How to Read Your VA Claim Status and Decision Letter

The Status Steps

Once you file, VA.gov shows your claim moving through these steps:

1. Claim received. You get an on-screen confirmation if you filed online.
2. Initial review. VA checks for basic information and contacts you if something is missing.
3. Evidence gathering. Usually the longest stage. VA requests evidence, schedules exams, and pulls records.
4. Evidence review. If VA needs more, the claim goes back to gathering.
5. Rating decision. VA decides the claim and sets the rating.
6. Preparing the decision letter.
7. Final review. A senior reviewer does a quality check.
8. Claim decided. The letter appears in the claim status tool and arrives by mail within about 10 business days.

Do not panic if the claim goes back and forth between the gathering and review stages. That is normal when VA asks for one more record or an added exam.

How Long It Takes

VA.gov listed an average of about 68 days in August 2026. Your own claim can run shorter or longer depending on the number of conditions and how quickly records arrive, so check the live number on VA.gov.

What to Check in the Letter

If your claim is approved, VA says the letter includes your disability rating, your monthly payment amount, and the payment start date. Read it with these questions in mind:

• Is every condition you claimed addressed, granted or denied?
• Does the start date match what you expected? See effective dates.
• Does the combined rating match the math? See combined rating math.
• For any denial or low rating, what reason does VA give, and what evidence would answer it?

If You Disagree

You have review options, and the deadlines matter. Start with Claim Denied: Next Steps and then compare a supplemental claim and a higher-level review. Write down the date on your letter the day it arrives.