Get the Answers You Deserve

 

File an Intent to File

If you plan on filing a claim for benefits or an increase in benefits, you should complete a VA Intent to File form. In most, but not all, cases this will preserve the effective date of your claim to the day VA received the form. If you are not sure whether you need to file one, I recommend that you do it anyway.

Find a Representative

VA’s Office of General Counsel (OGC) Accredited Representative Search:

  • You can search by attorney, veterans service officer (VSO), or claims representative.

  • I highly recommend that you work with someone who is accredited with OGC because they have certain rules they need to follow that protect veterans. They also can obtain access to clients’ electronic VA claims folder for better representation.

Below are links to some Veteran Service Organizations that assist Veterans in VA Claims:

Tips for Finding the Right Representative

  • Ask questions about the process and how they operate so that you can have an idea if their workflow will work for you.

  • Ask if they have access to VA's databases that will allow them to see your claims file. This is really important for them to have up-to date and accurate information. If they do not, I recommend finding someone who does.

  • Everyone in the VA claims system is overwhelmed. It might take awhile for someone to get back to you. If you don’t hear back in a week or 2 assume that you will likely not hear back.

  • Find someone that you feel comfortable with. It is a very long process and you will likely be working with this person for awhile.

  • They should treat you with respect and please do the same for them.