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VA Commonly Used Forms

The Knowledge Book contains the most commonly used forms for obtaining various types of veterans benefits or services.

1. VA Compensation and Pension Forms

1.1. VA Form 9 - Appeal to Board of Veterans Appeals

Effective date: March 2022

1.2. VA Form 10182- Decision Review Request: Board Appeal

If you have received a decision from a local VA office or a higher-level adjudicator with which you disagree, and you would like one or more issues to be decided by a Veterans Law Judge, you must fill out and submit a Notice of Disagreement. You can choose to appeal all or only some of the issues previously decided, however, ONLY those issues that you list on your Notice of Disagreement will be considered on appeal.

Effective: March 2022

1.3. VA Form- 20-0995- Supplemental Claim

Use this form to request a SUPPLEMENTAL CLAIM of the decision you received that you disagree with. A SUPPLEMENTAL CLAIM is a new review of an issue(s) previously decided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) based on submission of new and relevant evidence. 

Effective: September 2022

1.4. VA Form 20-0996- Higher Level Review

Use this form to request a HIGHER-LEVEL REVIEW of the decision you received. A HIGHER-LEVEL REVIEW is a new review of an issue(s) previously decided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) based on the evidence of record at the time VA issued notice of the prior decision. 

Effective: September 2022

1.5. VA Form 20-10206- Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) or Privacy Act Request

This form is used to submit a Freedom on Information Act (FOIA) or Privacy Act Request.  It must be signed by the requester or third-party authorized to act on behalf of the requester.

A FOIA request provides the public the right to request access to records from Federal agencies, except those protected by the nine FOIA exemptions.  For additional information please visit https://www.va.gov/FOIA/Requests.asp.

A Privacy Act Request can be submitted by a citizen of the United States or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence may request access to or amendment of records on herself/himself from a System of Records (SORs).

Examples of Privacy Act records are personal Claims Files (C-File), educational loan, and beneficiary records. For additional information please visit https://www.oprm.va.gov/privacy/.


Effective:  October 2020

1.6. VA Form 20-10207- Priority Processing Request

Use this form to request priority processing of a claim due to certain status or circumstances.


Effective:  October 2020

1.7. VA Form 20-10208- Document Evidence Submission

This form is used for the submission of additional documentation or evidence in support of a VA claim. 


Effective:  October 2020

1.8. VA Form 21-526EZ- Application for Disability Compensation Benefits

Veterans and Service Member should use this form to submit a claim for veteran's disability compensation and related compensation benefits.  

Use this form to expedite the process under the Fully Developed Claim Program (FDC)

Effective date: November 2022

1.9. VA Form 21-526c- Pre-Discharge Compensation Claim

Service Members with 6 months or less remaining on active duty can file a claim with the Department of Veterans Affairs

 

Form effective June 2016

1.10. VA Form 21P-527EZ - Application for Pension

Want your pension claim processed faster?  Use this form to expedite the process under the Fully Developed Claim Program (FDC)

 

Date effective: January 2021

1.11. VA Form 21P-530- Application for Burial Benefits

VA will pay a burial allowance up to $2000 if a veteran's death is service related.  VA will also pay a burial and funeral allowance for nonservice-connected injuries. The person who paid the Veteran's burial expenses may apply for reimbursement from VA.

Effective: August 2022

1.12. VA Form 21P-534EZ- Application for DIC, Death Pension, and/or Accrued Benefits

Application used for surviving spouses and children to submit a claim for DIC. Death Pension, and/or Accrued benefits under the Fully Developed Claim Program (FDC)

 

Form effective: July 2022

1.13. VA Form 21P-601- Application For Accrued Amounts Due A Deceased Beneficiary

To apply for accrued benefits due the beneficiary but not paid prior to death.

 

Effective date: August 2022

1.14. VA Form 21-686c - Declaration of Status of Dependents

Declaration of Status of Dependents used to add eligible family members to a veteran's VA running award.

Effective date: August 2022

1.15. VA Form 21-0966 - Intent to File a VA Claim

This Form Is Used to Notify VA of Your Intent to File for the Compensation, Pension, Survivors Pension, and DIC Benefit(s). The Intent to File a claim process allows applicants additional time to gather all of the information and evidence needed to support their claim(s).  

Intent to File replaces an informal claim.

38 CFR §3.155

Effective- August 2018

1.16. VA Form 21-2680- Request for Aid and Attendance/Housebound Status

Veterans and Spouses would require assistance in performing their daily activities of living (ADLs), must have their primary care physician complete this form indicating the need for either Aid and Attendance (A&A) or Housebound status.  

 

Effective: September 2018 

1.17. VA Form 21-4138 - Statement in Support of Claim

Statement in support of claim.

