Your VA Benefits Resource Hub

According to the VA, an Intent to File is a formal notice that a veteran plans to submit a disability claim. Per VA guidelines, filing an Intent to File can preserve a potential effective date for up to one year while supporting documentation is gathered. The VA uses the Intent to File date as the earliest possible start date for back pay if a completed claim is submitted within the allowed timeframe.

Per VA guidelines, disability compensation is generally paid from the date the VA receives a valid claim or Intent to File, not from the date a decision is issued. If a claim is approved, the VA calculates back pay as the difference between the effective date and the date compensation begins. The amount is determined by the rating assigned and the number of dependents on record.

Is there additional compensation for dependents?
According to the VA, veterans with a disability rating of 30% or higher may be eligible for additional monthly compensation based on the number of qualifying dependents including a spouse, children, and dependent parents. Dependents can be added through the VA after a rating decision is issued.

Do they provide diagnoses?
The VA may schedule a Compensation and Pension (C&P) examination as part of evaluating a disability claim. C&P examiners document current symptoms and conditions based on what the VA needs to assess service connection and severity. C&P exams are evaluation-focused and used specifically to inform the VA’s rating process, not as treatment appointments.

Diagnoses used in the VA claims process can come from VA medical providers, private physicians, or independent licensed medical professionals. The VA reviews all medical evidence submitted as part of a claim regardless of the source, as long as it meets VA documentation standards.

A diagnosis is a licensed medical provider’s formal identification of a condition based on symptoms, history, and clinical findings. In the VA claims process, a diagnosis establishes that a condition exists, which is one of the foundational elements the VA reviews when evaluating service connection and determining disability ratings.

According to the VA, veterans are responsible for identifying all relevant treatment facilities and authorizing the release of records from private providers. VA medical records are not automatically transferred to the benefits system. Gaps in the medical record can affect how the VA assesses the severity or continuity of a condition, making a complete documentation file an important part of the VA’s review.

REE Medical does not retrieve, request, or submit VA records. REE Medical coordinates independent medical evaluations and VA-compliant Disability Benefits Questionnaires (DBQs) prepared by licensed healthcare professionals. For records requests, the VA and the National Archives provide official processes veterans can access directly.

Per VA guidelines, a valid initial claim generally requires a current medical diagnosis of the condition, evidence of an in-service event or injury, and a medical connection between the current condition and military service. The VA’s eBenefits portal and VA.gov provide official forms and instructions for filing.

A Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ) is a standardized VA form completed by a licensed medical provider to document the current nature and severity of a specific condition. An independent medical opinion is a separate clinical document that may address the relationship between a condition and military service. REE Medical coordinates DBQs and independent medical evaluations through its network of licensed healthcare professionals. For documentation addressing service-connection relationships, REE Medical partners with independent organizations that provide that specialized documentation.