 So, what happens after filing a disability claim with the VA? Well, first, you should receive notification from VA that your claim has been received. This can take up to two weeks if you use a paper form, or within hours if you file electronically. Once the VA receives your claim, they assign it to a Veterans Service Representative. That person then reviews your claim to determine if additional information or evidence is needed. If so, the VSR will request that information from the required sources, whether it be you, a medical professional, government agency, or any other authority. This can be the portion of the claims process that takes the most time, as further medical examinations may sometimes be needed. Once the Veterans Service Rep determines all necessary evidence has been received, the claim is reviewed and a final rating decision is recommended. A DAV National Service Officer reviews that recommendation before sending it back to the VA, where the final decision approval is made. A claim decision packet is then mailed to you with a letter informing you of and containing details about the decision. To learn more, contact your nearest DAV National Service Office or visit DAV.org and click Veterans to find no-cost claims help today.