Effective date: July 2021

1.18. VA Form 21-4142 - Authorization for Release of Information

Authorization for Release of Information

Effective date: July 2021

1.19. VA Form 21-8940 -Application for Increased Compensation due Unemployability

Veteran's Application for Increased Compensation Based on Unemployability

Effective date: June 2021

1.20. VA Form 21-10210- Lay /Witness Statement

This form is used by the veteran/claimant or someone writing on your behalf to gather lay or witness statements that support an existing claim for benefits or service.

 

Effective:  June 2021

2. Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E), formerly called VA Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Forms

2.1. VA Form 22-1990- Application for VA Education Benefits

Use this form to apply for Educational Assistance under the following benefit programs:

- Post- 9/11 GI Bill Chapter 33 of title 38, U.S. Code

- Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) Chapter 30 of title 38, U.S.Code

- Montgomery GI Bill - Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR) Chapter 1606 of Title 10, U.S. Code

- Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP) Chapter 1607 of Title 10, U.S. Code

- Post-Vietnam Era Veterans' Educational Assistance Program (VEAP) Chapter 32 of Title 38, U.S. Code, or Section 901 or Section 903 of Public Law 96-342

Do not use this form to apply for Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E), formerly called VA Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment benefits (Chapter 31 of Title 38, U.S. Code), Dependents Educational Assistance benefits (Chapter 35 of Title 38, U.S. Code), Transfer of Entitlement, or National Call to Service (Section 510 of Title 10, U.S. Code). These benefits require different application forms.   

 

Effective: March 2021

2.2. VA Form 22-5490 - Dependent's Application for VA Education Benefits

Do not use this form to apply for Veterans' education assistance based on your own service (chapters 30, 32, 33, 1606, or 1607) or Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E), formerly called VA Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment benefits (chapter 31).

To apply for Veterans' Education Assistance based on your own service, use VA Form 22-1990.

To apply for Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) benefits, use VA Form 28-1900.

To qualify for Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) you must be either:

(1) The spouse or child of a veteran who is permanently and totally disabled as a result of a service-connected disability.

(2) The spouse or child of an individual on active duty who has been listed as missing in action, captured in the line of duty by hostile force, forcibly detained or interned in the line of duty by hostile force, or forcibly detained or interned in the line of duty by foreign government or power for more than 90 days.

(3) The surviving spouse or child of a veteran who died of a service-connected disability or who dies while a service-connected disability was rated permanent and total in nature.

(4) The surviving spouse or child of an individual on active duty for which the evidence shows that the individual is hospitalized for receiving outpatient medical care services or treatment; has a total disability permanent in nature incurred or aggravated in the line of duty in the active military, naval, or air service; and the serviceperson is likely to be discharged or released from such service for such disability.

 

Effective: January 2022

2.3. VA Form 28-1900 - Disabled Veterans Application for Veteran Readiness and Employment

Used to apply for Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) benefits, formerly called VA Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment.

Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) provides services and assistance to certain veterans with disabilities to get and keep a suitable job. If employment is not reasonably feasible, vocational rehabilitation may be able to provide services to support veterans with disabilities to achieve maximum independence in their daily living activities. 

Effective:  August 2022

2.4. VA Form 28-10212- Chapter 31 Request for Assistance

Use this form to submit a request for assistance with your Chapter 31 benefits.

 

Effective:  February 2021

3. Disability Benefits Questionnaires (DBQ)

3.1. Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ) Forms

Disability Benefits Questionnaires (DBQs) are medical examination forms used to obtain important information for evaluating disability compensation and/or pension claims.  VA physicians use DBQs when performing C&P exams for VA disability.

The purpose of a DBQ is to ensure that the physician performing the exam records all the information needed for VA to properly rate a disabled veteran’s conditions.

On 4/2/2020, VA sent a bulletin stating the Discontinuance of Publicly Available Disability Benefits Questionnaires (DBQs).  VA states they are "modernized"; whereby they are currently more than half-way through the process of updating all body systems in the VASRD (VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities), since the last update in 1945. As each body system is updated, so are the corresponding DBQs.

GOOD NEWS:  The Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020 signed into law on January 5, 2021, required VA to reinstate the public use Disability Benefits Questionnaires (DBQs) and publish them on VA’s website.

In compliance with this Act, the public facing DBQs have been published and are available as of March 1, 2021, at the following link: here.  


https://www.benefits.va.gov/compensation/dbq_publicdbqs.asp






4. Military Separation/National Archives Forms

4.1. DD Form 149- Correction of Military Records

Used to correct an error or injustice which affects your military record.

4.2. DD Form 293- Review of Discharge from the Armed Forces.

 Used to request an upgrade of a military discharge from the appropriate discharge review board.

4.3. SF Form 180- Request Pertaining to Military Records

Used to request information from military records, such as DD 214, service treatment records, personnel records, medals, etc.