Check Your VA Claim Status: All 6 Ways

The fastest way to check your VA claim status is to sign in at va.gov/track-claims, which shows every open claim, its current stage, and anything the VA needs from you. If you can’t get online, call the VA Benefits Hotline at 800-827-1000 (Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m. ET).

Checking regularly matters. The VA may request records or schedule an exam, and most requests give you only 30 days to respond. Here are all six ways to stay on top of your claim.

1. Online at va.gov (fastest)

1. Go to va.gov and sign in with ID.me, Login.gov, DS Logon, or My HealtheVet credentials. First-time users verify their identity once.
2. Click your name in the upper right and choose “Check your claim or appeal status,” or go straight to va.gov/track-claims.
3. Open any claim to see its current stage, documents received, an estimated completion date when available, and any requests for more information. Closed claims stay visible for 60 days.

Status updates post daily, usually overnight. You can also upload new evidence from the same screen.

A note on eBenefits: the old eBenefits portal has been retired. Everything it did — including claim tracking — now lives on va.gov, so if an older guide points you to eBenefits, use va.gov instead.

2. The VA mobile app

Download VA: Health and Benefits from the App Store or Google Play and sign in with your va.gov credentials. The app shows the same claim stages, sends push notifications when your status changes, and lets you photograph and upload evidence with your phone camera.

3. By phone: 800-827-1000

Call 800-827-1000, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. ET. Have your name, Social Security number, and VA file number ready. The agent can tell you your current stage, recent changes, and whether the VA is waiting on anything from you. Expect hold times, especially Monday mornings.

4. By mail

You can write to your VA regional office to request a status update or a copy of correspondence. Include your full name, claim number, and VA file number on every page, and send it certified mail so you have proof of delivery. Mail is the slowest option — use it mainly when you need something in writing. (If you’re mailing evidence, the same labeling rules apply, and it takes two to four weeks to appear in your file.)

5. In person at a regional office

Visit any VA regional office with photo ID and your claim number. Make an appointment first through va.gov/find-locations. In-person visits are best for untangling complex problems, like a closed claim with no decision letter.

6. Through a Veterans Service Officer (free)

A VSO can see detailed claim notes that aren’t visible to you online, interpret technical status codes, spot problems before they cause delays, and push for expedited handling when your situation qualifies. VSO help is always free. Find your local representative here.

What each claim stage means

Your claim moves through eight stages:

1. Claim received. The VA logs your application and assigns a claim number. Save it.
2. Initial review. A reviewer checks your claim for completeness and plans what evidence is needed.
3. Evidence gathering. The VA collects service and medical records and schedules your compensation and pension (C&P) exam. Usually the longest stage. Attend every exam and answer every request within 30 days.
4. Review of evidence. A rating specialist reviews the complete file. Avoid submitting new evidence here unless it truly matters — it can restart the review.
5. Preparation for decision. The rating decision is drafted.
6. Pending decision approval. Final quality review. A decision is days away.
7. Preparation for notification. Your decision letter is printed and mailed. Check your mail daily.
8. Complete. The decision is issued. If approved, your first payment — including any retroactive pay back to your effective date — typically arrives within 15 to 30 days.

How long does the whole thing take? It varies with claim complexity and regional office workload, so rely on the current averages the VA publishes at va.gov rather than a fixed number. Fully developed claims with all evidence up front generally move fastest; multi-condition claims needing several exams move slowest.

While you wait

• Keep treating. Ongoing medical care documents your condition and strengthens any later appeal or increase.
• Respond within 30 days to every VA request. Silence is a common reason for denial.
• Submit only new evidence. Duplicates slow processing without helping.
• Keep your address and phone current on va.gov so you never miss an exam notice.
• At your C&P exam, describe your worst days, not your best. Be honest and thorough.

If your claim hasn’t moved in 60 days or more, contact the VA or ask your VSO to look at the detailed notes. If it far exceeds normal timelines, your congressional representative can request a review.

If you disagree with the decision

You have one year from the decision date to act without losing your effective date. Three lanes exist: a supplemental claim (VA Form 20-0995, when you have new evidence), a higher-level review (VA Form 20-0996, when you believe the VA erred on the same evidence), or a board appeal (VA Form 10182, for a Veterans Law Judge). Details are at va.gov/decision-reviews. Before your first claim decision arrives, see how to file a strong claim and how ratings are calculated.

Common questions