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VA Claim Types Explained

Every type of VA disability claim, when to use each one, and the forms and regulations behind them.

Overview

Not all VA disability claims are the same. The type of claim you file determines which form you use, what evidence you need, how VA processes it, and how long it takes. Filing the wrong type can delay your claim or cost you an earlier effective date.

Most claims are filed on VA Form 21-526EZ. The major exception is the Supplemental Claim, which uses VA Form 20-0995.

Below is a detailed breakdown of each claim type, drawn from the Code of Federal Regulations, VA.gov program pages, and VA's M21-1 Adjudication Procedures Manual.

Original Claim

What It Is

An original claim is the very first claim you file for disability compensation from VA. Under 38 CFR 3.160(b), an original claim is defined as an initial claim filed by a veteran for disability compensation or pension that has never been determined by VA.

When to Use It

  • You have never filed a VA disability claim before
  • You are separating from service and want to use the Benefits Delivery at Discharge (BDD) program — available 180 to 90 days before leaving service

Key Details

  • Form: VA Form 21-526EZ
  • Time limit: There is no time limit on filing a post-service original claim
  • Effective date: If filed within 1 year of separation, the effective date can be the day after discharge (38 CFR 3.400(b)(2)). If filed later, the effective date is the date VA receives the claim.

Tip: If you are still on active duty with 180 to 90 days left, the BDD program lets you file before discharge so a rating decision can be ready at or near your separation date.

38 CFR 3.160(a), 38 CFR 3.155, 38 CFR 3.400(b)(2)

New Claim

What It Is

A new claim is a claim for service connection for a disability that has not been filed before. It is distinct from an original claim: your original claim is your first-ever filing, while a new claim is any subsequent claim for a condition you have not previously claimed.

Under 38 CFR 3.160, both original and new claims fall under the category of "complete claims" (38 CFR 3.160(a)), which require identification of the benefit sought, the claimant's signature, and sufficient information to substantiate the claim.

When to Use It

  • You already have at least one VA disability rating and want to claim a new, previously unclaimed condition
  • You developed a new condition after your original claim was decided

Key Details

  • Form: VA Form 21-526EZ
  • Effective date: Generally the date VA receives the claim (or the Intent to File date, if applicable)

38 CFR 3.160

Fully Developed Claim (FDC)

What It Is

The Fully Developed Claim (FDC) program is an optional initiative where you submit all the evidence you have (or can easily obtain) at the time you file your claim. You certify that you have no further evidence to submit. The FDC is a processing track, not a separate form — you still use VA Form 21-526EZ.

What You Submit

  • All private (non-federal) medical records related to your claimed conditions
  • Buddy or lay statements (VA Form 21-10210)
  • Nexus letters or independent medical opinions
  • Any other supporting documentation you have

What VA Still Does

  • Requests federal records (service treatment records, VA medical records, relevant SSA records)
  • Schedules C&P exams as needed

When to Use It

  • You already have all your private medical evidence gathered
  • You do not need VA to request private medical records on your behalf
  • You want to potentially speed up processing by reducing VA's evidence development workload

FDC-to-Standard conversion: If VA determines it needs non-federal records you did not provide, or if you submit additional evidence after filing, the claim automatically converts to a standard claim. There is no penalty for this — it simply means slower processing.

Key Details

  • Form: VA Form 21-526EZ
  • Processing: VA.gov describes FDC as providing a faster decision because VA does not need to develop private evidence

38 CFR 3.155; benefits.va.gov/fdc/

Standard Claim

What It Is

A standard claim is the processing track where VA takes more responsibility for obtaining evidence, including requesting private records you identify. This is the default track when you need VA's help gathering evidence.

What VA Gathers

  • Private medical records (requires VA Form 21-4142 and 21-4142a — Authorization to Disclose Information)
  • Service treatment records and military personnel records
  • Relevant records from other federal agencies

When to Use It

  • You cannot easily obtain your own private medical records
  • You need VA to request records from multiple providers
  • You are unsure what evidence is needed and want VA's assistance under the Duty to Assist

Key Details

38 CFR 3.159 (VA's duty to assist)

Claim for Increase

What It Is

A claim for increase is filed when your service-connected disability has gotten worse and you want a higher disability rating. Under 38 CFR 3.160(f), a claim for increase is "a claim for an increase in the rate of a benefit being paid under a current award" based on a worsening of the service-connected condition.

When to Use It

  • Your service-connected condition has worsened since your last rating decision
  • You have new medical evidence showing increased severity
  • Your condition now meets a higher rating level under the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities

Key Details

  • Form: VA Form 21-526EZ
  • No waiting period: There is no minimum waiting period between increased rating claims. You can file at any time you believe your condition has worsened.
  • Effective date: If the increase is factually ascertainable within the 1 year before the claim was filed, the effective date can be the date the increase occurred. Otherwise, the effective date is the date of claim (38 CFR 3.400(o)(2)).

