Evidence needed for your disability claim

When you file a disability claim, we review all available evidence (supporting documents) to determine if you’re eligible for benefits. Find out what evidence you’ll need. And learn about your options for gathering documents to support your claim.

What documents will I need to support my claim?

We require certain documents to support all claims for disability benefits.

You’ll need to submit or give us permission to gather these:

Note: You can also choose to submit a lay or witness statement (sometimes called a “buddy statement”) to support a VA claim. We’ll review this statement along with the other evidence you submit.

If your records were destroyed in the 1973 NPRC fire in St. Louis

In 1973, a fire at the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) in St. Louis destroyed records held for Veterans who were discharged from the Army and Air Force during certain periods of time. If your records were destroyed in this fire, you can get help reconstructing them.

If you’re a service member filing a claim through the BDD program

If you’re filing a claim through the Benefits Delivery at Discharge (BDD) program, you must submit a Separation Health Assessment - Part A Self-Assessment form. If you already filed a claim but didn’t submit this form yet, you can upload the form now.

What should the evidence show to support my disability claim?

This depends on the type of claim and on the issue or benefit you’re filing a claim for. Find your claim type here to learn what evidence you’ll need.

Notice to Veterans and service members of evidence needed: We’re required by law to tell you what evidence you’ll need to provide to support your disability claim.

The information on this page is a summary of evidence requirements (called “section 5103 notice”). You can review the official evidence requirements in VA Form 21-526EZ.

Type of claim you’re filing

Find out what evidence you’ll need for your claim type:

Original claim—the first claim you file for disability benefits

You’ll need to submit evidence of:

In certain situations, we may conclude that there’s a link between your military service and your disability even if there’s no evidence. This usually applies to:

Increased claim—a claim for more compensation for a disability that we’ve already determined to be service connected and that’s gotten worse

You’ll need to submit current evidence from a medical professional that shows your disability has gotten worse.

New claim—a claim for added benefits or other benefit requests related to an existing service-connected disability

You’ll need to submit evidence of:

Secondary service-connected claim—a claim for a new disability that’s linked to a service-connected disability you already have

You’ll need to submit evidence of:

Supplemental claim—a claim to provide new evidence for a disability claim we denied in the past

If you have new and relevant evidence to support your denied claim

You’ll need to submit new and relevant evidence that you think will change our decision:

We can also help you gather documents from a VA medical center, other federal facility, or your private health care provider. You’ll need to provide the name of the facility that treated you and the treatment dates.

If you have a presumptive condition now covered because of a change in law

You’ll need to submit or identify these types of evidence:

If you have qualifying military service for a presumptive condition, you don’t need to prove that your service caused the condition. We automatically assume (or “presume”) that your service caused your condition.

Learn more about presumptive conditions based on exposure to toxic materials:

Learn more about different types of presumptive conditions:

Additional evidence for certain issues

Find out what evidence you can submit for a claim related to military sexual trauma (MST).

Find out what additional evidence you’ll need if you’re filing a claim for any of these other issues:

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental health conditions

You’ll also need to submit a completed Statement in Support of Claimed Mental Health Disorder(s) Due to an In-Service Traumatic Event(s) (VA Form 21-0781).

Individual Unemployability

You’ll need to submit everything listed here:

Temporary 100% disability rating

You’ll need to submit evidence that shows you experienced at least one of these situations at a hospital:

If you had surgery, you’ll need to submit evidence that shows these descriptions are true:

If you didn’t have surgery, you’ll need to show that one or more of your major joints was immobilized by a cast.

Presumptive condition

You’ll need to submit or identify these types of evidence:

If you have qualifying military service for a presumptive condition, you don’t need to prove that your service caused the condition. We automatically assume (or “presume”) that your service caused your condition.

Learn more about presumptive conditions based on exposure to toxic materials:

Learn more about different types of presumptive conditions:

VA Title 38 U.S.C. 1151 claims

You’ll need to submit evidence that shows at least one of these led directly to an added disability or to your injury or disease getting worse:

Seriously disabled child

You’ll need to submit medical evidence that shows the child became permanently disabled because of a physical or mental disability before their 18th birthday.

Additional evidence for certain benefits

Find out what additional evidence you’ll need if you’re filing a claim for any of these benefits:

Aid and Attendance benefits and Housebound allowance

You’ll need to submit evidence that shows at least one of these is true:

For Housebound benefits, you’ll need to submit evidence that shows these descriptions are true:

You’ll also need to submit one of these forms:

Automobile allowance and adaptive equipment

You’ll need to submit evidence that shows at least one of these descriptions is true:

You’ll also need to submit:
An Application for Automobile or Other Conveyance and Adaptive Equipment (VA Form 21-4502)
Get VA Form 21-4502 to download

Specially Adapted Housing or Special Home Adaptation

You’ll need to submit both of these: