June 2023

According to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), 29% of veterans from the Iraq War developed PTSD at some point in their lives. PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder, is a mental condition caused by a traumatic event or encountering a stressful incident.

In veterans, PTSD, or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, is often caused by experiencing military combat, military sexual trauma, or personal assault during their military service. Flashbacks, nightmares, and intrusive thoughts can all trigger PTSD.

Because of the prevalence of this condition, the VA extended its help and service to veterans suffering from PTSD. If you want to learn more about VA Form 21-0781 and how to make a PTSD claim, this guide will help you.

What Is VA Form 21-0781, and Why Is It Important?

As mentioned, VA Form 21-0781 is a claims form that allows veterans to seek disability compensation and other benefits related to PTSD. It is a comprehensive form that requires detailed documentation, including medical records and service history.

PTSD is a severe mental health condition that is triggered by a stressor. PTSD affects the quality of life and can make it difficult for veterans to transition into civilian life.

This form is vital as veterans are prone to develop PTSD due to the nature of military service. However, successful application with this form entails extensive documentation and can be time-consuming.

How To Fill Out VA Form 21-0781?

Filling out the VA Form 21-0781 is relatively easy as it’s filled with precise instructions on what information you must provide for each section. For your convenience, we summarized everything for you below:

Section I: Also known as the Veteran’s Identification Information section, this section requires you to provide your name, Social Security number, date of birth, and other relevant information verifying your information.
Section II: The section is also called the Stressful Incidents. This is the part where you outline the details of your condition, such as your stressor and PTSD symptoms. You also need to verify your other essential military service information here.
Section III: The Remarks section allows you to provide further details and information regarding your VA disability claim. Include any pertinent medical history, treatments, and other information that might help your case.
Section IV: The Certification and Signature section requires you to sign the form. By signing this part, you testify that all the information you provided is accurate.

Once you are done filling out the form, make sure to double-check all information for accuracy and completeness, then submit it to the VA.

What Is the Purpose of VA Form 21-0781?

The purpose of VA Form 21-0781 is to provide veterans with the necessary tools and resources to seek compensation and other related benefits for their PTSD. The form allows you to accurately outline your condition, traumatic event, and other pertinent information to facilitate a streamlined claims process. Your VA disability benefits aim to help veterans overcome their stressors and help them live a more fulfilling life.

What Are the Types of Information Required for VA Form 21-0781?

The VA Form 21-0781 requires basic information regarding your identification and condition. Some details you need to confirm your personal information are your name, Social Security number, and date of birth. You also need to provide details about your active duty years, such as the locations you served, dates of service, and your unit or division.

Additionally, the form requires further information about your condition, such as your stressor, present symptoms, and treatment efforts. Providing medical records with disability rating details could help you further strengthen your claim.

What Are the Common Mistakes To Avoid When Filling Out VA Form 21-0781?

Some of the most common reasons why a VA claim is denied are as follows:

Provided the wrong information
Submitted the wrong form
Insufficient evidence

A quick double-check to verify all the information you’ve written in the form is correct could drastically minimize the chances of denial. Also, you must ensure that you’re claiming PTSD benefits and not other disability benefits when you use this form.

Here are some forms you should familiarize yourself with:

VA Form 20-0996: If you receive a denial and want a higher-level review of the current evidence, you file this form.
VA Form 21-526EZ: This form is to file a general disability claim and receive other related benefits.
VA Form 20-996: If your claim was denied due to a lack of evidence, this form allows you to submit a new one and initiate a new review.

It’s also essential to learn about the VA disability 5-year rule to further understand the extent and limitations of VA benefits.

How To Submit VA Form 21-0781?

If you have a physical copy of the VA Form 21-0781, you need to file it properly and send the document to the VA’s address. The VA’s current address is as follows:

Department of Veterans Affairs, Evidence Intake Center, PO Box 4444, Janesville, WI 53547-4444.

Can VA Form 21-0781 Be Submitted Online?