Important: Filing a claim for increase opens your current rating to reevaluation. VA may reduce your rating if the evidence shows improvement. Review the rating schedule criteria for your condition before filing to understand what evidence supports a higher rating versus what might indicate improvement.

38 CFR 3.160(f), 38 CFR 3.400(o)(2)

Secondary Service Connection Claim

What It Is

A secondary claim is for a new disability that was caused by or aggravated by a condition you are already service-connected for. Under 38 CFR 3.310(a), a "disability which is proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disease or injury shall be service connected."

Two Pathways

1. Proximate Causation (38 CFR 3.310(a))

The secondary disability was proximately due to or the result of a service-connected condition. Example: arthritis caused by a service-connected knee injury.

2. Aggravation (38 CFR 3.310(b))

A nonservice-connected condition was aggravated (made worse beyond its natural progression) by a service-connected condition. Requires establishing a baseline level of severity of the nonservice-connected condition by medical evidence created before the onset of aggravation or by the earliest medical evidence available. Example: heart disease aggravated by service-connected high blood pressure.

Key Rules

  • 0% rated primary conditions can have secondaries. 38 CFR 3.310 requires only that the primary condition be "service-connected" — it does not require a compensable (above 0%) rating.
  • Secondary conditions can be rated higher than the primary condition — each is rated independently based on its own severity
  • There is no limit on the number of secondary conditions
  • Chain secondaries are possible — a secondary condition can itself cause further secondary conditions, because once service-connected, it is treated as a service-connected condition under 38 CFR 3.310(a)

Key Details

  • Form: VA Form 21-526EZ
  • Evidence needed: A nexus letter or medical opinion linking the secondary condition to the service-connected primary condition is typically critical

Be aware: Filing a secondary claim may trigger a reevaluation of the primary condition during the C&P exam process.

38 CFR 3.310; M21-1, Part V, Subpart ii, Chapter 2, Section D

Supplemental Claim

What It Is

A supplemental claim is used when you disagree with a VA decision and want to provide new evidence to support your claim. Under 38 CFR 3.160(d), it is "any complete claim for a VA benefit on an application form prescribed by the Secretary where an initial or supplemental claim for the same or similar benefit on the same or similar basis was previously decided."

The supplemental claim is technically one of three decision review lanes under the Appeals Modernization Act (AMA), alongside Higher-Level Review and Board Appeal. For more on those other lanes, see our Appeals Guide.

New and Relevant Evidence Requirement

You must submit evidence that is both new and relevant:

  • New: Evidence not previously part of the actual record before agency adjudicators (38 CFR 3.156)
  • Relevant: Information that tends to prove or disprove a matter at issue in the claim — including evidence that raises a theory of entitlement not previously addressed (38 CFR 3.2501(a))

If new and relevant evidence is not presented, VA will issue a decision finding insufficient evidence to readjudicate the claim.

Key Rules

  • VA's Duty to Assist IS triggered for supplemental claims (38 CFR 3.2501(c))
  • New and relevant evidence received before VA issues its decision will be considered (38 CFR 3.2501(b))
  • Previously denied claims must use the supplemental claim lane — you cannot refile a denied condition as if it were a new original claim. Per 38 CFR 3.160, "claimants may no longer file to reopen a claim, but may file a supplemental claim."
  • Exception — new service department records (38 CFR 3.156(c)): If VA receives relevant official service department records that existed and had not been associated with the claims file, VA will reconsider the claim. The effective date may relate back to the original claim.

Key Details

Common mistake: Filing a new 21-526EZ for a previously denied condition instead of a 20-0995 Supplemental Claim. If a condition was previously denied, you must use the supplemental claim lane with new and relevant evidence.

38 CFR 3.160(d), 38 CFR 3.156, 38 CFR 3.2501

Deferred Claims

What It Is

A deferred claim is not a claim type you file. It is a VA administrative status indicating that one or more claimed conditions have been set aside for further development while other conditions in the same claim are decided. VA issues a "partial rating decision" for the conditions that are ready and defers the rest.

Common Reasons for Deferral

  • Federal records not yet requested or received
  • Private medical records pending (release authorization needed)
  • C&P exam not yet scheduled, completed, or adequate
  • Rater requires clarification on a completed exam or opinion
  • Exam or opinion is missing required information

What to Know

  • A deferral does not indicate the likely outcome — it only means more development is needed
  • You will receive notification of the partial decision and the deferral
  • Deferred conditions will be addressed in a subsequent rating decision once development is complete

M21-1, Part V, Subpart ii, Chapter 3, Sections A & B

Inferred Claims

What It Is

Inferred claims are conditions or benefits that VA raters identify and adjudicate without the veteran having expressly claimed them. VA has a duty to maximize benefits and address all issues reasonably raised by the evidence, as established in M21-1, Part V, Subpart ii, Chapter 3, Section A.

