What is a fully developed VA claim, and why is it important for veterans who are filing for VA disability benefits?

No veteran wants to be stuck waiting around to hear back from the VA regarding their claim outcome. The good news is, if you submit a fully developed VA disability benefits claim, you'll be more likely to hear back in a timely fashion with increased ratings.

But what does "fully developed" even mean when it comes to VA claims? Can't you just submit everything you have and call it a day? Technically, you can – but you might regret taking short cuts in the long run.

Here's what it means to have a fully developed VA disability benefits claim, and why it's important for veterans planning to file:

The simple definition of a fully developed claim

Basically, a fully developed claim means that the veteran has given the VA all necessary medical evidence to evaluate the claim. Everything that the VA rater needs is right in front of them – there are no further medical examinations needed.

To form a fully developed claim, you need to include competent evidence: credible, relevant, and reliable pieces of information that prove your condition to the VA.

Here are a couple examples of competent evidence that can make your claim fully developed:

• Medical notes related to your condition, such as:

  • Treatment or physical therapy visits

  • Receipts for medical materials needed

  • Chiropractic visits

• Service records, or documentation of a service event

• Private medical evidence (that's where we come in) 

• Personal statements

• Buddy letters 

How a fully developed claim can allow you to skip further VA examinations

By including a combination of the documents above, you can avoid the need for further medical examinations, saving time and money.

For example, if a veteran with sleep apnea provides enough compelling medical evidence in the form of documentation, they become exempt from needing a C&P exam. Yep, you can actually skip the C&P exam if you've prepared your documents accordingly!

This sleep apnea example is one of the more common medical exams that can be skipped with the right claim preparation, but you can skip most exams when you have the right evidence (except for mental health conditions, hearing conditions, tinnitus, and most orthopedic conditions).

What happens if you submit an underdeveloped claim?

Every case is different, but we wouldn't recommend it. In the case of lacking evidence, it's likely that the VA will delay your claim processing and ultimately request more records, deny the claim, or give you a lower rating than you deserve. So, take the time needed to gather all the right evidence and submit once. It's worth it to avoid longer processing times and a lot of frustration.

If you're reading this and are currently in that position, we recommend filing a supplemental claim to include more supporting documents.

Need help with a Nexus Letter, DBQ, or a chart review?

We're here to support you. A compelling VA disability benefits claim begins with the right documentation. Between Nexus Letters, DBQs, chart reviews, and more, we assist veterans like you in getting what you need to be prepared. Get started by signing up for a chart review, or check out a list of our other services here.