individual case sitting a long time is not necessarily unusual and does not indicate anything is wrong.
On the underlying worry about a lack of documented treatment in service: a current diagnosis and a documented in-service event are the two anchors VA generally needs to grant service connection, but the in-service event does not have to be a medical entry alone. Buddy statements, unit records, performance evaluations reflecting duty changes, or a credible lay statement describing symptoms during service can sometimes support a claim even with sparse STRs, especially when paired with a current diagnosis and, if applicable, a positive VA compensation and pension exam nexus opinion.
The concrete next step is to request a copy of your own STRs directly from your branch's personnel/records office or through the National Archives while the VA request is still pending, and separately submit any buddy statements or supporting lay evidence you can gather now through a VA Form 21-4138 so the file has documentation ready even if the official transfer is delayed.
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