VA Form 21-526EZ: Application for Disability Compensation and Related Compensation Benefits
Many veterans encounter VA Form 21-526EZ when working with the VA disability system. The VA asks veterans to complete this form when applying for disability compensation and related benefits. The VA’s process involves reviewing how military service and current health conditions may be connected.
REE Medical emphasizes the importance of accurate, thorough medical evidence in VA evaluations. REE Medical coordinates independent medical evaluations and Disability Benefits Questionnaires (DBQs) completed by licensed healthcare professionals. These objective medical documents allow the VA to assess the full scope of a veteran’s condition. Veterans can contact REE Medical for a complimentary informational consultation to learn how independent medical documentation is coordinated.
This informational overview explains what VA Form 21-526EZ entails and how medical evidence contributes to the VA’s evaluation process.
What the VA Uses Form 21-526EZ to Evaluate
The VA asks veterans to complete VA Form 21-526EZ when applying for disability compensation and related benefits. This form helps the VA gather information about a veteran’s service history and current medical conditions, operating under federal regulations established by Congress.
Understanding the Form Structure
VA Form 21-526EZ consolidates what used to be multiple applications into one comprehensive document. The form captures a veteran’s service history and current health conditions through several interconnected sections.
The VA uses the form to collect:
- Personal details for identity verification and payment processing
- Complete military service history (the VA reviews every period of service)
- Specific conditions the veteran is requesting evaluation for
- Supporting documentation that may establish service connection
| Form Section | What It Does | Critical Information |
| Personal Information | Sets up payments and communication | Exact name, SSN, current address |
| Military Service | Proves eligibility and service dates | All active duty, reserve, Guard time |
| Claimed Conditions | Details your disabilities | Specific diagnoses, symptoms, limitations |
| Supporting Evidence | Backs up your claims | Medical records, service records, statements |
Types of Evaluations the VA Conducts
Original Claims: An original VA disability claim is the first time a veteran applies for compensation for a service-related disability. It is filed using VA Form 21-526EZ, Veteran’s Application for Disability Compensation, and requires documents like a DD 214. This initial application can be submitted online, by mail, or with assistance from a veteran service officer.
Secondary Claims: The VA reviews conditions that may be medically linked to disabilities already rated as service-connected. For instance, if a service-connected knee injury contributes to hip problems, the VA may evaluate the hip condition separately for potential service connection.
Increase Claims: The VA reviews conditions already rated as service-connected when veterans believe those conditions have worsened. Per the VA, requests for increased ratings are evaluated using medical evidence that describes changes since the most recent rating decision.
According to the National Security Law Firm, many veterans complete their initial claim within the first year after discharge, as this timing can affect effective dates for benefits and potential retroactive payments.
Understanding the complexities becomes important when reviewing common reasons VA disability claims face challenges, which often relate to documentation gaps identified by the VA in its review process.
How Veterans Submit Form 21-526EZ (per the VA)
According to the VA, veterans may submit VA Form 21-526EZ using several options:
- VA.gov (online portal that, per VA, often results in faster processing and can flag some errors before submission)
- Mail (paper submissions sent to VA processing centers, which may take longer to handle)
- eBenefits (legacy system that is being phased out and replaced by VA.gov for many functions)
According to VA communications, online submissions are often processed more quickly than paper forms.
Evidence That Supports VA Evaluation
The VA’s evaluation depends on evidence quality. Medical documentation allows the VA to assess the full scope and severity of claimed conditions.
Types of Medical Evidence The VA Considers When Reviewing Claims
Current Diagnoses: The VA reviews recent documentation showing diagnosed conditions, severity levels, and functional limitations. Treatment records establish timelines and demonstrate ongoing medical issues.
Physician Statements: Medical opinions addressing service connection carry significant weight in the VA’s evaluation process. A physician’s statement that a condition is “at least as likely as not” (50% or higher) related to military service meets the VA’s evidentiary standard. Statements using phrases like “more likely than not” represent even stronger medical opinions.
Functional Limitations: The VA evaluates documentation of how conditions affect work, relationships, and daily activities. The VA evaluates real-world impact beyond medical diagnoses alone.
Comprehensive medical documentation allows the VA to make accurate, evidence-based assessments during claim evaluations.
Military Records The VA May Review When Evaluating Service Connection
Service Medical Records: The VA reviews documentation of injuries, illnesses, or treatments during active duty. These records establish that conditions began during military service.
Incident Reports: The VA examines official documentation of injuries or accidents during service. Even when immediate medical treatment was not documented, incident reports demonstrate events that could cause current disabilities.
