VA Claim Status Time: How long are VA claims taking right now and why can they take more than anticipated? (2024)
The United States government and Veteran's Association (VA) are taking steps to help veterans receive the help they need after ending their service.
Some veterans return home requiring physical and financial assistance due to disabilities they have sustained during their time. That makes it imperative for a quick and simple service to claim for disability benefits.
Unfortunately, this is not always the case. While the average time for a VA disability claim can vary, it's currently between 120-150 days and patience will be required.
Veterans can help speed along the process by providing complete and accurate information, responding promptly to requests for additional evidence, and submitting new and relevant medical evidence.
Although the backlog has increased, you will likely receive a benefits decision more quickly than during previous surges. At the time of writing, the average claim is processed by VA in 149 days, which is 198 days faster than in 2013 (the last time applications were nearly this high).
The complexity of the claim, the availability of evidence, and the number of claims being processed at any given time can all impact the time it takes to receive a decision. This is because there are several steps involved in the VA claims process, from the initial application to gathering of evidence, and review by a Veteran Service Representative (VSR).
If additional evidence is needed, the process can be delayed while the VA or the veteran obtains and submits the required documentation. This is especially true if the veteran has never filed a VA compensation claim before.
This requires the VBA to obtain Service Treatment Records (STR)s, Military Service Records, verify service era, and determine which presumptives may apply to the veteran (and the veteran's claimed conditions).
Additionally, the veteran may appeal the decision if a claim is denied. Once the appeal is filed, the timeframe averages 120-150 days to adjudicate that appeal.
While waiting for a decision on a VA claim can be frustrating, the VA are committed to ensuring that all claims are processed fairly and accurately.
Although the backlog has increased, you will likely receive a benefits decision more quickly than during previous surges: Right now, the average claim is processed by VA in 149 days, which is 198 days faster than in 2013 (the last time applications were nearly this high).
Veterans: here's a simple tip to speed up your VA disability claim! As of September 2024, the average VA claim takes about 150 days to process from submission to decision.
The time it takes to review your claim depends on these factors: The type of claim you filed. How many injuries or disabilities you claimed and how complex they are. How long it takes us to collect the evidence we need to decide your claim.
How long does it take the VA to make a decision? On average, it takes about 11.5 months (341 days) to finalize disability-related claims. This can be longer or shorter depending on the complexity of your case.
The VA currently claims an average time of 149.4 days (around five months, in case you don't have a calculator handy) from claim filing to decision, but it often takes longer than that.
If you filed a claim with VA directly for Veteran care, you can check the status of your VA claim through the eCAMS Provider Portal (ePP). ePP is a reporting tool that allows registered users on demand access to claim status and line level adjudication information.
When you work with an accredited Veterans Service Organization (VSO) and follow these four simple steps, you can receive a claim decision from VA in 30 days or less.
After VA believes that all the necessary evidence, such as the veteran's military records, has been received, it will be reviewed by the VA adjudicator assigned to the veteran's case. In total, this stage may take anywhere from 3-6 months—sometimes more or less time depending on the details of the case.
If you can document that you meet any of the following criteria, you may be able to speed up the processing of your claim: financial hardship, homelessness, certain illnesses, former POW or award recipients, and/or advanced age.
Although the backlog has increased, you will likely receive a benefits decision more quickly than during previous surges: Right now, the average claim is processed by VA in 149 days, which is 198 days faster than in 2013 (the last time applications were nearly this high).
The VA 70/40 rule for TDIU requires veterans to have a combined disability rating of 70% or higher and at least one service-related disability rated at 40% or higher to be eligible for Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) benefits.
After a veteran first files a PACT Act claim, the VA sends out a letter within 5-7 business days acknowledging receipt of the application. Collecting evidence from an outside physician can take as long as 90 days, Richards said.
Whenever a Veteran files a claim, our goal is to work with them every step of the way to get to “yes.” As a result of this approach, VA has been able to grant benefits for 60.4% of claims filed in 2024 — including 75.1% of PACT Act claims — a sharp increase in the grant rate from pre-PACT Act levels.
Introduction: My name is Nicola Considine CPA, I am a determined, witty, powerful, brainy, open, smiling, proud person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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