Three Scenarios

1. Statements Received the Same Day as the Claim

If a veteran mentions additional issues on the 21-526EZ or in an attached statement, the rater should consider an inferred claim. For example, if you mention that tinnitus causes headaches, the rater should consider an inferred secondary claim for headaches.

2. Conditions Within the Scope of the Claim

Medical evidence or C&P exam findings may reveal conditions reasonably related to the claimed condition. Common examples include nerve or radiculopathy conditions secondary to spine claims, residual scars from surgery, complications of diabetes (neuropathy, retinopathy, nephropathy), and knee instability identified during a knee pain exam.

3. Ancillary Benefits

When a rating decision establishes entitlement to additional benefits, VA must infer and adjudicate those. Key examples: Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) when criteria are met based on rated conditions, and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA, Chapter 35) when a veteran is rated permanent and total (100% P&T).

Limitations

Per M21-1 guidance, raters generally cannot infer claims outside the three scenarios above. Notably:

  • TDIU (Total Disability Individual Unemployability) generally requires formal filing — raters may invite application but cannot grant on inference alone
  • If a C&P examiner suggests the veteran should claim something, this alone does not create an inferred claim — consider filing an Intent to File (VA Form 21-0966) to protect your effective date

M21-1, Part V, Subpart ii, Chapter 3, Section A

38 USC 1151 Claim (VA Treatment Injury)

What It Is

Under 38 USC 1151, if you suffered an additional disability (or an existing disability got worse) while receiving VA medical care or participating in a VA vocational rehabilitation or compensated work therapy program, you may be eligible for compensation "in the same manner as if such additional disability or death were service-connected."

Two Qualifying Pathways

Pathway 1: VA Fault

The proximate cause of the additional disability was carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment, or similar instance of fault on the part of VA in furnishing hospital care, medical or surgical treatment, or examination (38 USC 1151(a)(1)(A)).

Pathway 2: Event Not Reasonably Foreseeable

The additional disability was caused by VA care and the proximate cause was an event not reasonably foreseeable. Per 38 CFR 3.361(d)(2), foreseeability is determined "based on what a reasonable health care provider would have foreseen" (38 USC 1151(a)(1)(B)).

Additional Pathway

A disability resulting from the provision of training and rehabilitation services under a VA vocational rehabilitation (VR&E) or compensated work therapy (CWT) program may also qualify under 38 USC 1151(a)(2).

Key Rules

  • The disability must not be the result of the veteran's own willful misconduct
  • The care must have been provided by a VA employee or in a VA facility
  • Benefits are paid at the same compensation rate as service-connected disability
  • This is an administrative compensation claim handled by VBA — it is not a Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) lawsuit
  • Under 38 USC 7316, the 1151 claim is the exclusive remedy for personal injury or death from VA malpractice or negligence (rather than a civil tort suit)

Key Details

  • Form: VA Form 21-526EZ
  • Evidence needed: Medical evidence connecting the additional disability to VA treatment, plus evidence of fault (Pathway 1) or unforeseeability (Pathway 2)

38 USC 1151; 38 CFR 3.361, 3.362, 3.363

End Product (EP) Code Reference

End Product codes are internal VA administrative codes used to track and manage claims within the Veterans Benefits Management System (VBMS). They are not claim types that veterans file — they are codes VA assigns for workflow management. You may see these codes referenced in your claim status or correspondence.

Common VA End Product codes and their descriptions
EP CodeDescriptionNotes
010Initial compensation claim — 8 or more conditionsOriginal claims with many issues
020Subsequent compensation claimClaims received after the initial claim
030Higher-Level Review / BVA remandDecision review processing
040Supplemental claimAMA supplemental claims
110Initial compensation claim — fewer than 8 conditionsMost common for original claims
130Dependency claimAdding or removing dependents
310Routine future examinationConditions with scheduled reexamination
320Hospitalization at VAMCTemporary 100% evaluation
400Correspondence / letterIncomplete or unprocessable claims
600Due process mattersIssues requiring procedural compliance
699Service department records received (no active claim)Auto-generated; most close without action
930Error correctionCorrecting prior rating decisions

Note: Multiple EPs can exist simultaneously. Additional claims in the 010, 020, and 110 series are administratively merged with any active EP in those series. EP codes are defined in M21-4, Appendix B.

Source: M21-4, Appendix B — End Product (EP) Codes

Forms for This Topic

The official VA forms relevant to this page, in one place. Select a form to view, download, or add it to your report.