Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about using AIVA to prepare your VA disability claim
Getting Started
What is AIVA Claims Assistant?
AIVA is a program of an IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit that provides AI-powered tools to help U.S. military veterans organize and prepare documents for VA disability claims. The AI analyzes your medical records, identifies potential qualifying conditions, and generates draft documentation for YOUR review and approval including injury statements, buddy letters, and nexus letters. Our support is donor-funded for veterans.
Who is eligible to use AIVA?
Any U.S. military veteran who has served in active duty, reserves, or National Guard is eligible to use AIVA. You don't need an existing VA rating or disability diagnosis to get started.
How do I get started with AIVA?
First, file your Intent to File on VA.gov to protect your effective date. Then, download your VA medical records from My HealtheVet and upload them to AIVA. AIVA's AI will analyze your records and prepare draft claim documents for YOUR review, editing, and submission.
Do I need to be tech-savvy to use AIVA?
No! AIVA is designed to be simple and intuitive. If you can upload files and read documents, you can use AIVA. We provide step-by-step guidance throughout the entire process.
Claims Process
What is an Intent to File and why do I need it?
An Intent to File (VA Form 21-0966) protects your potential effective date for up to one year. This means if you file your intent today and submit your complete claim later, your benefits will be backdated to your intent filing date - potentially worth thousands of dollars in backpay.
How do I get my VA medical records?
You can download your VA medical records from My HealtheVet (usually within 3 days) or request them via mail from your VA medical center. We have a detailed guide on our Medical Records service page.
What documents does AIVA generate?
AIVA generates draft templates: (1) Injury statements for each condition describing symptoms and functional limitations, (2) Buddy letters from family/fellow service members, (3) Nexus letters connecting conditions to service, (4) Draft claim package for YOUR review and submission to the VA.
How long does the VA take to process claims?
The current average VA processing time is approximately 80 days. However, this can vary based on the complexity of your claim and which VA regional office handles it. Some claims are processed faster, while complex claims may take longer.
Can AIVA help with appeals or increases?
Yes! AIVA's tools can help YOU organize materials for supplemental claims, higher-level reviews, and rating increase requests. Upload your VA decision letter and the AI will identify potentially missing evidence and generate draft additional documentation for YOUR review to strengthen your case.
Funding & Cost
How is AIVA funded?
AIVA Claims is a program of ESBE Incorporated, a California nonprofit public benefit corporation and an IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) tax-exempt public charity (EIN 87-1218291). Donations are tax-deductible. Our claim-preparation support is donor-funded for veterans, provided through charitable donations from sponsors.
Will I ever be asked to pay?
Our claim-preparation support is provided to veterans at no charge as part of our charitable mission. If you ever have a question about a charge, contact us directly.
What if my claim is denied?
If your initial claim is denied, AIVA's tools can help you organize and prepare appeal materials for your review as part of our donor-funded support.
How can I support AIVA's mission?
Donations from sponsors fund donor-funded claim-preparation help for veterans. You can make a tax-deductible gift through our "Sponsor a Veteran" page. Donors receive nothing in return — it is a true charitable gift.
Technical Support
What file formats can I upload?
AIVA accepts PDF, JPG, PNG, and TIFF files. Most VA medical records come as PDFs which work perfectly. If you have paper records, you can scan or photograph them.
Is my information secure?
Yes. AIVA uses bank-grade encryption (AES-256 in transit and at rest) and follows healthcare-industry privacy practices. Your medical records and personal information are stored securely and never shared with third parties without your explicit consent.
Which AI model processes my claim?
AIVA's AI-assisted chat and benefits finder run on Cloudflare Workers AI, a first-party service on Cloudflare's network (Cloudflare is already AIVA's hosting provider). Per Cloudflare's published Workers AI data policy, inference content is not used to train models and is not retained. Document analysis and nexus-letter drafting happen in AIVA's local processing pipeline — they are not sent to a third-party AI gateway by this website. We do not opt your data into model training, and we do not sell, rent, or share your claim content. See our Privacy Policy section "How AI Processes Your Claim" for details.
Is AIVA a law firm or VA-accredited agent?
No. AIVA is a program of an IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit that provides AI-powered document-preparation tools. We are not a law firm, a medical provider, or a VA-accredited claims agent, and we do not represent you before the VA. You always review and submit your own documents. If you want formal representation, you can search the VA Office of General Counsel accreditation list at va.gov/ogc/apps/accreditation/index.asp for free accredited VSOs, agents, and attorneys.
How do you substantiate the "$1.42M" and "$3,938.58/month" numbers?
Those figures are the current statutory maximums from the VA's 2026 compensation rate table for a veteran rated 100% service-connected with a spouse and qualifying dependents, multiplied out over a 30-year life expectancy. They are illustrative maximums, not typical outcomes — your actual rating and payment depend on your specific evidence and VA adjudication. See https://www.va.gov/disability/compensation-rates/ for the official VA rate tables.
What if I need help during the process?
You can reach our support team via the chat widget on any page, email us at support@aivaclaims.com, or schedule a call through your dashboard. We typically respond within 2 hours during business hours.
Can I use AIVA on my phone?
Yes! AIVA works on any device with a web browser - desktop, tablet, or smartphone. The interface is fully responsive and optimized for mobile use.
What if I can't sign in to Login.gov or ID.me?
If you're locked out of your Login.gov or ID.me account, we have a detailed Account Recovery Guide that walks you through every option — self-service resets, in-person verification at USPS (Login.gov) or via video call (ID.me), phone numbers, and escalation scripts. Visit aivaclaims.com/resources/account-recovery for the full guide.
Can I get my VA medical records without an online account?
Yes. While online access through My HealtheVet is fastest, you can also request records by mail using VA Form 10-5345, visit your local VA medical center's Release of Information office in person, or call the VA Health Benefits Hotline at 1-877-222-8387.
Important Legal Disclaimer
AIVA is not a law firm and we are not attorneys. We do not provide legal advice, legal representation, or legal services.
AIVA is a technology platform that provides AI-powered tools to help you organize, review, and prepare documents for YOUR VA disability claim. You maintain full control and responsibility for:
- Reviewing all AI-generated documents
- Editing and approving all materials
- Submitting your claim directly to the VA
- All decisions regarding your claim
All documents generated by AIVA are draft templates for your review. We recommend consulting with a qualified attorney or accredited VA representative if you have legal questions about your claim.
Still Have Questions?
Our support team is here to help. Reach out via chat, email, or schedule a call through your dashboard.