Notice of a claim

You file the notice

Go to VA.gov and file the notice yourself. We do not file it. We do not sign in to VA for you.

This page only explains the step. It does not start a claim.

What VA calls it

VA sometimes calls this notice an intent to file. If you start a disability claim on VA.gov, you may not need a separate paper form. If you use paper, the form is VA Form 21-0966. You open it. You fill it out. You send it. We do not fill it in. We do not send it.

If you file for disability compensation online, then you don’t need to notify us of your intent to file.

VA’s how-to-file page.

• Open the VA Form 21-0966 page
• Open the VA Form 21-0966 fillable PDF

What this page is not

This page does not choose a condition. It does not promise a payment or an earlier start date. After you file the notice, stay on schedule.

What this page does not do

• You prepare your own claim. We organize and educate. We do not file.
• We are not an accredited representative. We do not prosecute a claim.
• This is not a VA decision. We do not decide the claim. It is not a promise of a rating.
• Never a percentage of VA pay.
• You fill this out and send it to VA. We do not fill it in with your records. We do not send it. We do not make a packet that is ready to file.

Related reading

• Stay on schedule
• Fully developed claim checklist
• Migraines
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
• Learn library