What is a VA Development Letter?
When you file a claim for VA disability benefits, you may expect that the next step will be that you receive an approval or denial of your claim. Sometimes that’s true, but in some cases the claimant receives a VA development letter. Receiving a development letter isn’t necessarily a bad sign–it simply means that the VA needs something more from you before they make a decision. Don’t worry about what it means, just make sure you follow the VA’s instructions.
Each VA development letter is a bit different, since they are specific to your case. An experienced VA disability benefits advocate can help you understand your development letter and exactly what the VA is looking for. This page will give you an overview of what a VA development letter is, why a claimant might receive it, and what a veteran should do if they receive a development letter.
When Does the VA Send a Development Letter?
When the VA receives a claim for disability benefits, the first thing they do is confirm receipt. If you apply online, you’ll see that confirmation pop up on your screen. If you file your claim by mail, you’ll receive a confirmation letter about a week later.
Next, the VA conducts a two-tiered review of your application. The first checks to make sure the veteran has provided the basic information needed to open a claim. The second is a of the medical evidence, service records and other supporting materials the veteran has provided or authorized the VA to collect directly to make sure they have everything they need.
There are several possibilities at this stage:
- The VA may conclude they have everything they need and move on to reviewing the evidence
- The VA may conclude that they need additional medical evidence and schedule a C&P exam
- The VA may determine that they need more evidence that they already have access to, and gather it from your medical providers or service records
- The VA may determine that they need more evidence from you and send a development letter
You may also receive a development letter at the next stage. That happens when on preliminary review the VA thought they had everything they needed, but then as they examined your evidence they found that something was missing or they had additional questions.
What is in a VA Development Letter?
A VA development letter typically begins by advising you of the status of your disability claim. Then, the VA will go on to list the additional information they need from you. It is very important to read this carefully and make sure you understand exactly what the VA is looking for. Providing everything they’ve requested can make the difference between your claim being approved and your claim being denied.
The letter will also give you a deadline to provide the requested information. It’s usually either 30 or 60 days from the date of the letter, but don’t make any assumptions. Read the letter as soon as you receive it and determine the deadline to respond. Remember that you may have to secure some of the evidence they’ve requested from other sources, so you may not have much time to request the information. If you miss this deadline, the VA may go ahead and decide your claim without the requested information. Often, that means a denial, since the VA generally won’t reach out for more information if they have enough evidence to approve your claim.
Also, be aware that a request for additional information impacts the time it takes to process your claim. In late 2024, the average time it takes the VA to issue a decision on a VA disability claim is 139.3 days. But, if the VA requests additional information and it takes you 30-60 days to return that information, you can usually expect the timeline from submitting your original claim to receiving a decision to be a bit longer.
Finally, the letter should tell you who you can contact if you have questions or need help. This will typically be the representative who is handling your claim, and the letter will tell you how to reach them. You can call this person if you don’t understand what the VA is asking you to provide or have other problems gathering and forwarding the information they’ve requested.
What to Do When You Receive a Development Letter
When you receive a VA development letter–or any communication from the VA about your claim–you should open it and read it right away. Make sure to take your time reading the letter and be sure that you understand it.
You should start gathering the requested information as soon as possible, so that you have time if something turns out to be more difficult to obtain than you expected. Make sure to keep a copy of everything that you’re sending to the VA, along with the development letter you received. You may also want to send the requested evidence by certified mail or another return-receipt method. That way, you’ll have documentation of when you sent the evidence and you will be able to track delivery.
If you find yourself confused by the letter or daunted by the evidence you’re being asked to gather, it’s important to push through–it won’t get easier to manage by waiting until the last minute. You can contact the VA representative who is handling your claim with questions. Or, you can reach out to a seasoned VA disability benefits advocate for help.
Disabled Vets Can Help
The VA disability advocates at Disabled Vets have experience with all phases of the VA disability claim and appeal processes. Whether you’re just considering filing a claim and don’t know how to get started, have received a development letter and aren’t sure how to fulfill the VA’s request, or have received a denial and want to appeal, we’re here for you. To learn more about how we can help you fight for the benefits you deserve, call 888-373-4722 or fill out our contact form here.
