When you first begin your claims process, a question you may be asking is how to check your VA Disability Claim! Knowing where your claim is in the process can be frustrating and confusing. However, reviewing your claim now is simpler than ever before. Before the internet, a veteran would either get a status update by calling the Veteran Affairs or receive a letter in the mail. Now, you have the ability to check the status of your VA disability claim from the comfort of your own home.
Today, there are four ways to check the status of your claim:
1) Logging into your eBenefits Portal
2) Calling the VA
3) Visiting your Local VA Office
4) Contacting your VSO
Out of the four ways to check your VA disability claim, eBenefits is the most widely used. The portal is user-friendly, and you can utilize your smartphone to log into the website. A Veteran needs to understand the process of filing their claim and, more importantly, tracking the update just in case they need to submit more supporting documents.
eBenefits Portal
Utilizing eBenefits is going to be your go-to resource when checking your status. The eBenefits website is a web portal that is managed by the United States Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) and the United States Department of Defense (DoD). The VA and DOD are essential in providing Service members, Veterans, and also eligible dependents the resources they need. The eBenefits portal is used to submit supporting documents for claims in the process.
In 2012, the VA reported that approximately 2.1 million service members, eligible dependents, and Veterans were registered to the portal. There have been 14 million views for pending disability claim status since April 2010.
VBA’s primary role is to oversee VA programs that provide financial assistance to Veterans. Also, the portal supports the VBA’s Veterans Relationship System (VRM) initiative, where the intent is to improve the accuracy, speed, and consistency of the overall health service. The VRM initiative is also to streamline the process to avoid any inconsistencies for the submitted claims.
Checking the status of your VA Disability Claim
To check the status of the VA disability claim on the eBenefits portal, you must log on to their page, where it will take you to their homepage.
If it is your first time to check the status of your claim using the eBenefits portal, then you must register. It is quite simple to register. On the homepage, click “Register” on the top-right corner and follow the directions.
Under the “Manage Benefits” column, the Compensation Claim Status link will be available to click.
The next page will prompt you to either login or register. If you already have a login, proceed, and you will see a “My Claims & Appeals” section on your left-hand menu.
There you will see a “Work in Process” which will pull up the status of your submitted claims.
In the “My Claims & Appeals,” you can also view your Historical Claims/Appeals to track what you’ve provided in the past.
The eBenefits is probably the easiest to navigate simply because the VA and DOD do a great job providing a user-friendly website. The portal will not only have status claims updates but in a comprehensive dashboard, where you can check all of your medical records.
Contacting the VA via Telephone
You can also have the option to call the Veteran Affairs and obtain information about your claim status. Call 1-800-827-1000 and follow the recorded instructions. Their hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 8 A.M. to 9 P.M. Eastern Time. It is highly recommended to call early in the morning, or you could be waiting 30 minutes or more when calling during peak times.
VA Regional Office
Another method to check the status of your disability is to visit your VA Regional Office in person. Search your local VA offices and ask for their hours of operation, for it will be different for every office. Make sure you bring a valid photo ID, Social Security Number, or your VA Claim Number. The front desk representative will be able to answer your questions regarding your claim.
Veteran Service Organization (VSO)
If you filed with your VSO, you would need to individually contact the representative that assisted you with filing your claim. The representative will have all of the details which they will provide the status of your request.
What’s Next?
Now that you know the four ways to track the status of your claim, you’ll need to decide which one works best for you. As mentioned earlier, the eBenefits portal is what most Veterans utilize. It is the all-encompassing website that can track the status and provide your helpful information. One thing to remember is that when you do check the status of your va claim, you will see an estimated time of the decision, which can vary from to time. It is essential to take into account that are thousands of claims being reviewed, and the date can bounce around.
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About the Author
About VA Claims Insider
VA Claims Insider is an education-based coaching/consulting company. We’re here for disabled veterans exploring eligibility for increased VA disability benefits and who wish to learn more about that process. We also connect veterans with independent medical professionals in our referral network for medical examinations, disability evaluations, and credible independent medical opinions and nexus statements (medical nexus letters) for a wide range of disability conditions.