In contrast, you also have the choice to complete and submit the form online. All you have to do is sign-up and create an account at https://www.va.gov/. Once you have an account, you can file any VA forms you want anytime, and some of your information will also be pre-populated for convenience.

You can also easily track the status of your VA claim through your online account. Normally, it would take three to four months before the VA decides about your PTSD benefit.

What Are the Supporting Documents Needed for VA Form 21-0781?

To help the VA make an accurate decision, you should also submit some documents supporting your PTSD claim. These are as follows:

Medical records with a VA rating (disability rating) from a doctor
Service medical records
Any other kind of written supporting evidence to prove your condition (e.g., testaments from friends and family)

The more evidence you can provide, the better your chances are for approval. Don’t hesitate to give the VA all the necessary documents to make an informed decision.

Final Thoughts

Veterans deal with a heavy toll even after their active service years. If you’re one of them and suffer from PTSD, then VA Form 21-0781 is your first step to receiving financial benefits and treatment for your condition. By submitting all the necessary information correctly and providing ample supporting documents, you can receive the help that you deserve. For more information, let us help you. Visit Trajector Medical to learn more!

The disability benefits provided by the government through the Veterans Affairs Office are a huge help to disabled veterans who need additional financial assistance. If you are a veteran relying on your VA disability benefits for your medical expenses, you may have worries about the VA reducing your compensation.

In truth, your worries are not without cause, as the United States Federal Government can increase, reduce, or potentially even terminate the VA benefits you receive depending on your condition and disability rating.

However, there are also protections in place to safeguard your right to receive VA disability benefits for conditions you sustained or aggravated while on active duty military service. The VA disability five-year rule is one of the regulations that help protect veterans’ disability rating and the amount of compensation they are entitled to receive.

What Is the VA Disability 5-Year Rule?

The VA disability five-year rule aims to protect disabled veterans against losing their disability benefits once their condition improves.

Any veteran who has been receiving VA disability for a service-connected condition for five years or more can’t have their VA disability rating reduced, changed, or terminated without proof of sustained improvement.

The VA needs to first be able to prove long-term or permanent improvement of a veteran’s condition — regardless of whether it is physical or mental. The illness or condition not only needs to have gotten better but must continue that way or improve even more.

Moreover, there needs to be documentation supporting this improvement. This is commonly done through a reevaluation of the veteran’s health and disability ratings. Multiple reexaminations over a certain period are generally required to prove sustained improvement.

What Happens After Five Years?

After five years of receiving disability benefits, the VA may request or schedule a reexamination of a veteran’s condition and disability rating.

If there are no improvements to the veteran’s condition, it will be considered static. Static conditions are those deemed unlikely to improve over time. The VA assigns a permanent rating or evaluation for static conditions. This means future reexaminations will no longer be required.

Exceptions for VA Disability Rating Reexaminations

There are certain exceptions to disability rating examinations. In general, the VA will not order a reexamination if you fall under any of the following:

Over the age of 55
Static disability or condition
Disability or condition is considered permanent and not expected to improve
Received a minimum rating for a particular disability

Additionally, the VA will not request for a reexamination in cases where any changes to the individual condition’s disability rating would ultimately not affect the person’s total combined disability rating.

Other VA Disability Protected Ratings

The VA disability five-year rule is not the only protected rating—nor is it the one with the highest level of protection. There are two more disability rating rules, each offering greater protection to veterans:

10-year rule: If you have had your disability for at least 10 years and received VA disability benefits for it, the VA is not allowed to sever or cut the condition’s service connection and terminate disability benefits. However, they can still lower the rating and reduce benefits. This applies regardless of whether the rating was sustained or reduced during the 10 years. If the VA wants to terminate benefits after 10 years, they need to prove your claims were fraudulent.
20-year rule: If you have had your disability for at least 20 years and received benefits for it, the VA can no longer give you a lower rating beyond the lowest one that you have received over the past two decades. Similarly, if the VA wants to terminate your benefits or give an even lower rating, they will first need to prove that you received your rating and claims through fraud.

What Is the VA’s Disability Rating System?