Personnel Records: The VA may review performance evaluations that sometimes reference health issues or duty limitations. These records may provide documentation showing how conditions affected military performance.
Common Types of Personal Documentation
Impact Statements: Written descriptions that provide specific examples of how disabilities affect daily life. Detailed accounts (for instance, difficulty lifting grandchildren or needing assistance with basic tasks) help the VA understand functional limitations as part of the evaluation process.
Buddy Statements: Fellow veterans or family members may document observable limitations, offering third-party perspectives on functional impact that the VA can review as part of the evidence.
Work Records: Employment documentation that notes missed work, job changes, or accommodations requested can illustrate real-world functional limitations for the VA’s review.
Examples Documents the VA May Consider:
- DD-214 and complete service records
- All service medical records
- Current medical records from every provider
- Diagnostic test results (X-rays, MRIs, lab work)
- Specialist reports and evaluations
- Personal impact statements with specific examples
- Buddy statements from veterans or family
- Employment records showing limitations
- VA rating criteria for specific conditions (available in the VA’s Schedule for Rating Disabilities)
Accuracy in Form 21-526EZ Matters
Accuracy in Personal Information Reviewed by the VA
Information on VA Form 21-526EZ must match exactly with VA systems and official documents. Name discrepancies or incorrect Social Security numbers can trigger verification processes that delay the VA’s review for months.
According to VA requirements, accurate contact information is necessary so the VA can send correspondence and, when applicable, deposit benefits. Outdated contact or banking details can result in delays even after a decision is made.
Military Service Details the VA Reviews
Comprehensive service history includes every period—active duty, reserves, National Guard. The VA reviews each period, which can support different aspects of claims and affect effective dates.
Service locations and duties carry particular importance for environmental exposure claims, such as burn pit exposure. Deployment information often supports mental health claims through documentation of service-related stressors.
How Conditions Can Be Described for VA Review
Service Connection Details: The VA reviews evidence that explains how each condition may be linked to military service. Documentation often includes specific incidents, dates, locations, and circumstances that relate to the condition.
Functional Impact: Descriptions of how conditions limit daily activities, work performance, and quality of life provide the VA with information about real-world effects. Concrete examples within documentation can provide the VA with a clearer picture than general statements alone.
Progression Over Time: Medical documentation that spans from service through the present can show how conditions have developed and changed over time, which the VA reviews as part of its evaluation.
Example: During a 2009 Afghanistan deployment, an IED explosion caused a service member to be thrown from a Humvee. The field hospital treated back pain, but the service member returned to duty with limited restrictions. Since discharge, pain has worsened, requiring prescription medication and twice-weekly physical therapy. Current limitations include inability to lift over 20 pounds or stand more than 30 minutes without severe pain.
Common Issues the VA Identifies in Form 21-526EZ
- Vague condition descriptions
- Missing secondary conditions
- Unclear service connection explanations
- Outdated medical evidence
- Incomplete military history
- Failing to describe functional limitations
- Using incorrect contact information
- Forgetting signatures and dates
Recent updates to VA Form 21-526EZ include PACT Act details addressing toxic exposures, according to Hill & Ponton. The form now includes specific toxic exposure sections reflecting expanded recognition of environmental health hazards.
What Happens After Submission
Understanding VA processing helps veterans set realistic expectations.
Initial Review and Evidence Development
The VA reviews claims to determine whether sufficient evidence exists for a decision or whether additional development is needed. This phase varies based on claim complexity and evidence completeness.
Evidence Requests: The VA may request additional medical records, statements, or examinations when more information is needed for a decision. These requests are part of the standard development process.
Response Timing: According to VA guidance, veterans are generally given a set timeframe (often around 30 days) to respond to information requests. Responding within the stated timeframe helps the VA continue processing without interruption.
According to Veterans Law, the VA has a duty to assist with evidence gathering, including obtaining military records from the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) and VA treatment records. However, private treatment records may require additional authorization forms.
The VA May Schedule a Compensation and Benefits (C&P) Exam
The VA may schedule a Compensation & Pension examination to evaluate a veteran’s condition. These VA-scheduled appointments focus on evaluating functional limitations in addition to medical diagnoses.
Understanding Decision Outcomes
Combined Ratings: The VA uses specific formulas rather than simple addition, as outlined in VA regulations and explanatory materials.
