Disabled Veterans seeking VA benefits can now access key VA letters and notices online, including documents outlining the evidence needed to support their disability claims, through VA.gov.
VA has recently expanded the types of documents available online, adding more letters that help Veterans understand the evidence required for their claims. This update includes notices and follow-up development letters, which explain the type of evidence needed and how it can support a claim.
The VA says that “[e]ven though paper letters will still be mailed, accessing letters online offers several benefits:
- Faster access to information without waiting for the mail.
- Convenience: it saves time by eliminating the need to contact VA for updates.
- Easy storage of letters in digital format, reducing the need for paper copies.”
If you are a Veteran with a VA.gov login, you can access your decision letters and notices by following these steps:
- Log in to VA.gov.
- Click “VA Benefits and Health Care,” then select “Disability” from the drop-down menu.
- Choose “Check your claim or appeal status.”
- Find any closed claim on the “Check your VA claim or appeal status” page and click on it.
- Click, “Get your claim letters.”
- The letter will open in a new window, and you can print or save them as a PDF. For help accessing decision letters and notices online, you can save or print them as a PDF.
If you don’t already have a VA.gov login you can create an account with either Login.gov or ID.me:
- Go to the VA.gov sign-in page
- Select Create an account with Login.gov or Create an account with ID.me
- Follow the instructions to create your account
- Verify your identity