The VA disability rating system rates veterans’ service-connected disability based on their severity. The rating system is in percentages and ranges from 0 to 100%, going from increments of 10%. This VA disability rating represents how much the person’s disability adversely affects their ability to function day-to-day, overall health, and quality of life.

The VA uses this disability rating system to determine the monthly VA disability compensation rate. The higher the disability rating, the greater the compensation a person can receive. It’s also used to help them determine veterans’ eligibility for VA health care and other benefits.

How Can You Prove Your Disability to the VA?

In some cases, reevaluations result in lower ratings or even denial of disability claims. If you disagree with the results of the reevaluation or the VA’s denial of your disability claim, you can still appeal the decision.

Veterans who file an appeal to review their VA disability rating or claims denial will need to prove their disability and its actual severity. You can do this by filing any of the following VA forms:

VA Form 20-0996: This form is used to request a Higher-Level review of any decision made by the VA Office. This can be done online or on paper. Take note that this form needs to be submitted within a year of the date the VA gave you notice of its decision.
VA Form 21-0781: This form is used to apply for related benefits or services for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This form supports claims for service connection to PTSD by providing details about the service-connected traumatic event and other evidence.
VA Form 20-995: This form is used to request a Supplemental Claim, which is a new review of an issue that already received a VA decision and that you disagree with. This will require you to submit new and relevant evidence to support your claims.

Be Informed About Your VA Disability Benefits

VA disability benefits can be just as challenging to navigate as Social Security Disability benefits. Federal benefits often undergo improvement and regulation changes to adapt to the current state of healthcare, veterans’ lives, and even the economy.

Staying on top of all your veteran benefits and rights helps ensure you receive the compensation and assistance you deserve in return for all your years of active duty. Let our team at Benefits help you keep up with the ever-changing VA benefits landscape. Visit Trajector Medical today to fill out a free evaluation to receive a call back from us at 844-412-0882 and learn more about your VA disability benefits.

Our veterans fought for us in critical wars that shaped our world as we know it today. However, it doesn’t come without a cost.

As a disabled veteran, you can receive various VA disability benefits and other related compensation benefits for your service. To claim your benefit and compensation, you need to accomplish numerous forms to receive monthly compensation.

The VA Form 21-526EZ is one of the many forms you must complete and submit to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to claim your VA disability benefits from your service-connected disability.

In this blog post, you’ll learn everything you need to know about VA Form 21-526EZ and the PACT Act to fully comprehend your benefits from your time in active duty.

What Is VA Form 21-526EZ and How Does It Work?

The VA Form 21-526EZ is used when requesting VA disability compensation and other social security benefits related to the injuries you suffered during your active service years. The VA Form 21-526EZ also applies to the following conditions:

You have a pre-existing medical condition that was aggravated during active military service.
You’re currently suffering from a medical condition you believe was caused or related to your active military service. (Tinnitus and PTSD are common ones.)

Whichever of the three mentioned conditions is true, you must provide medical documentation as evidence for the VA to review. If the VA approves your request, they can grant you disability payments and related benefits, which cover medical costs, disability compensation, and more.

Who Is Eligible To Apply for VA Form 21-526EZ?

Any veteran or service member who sustained or developed an illness or injury during active duty can apply for VA Form 21-526EZ. In addition, veterans and service members exposed to toxic substances can also submit a compensation request per the PACT Act.

The PACT Act is a legal movement that provides added protections for service members and veterans who show signs of illnesses or injuries caused by their exposure to toxic substances during the Gulf War, post-9/11, and Vietnam War.

How To Fill Out VA Form 21-526EZ for Disability Compensation?

