VA claim guides and checklists
Updated · By AIVA
Choose the stage you are at. These public guides help you organize your next step, with links to VA’s official instructions. No account is needed to read or print them.
Prepare
- VA claim evidence checklist
A printable checklist for organizing service records, medical evidence, personal statements, and submission receipts for a VA disability claim.
- C&P exam preparation checklist
Prepare for a VA claim exam with an appointment checklist, accurate symptom notes, and official guidance on submitting records before the exam.
While VA reviews
- How to update or amend a VA claim
Understand the difference between adding evidence to a pending VA claim, filing for another condition, and requesting review after a decision.
- How to check your VA claim status
Use VA’s official claim status tool, understand evidence requests and missing documents, and find decision letters without guessing an approval date.
After a decision
- VA claim denied: what to check next
Read a VA denial, organize the issue and evidence, and understand Supplemental Claims, Higher-Level Reviews, and Board Appeals.
- VA payment codes: verify an unexpected deposit
Check an unfamiliar VA deposit against official payment history and your decision letter, and prepare clear questions for VA or your bank.
Useful tools and resources
Need help organizing your claim?
AIVA helps prepare draft documents for you to review and submit. See what claim preparation includes.
Start preparing with AIVAThese educational guides summarize the linked VA sources and suggest ways to organize your records. They are not an individual legal or medical assessment. For representation or help choosing a review route, find VA-accredited assistance. Check the current VA instructions and your own decision letter before filing.