How to Help Avoid VA Claim Delays by Getting It Right the First Time
Published on: April 12, 2025
When it comes to filing VA claims, accuracy and completeness can save you months—even years—of waiting. Understanding what the VA looks for and how to submit a strong claim from the start can help you avoid unnecessary delays, especially when it comes to avoiding Compensation & Pension (C&P) exams.
Recently, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced advancements to their claim-processing technology. According to Kenneth Smith, the VA’s Assistant Deputy Under Secretary for Field Operations, a new scheduling assistant tool is being used to assess whether a veteran truly requires an exam or additional medical opinion. This is all part of improving the Veterans Benefits Management System (VBMS), which handles and processes your claim.
Why You Might Not Need a C&P Exam
If your claim contains all necessary medical documentation, the VA can now more easily skip the exam phase and move your claim forward. The goal is efficiency—getting veterans their benefits faster without unnecessary steps.
But this only works if your claim is rock solid. You’ll need two main things:
- Clear documentation of the severity of your condition in alignment with the VA rating schedule.
Start with an Intent to File
Always begin your process by filing an Intent to File (ITF). It gives you up to 12 months to gather and submit evidence without losing potential back pay.
Just call the VA and say, “I’m a veteran, and I’d like to file an Intent to File for compensation.” This step officially starts your claim timeline and protects your effective date while giving you time to compile evidence.
Types of Claims: Presumptive, Service-Connected, and Secondary
1. Presumptive Conditions
If you qualify under a presumptive condition—such as Agent Orange exposure during the Vietnam War or Gulf War service during specific dates—you do not need a nexus letter. The VA presumes your condition is service-related.
However, many veterans stop at this point and forget to provide evidence of severity. That’s where the Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ) comes in. Have your doctor complete a DBQ that outlines how your condition impacts your daily life per the VA’s rating criteria.
2. Standard Service-Connected Conditions
For conditions not considered presumptive, you’ll need:
- A diagnosis of the condition
- Proof that it started or worsened during military service
- A nexus—a clear link between your condition and your time in service
If the diagnosis didn’t occur during service, use personal statements, buddy letters, and medical nexus letters to draw that connection. Try to get a letter from your doctor using language like “more likely than not” or “at least as likely as not.”
If your doctor isn’t familiar with VA-legal phrasing, services like American Medical Experts can help. They specialize in DBQs, nexus letters, and evaluations for secondary conditions.
3. Secondary Conditions
These are conditions that stem from an existing service-connected condition. For example, a service-connected back injury could lead to depression or issues with your opposite leg.
Again, you must provide medical proof connecting the secondary condition to the primary one. Sometimes the link is obvious (like nerve damage from a back injury), but many cases require a professional medical opinion and documentation of severity.
Severity Matters
In all cases—presumptive, direct, or secondary—the VA cannot assign a proper rating unless they understand the severity of your condition as defined in the VA rating schedule.
Your doctor should outline symptoms and their impact on your life in a way that directly maps to how the VA assigns ratings. Otherwise, the VA will default to ordering a C&P exam to get that missing information.
Final Thoughts
The VA is trying to streamline claims, but the responsibility is still on the veteran to present a complete and well-documented case. Do the prep work:
- File your Intent to File
- Gather medical documentation
- Understand the rating schedule
- Speak the VA’s legal and medical language
Getting it right the first time can mean fewer exams, faster ratings, and quicker access to the benefits you’ve earned.
Disclaimer
Some content in this article reflects opinion based on experience and interpretation of current VA policy. It is intended for educational and informational purposes only and should not be taken as legal or medical advice. Always consult with a qualified VA-accredited representative or medical professional when working on your claim.