Filing a VA Form 21-526EZ for disability compensation is relatively straightforward. The form is divided into sections, which are:

Section I: This section verifies your military and personal identification and requires information such as your social security number and VA file number.
Section II: This section verifies if you have temporarily or permanently changed residence.
Section III: This section is only necessary if you’re homeless or in danger of becoming homeless.
Section IV: This section is where you outline the details of your disability.
Section V: This section details your military service information, such as your branch and service number.
Section VI: If you currently receive veterans service pay or other benefits, complete this section.
Section VII: This is where you provide your bank information to receive your benefits through bank deposits.
Section VIII: This is where you sign and verify that all information and evidence you provide are valid.
Section IX: If you can’t sign but mark Section VIII with an “X,” you need two qualified witnesses to sign this section.
Section X: If you can’t physically sign the form yourself, you need a court-appointed or legally authorized representative to sign this section.
Section XI: This section is reserved if a legal representative files the form. Only Veterans Service Officers and VA-authorized attorneys can sign this section.

What Supporting Documents Are Needed for VA Form 21-526EZ?

As part of the standard claim process, you must provide feasible and verified evidence to support your requests. Some documents you can submit are medical records, military records, evidence of compensation, and service-related disability awards.

Can You File VA Form 21-526EZ Online?

Yes. You can conveniently apply for VA disability compensation and other related compensation benefits at www.va.gov. All you need to do is create an account, and the VA Form 21-526EZ will be pre-filled with your given information.

What Are the Common Errors To Avoid When Filling Out VA Form 21-526EZ?

Clerical errors are the most common mistakes when filing VA forms. To avoid making these errors, double-check all information you provide and make sure you’ve filled out all required sections correctly. You can ask someone you fully trust to double-check all the information you’ve written in the form.

How Long Does It Take To Process VA Form 21-526EZ?

According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, the entire decision process could take around 118 days, which is roughly equivalent to three to four months.

How To Check the Status of Your VA Form 21-526EZ?

You can quickly check the status of your VA disability claim using the VA’s official website. If you already have a registered account on their website, click the “My VA” button, which will take you to the dashboard. From there, click “Track Claims,” find Form 21-526EZ, and click “View Status.”

How To Appeal a Denied VA Form 21-526EZ Claim?

There are several forms you can submit to appeal the VA’s decision:

VA Form 20-0996: Use this form to request a higher-level review of the denial you received based on your submitted evidence.
VA Form 20-995: Use this form if you disagree with the denial and have new evidence to support your claim.
VA Form 21-0958: This form will notify the VA that you disagree with their decision and want to initiate another review.

Sometimes, the denial might be related to an incorrectly filed form. For example, if you want to claim compensation for post-traumatic stress disorder or depression, VA Form 21-0781 is a much better option to fill out instead of VA Form 21-526EZ.

What Are the Best Practices for Filing VA Form 21-526EZ?

First, ensure that the VA Form 21-526EZ is appropriate for the benefits you want to claim and that all information you provide is accurate. Second, always double-check all the information you provide, so you won’t get denied for clerical errors. Lastly, ensure you have the right evidence to support your claim.

How To Prepare for a VA Form 21-526EZ Claim Interview?

The VA might require you to answer additional questions during the claim submission process. Make sure that you have a copy of all the documents needed for the interview, such as medical and military records.

Also, it would help if you practiced answering their questions beforehand to be more confident during the interview. It’s also great to read up on the VA disability five-year rule as part of your preparation.

What Are the Common Questions Asked in a VA Form 21-526EZ Interview?

The VA claim exam, or the interview portion, verifies your medical conditions, service history, and other related matters. Some of the questions they may ask include:

What kind of injuries or illnesses did you suffer while in service?
When did you start experiencing symptoms?
How long have you been receiving treatment for these conditions?
Have you received any prior service-related disability awards?

Veterans play an integral role in maintaining our peace and freedom. Disabled veterans with disabilities or conditions affecting their quality of life after service can receive monthly compensation from the country. Any questions about the VA Form 21-526EZ, such as how to file it and improve your chances of approval, can also be found starting with Trajector Medical. By filling out a survey, you can receive a free evaluation and a call back from us at 844-412-0882 (18444120882) We will get in touch with you with experienced assistants to help you provide the best medical evidence to get the most from your benefits.

How To Apply for PTSD Compensation with VA Form 21-0781