Rating Decisions: The VA explains how it evaluated each condition and assigned disability ratings. Decisions include effective dates determining when benefits begin and back pay amounts.
| Decision Outcome | Meaning | Available Actions |
| Grant (Full) | All conditions approved at requested ratings | Begin receiving benefits |
| Grant (Partial) | Some conditions approved, others denied/lower rated | Appeal denied/underrated conditions |
| Deny | No conditions approved | File Higher-Level Review, Supplemental Claim, or NOD |
| Defer | Still gathering evidence | Wait for development, provide requested info |
Disability Benefit Questionnaires (DBQs)
The VA uses Disability Benefits Questionnaires—standardized forms that align with VA rating criteria. These forms provide healthcare providers guidance to address exactly what VA raters need to evaluate. The VA makes these forms available on their website.
The VA makes many DBQs available on its website. Some veterans choose to share relevant DBQs with their healthcare providers so that medical documentation aligns with the factors the VA evaluates.
Healthcare providers often find DBQs helpful because they clarify required information rather than requiring providers to determine what the VA needs independently.
Independent Medical Evaluations
Independent Medical Evaluations provide additional documentation, particularly when existing medical evidence may not fully describe a condition’s severity or functional impact. These evaluations are prepared by licensed healthcare professionals who provide objective clinical opinions.
Independent medical opinions that reference VA rating criteria and address questions of service connection can contribute to a comprehensive medical evidence record. When clinicians state that a condition is “at least as likely as not” related to service, that phrasing aligns with the evidentiary standard the VA uses for service connection.
Fully Developed Claims (FDC) Program Considerations
According to the VA, veterans may choose to participate in the Fully Developed Claims (FDC) program by submitting all available evidence up front. VA materials indicate that, when applicable, this approach can sometimes result in faster processing.
The FDC process is designed for situations where veterans believe they already have comprehensive medical evidence and documentation related to service connection. The VA treats an FDC submission as complete when the veteran indicates that all relevant evidence has been provided at the time of filing.
According to VA guidance, FDC submissions typically include:
- All private treatment records
- All VA medical records
- Service treatment records
- Federal facility records
- Supporting witness statements
- Completed Disability Benefits Questionnaires
- Independent medical opinions when appropriate
The importance of using correct forms has become critical. According to DAV, veterans must use Form 21-526EZ specifically for new, secondary, or increased compensation claims to protect effective dates.
How REE Medical Coordinates Medical Documentation
The complexity of VA disability claims highlights why many veterans seek comprehensive medical evidence focused on Disability Benefits Questionnaires (DBQs) meeting VA standards. REE Medical addresses this need by coordinating connections between veterans and independent, licensed medical professionals.
REE Medical coordinates independent medical evaluations and DBQs completed by licensed healthcare professionals. REE Medical does not prepare, present, or prosecute VA disability claims; all rating decisions are made solely by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
With transparent flat-rate pricing and familiarity with VA documentation standards and rating schedule formats, REE Medical coordinates medical documentation that allows the VA to assess the full scope of veterans’ conditions.
Veterans who want to learn how clear medical documentation helps the VA evaluate conditions can contact REE Medical for an informational consultation.
Veterans interested in learning more about coordinating independent, VA-compliant medical evaluations can contact REE Medical for a complimentary informational consultation.
Bottom Line
The VA asks veterans to complete VA Form 21-526EZ when applying for disability benefits. This form helps the VA gather information about service history and current medical conditions.
Military service establishes eligibility for these benefits, and the VA system requires clear evidence demonstrating service connection and functional impact. Comprehensive medical documentation allows the VA to review diagnoses, symptoms, and treatment histories accurately.
Veterans interested in understanding what documentation the VA looks for and how to coordinate comprehensive medical documentation for their VA disability evaluations can learn more by contacting REE Medical—consultations are complimentary and informational.
DISCLOSURE
REE Medical, LLC is not a Veterans Service Organization (VSO) or a law firm and is not affiliated with the U.S. Veterans Administration (“VA”). Results are not guaranteed, and REE Medical, LLC makes no promises. REE Medical’s staff does not provide medical advice or legal advice, and REE Medical is not a law firm. Any information discussed, such as, but not limited to, the likely chance of an increase or service connection, estimated benefit amounts, and potential new ratings, is solely based on past client generalizations and not specific to any one patient. The doctor has the right to reject and/or refuse to complete a Veteran’s Disability Benefit Questionnaire if they feel the Veteran is not being truthful. The Veteran’s Administration is the only agency that can make a determination regarding whether or not a Veteran will receive an increase in their service-connected disabilities or make a decision on whether or not a disability will be considered service-connected. This business is not sponsored by, or affiliated with, the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, any
