What is a VA Development Letter?

A VA development letter is a crucial part of the VA claims timeline that updates you on the status of your benefits. Receiving a VA development letter also signifies that additional evidence is required for the VA to process your claim.

As a standard part of processing disability claims, a VA development letter is simply an official VA communication that does three key things:

1. Updates you on the status of your claim
2. Requests evidence or information that the VA needs to process your claim
3. Tells you how long you have to submit the requested evidence and who to contact if you have questions

Providing the evidence requested by the VA can help the agency move forward with your claim. Doing so quickly and carefully may increase the likelihood of the VA granting your claim.

Read the letter carefully and be sure to respond on-time to progress your VA claim. If you don’t know what evidence to present, you may need help through a veterans’ disability lawyer.

Why Did the VA Send You a Development Letter?

After you file your claim, the VA performs an initial review. They may find that they need more information from you before making a decision. If this is the case, the VA will send a development letter that outlines what they need to proceed.

Next, the VA gathers more information, reviews your claim further, and makes a decision. Finally, you will receive your claim packet in the mail or view decisions for certain types of claims online.

IMPORTANT: Receiving a development letter is common and doesn’t indicate a problem with your claim.

Main Components of a VA Development Letter

A VA development letter may contain the following important parts that you can use to amplify your disability claim:

• Claim status: You can also view this information online via the VA’s claim or appeal status tool.
• Contact information: There will be a person you can contact with questions regarding what evidence they need. Email or call the representative listed if you’re confused about anything in the letter.
• Additional evidence needed: The development letter will list the evidence the VA is requesting, which in most cases may include:
  1. Medical records—In some cases, they may ask for an additional exam.
  2. Service records—They may need to verify your claim is related to your time in active duty.
• Deadlines for submitting the additional evidence: The timeline to submitting required information or evidence is usually 30 to 60 days from the date of the letter.

Do not miss these deadlines, and take action right away to gather records that can take time, particularly medical records.

How to Respond to a VA Development Letter

As you carefully read your letter, make a note of each item the VA requested and all deadlines. Gather the evidence and make copies of the additional records they are requesting.

Double check that what you’ve gathered is what they asked for. If you don’t understand exactly what your development letter is asking for, call the contact person listed on your development letter.

Document all your communication with the VA. Keep the envelope that your development letter arrived in.

When you send back the request for additional evidence, mail it from a post office with a certified return receipt. If your claim is denied, your development letter and your response to it may be relevant in an appeal.

Evidence You Should Include in Your Letter

Include the evidence that the VA is requesting, which may include your service records or your medical records. If you feel unsure, call the contact person listed in the development letter.

Sometimes the VA may ask for information not related to your VA claim. You don’t have to send in everything that may potentially delay the process. If you need help figuring out what is relevant to your claim, talk to an attorney who specializes in working with veterans.

VA Development Letter FAQs

What Happens if You Don’t Respond On-Time?

By sending the additional evidence or records asked for in a VA development letter, you’ll speed up the claim process. If you don’t respond on time, it doesn’t mean your claim will be denied. But it could mean it will be further delayed.

If you need help or feel confused, help is available. You can reach out to the contact person provided in the development letter, or take to an attorney in our network who specializes in working with veterans.

How Long Does the VA Take to Respond to Your Request?

According to the VA, as of October 2024, it takes an average of 140.5 days to complete disability-related claims.

The time it takes to review your claim depends on:

• The type of claim you filed
• How many injuries or disabilities you claimed for
• The complexity of your condition(s)
• How long it takes the VA to collect necessary evidence

Can You View Your VA Development Letter Online?

No. The letter will only come by mail. If you’ve been sent a development letter, you’ll see that it was sent when you check the status of your claim online. The timeline listed there may vary based on the complexity of your claim.

What if You Never Receive a VA Development Letter?

If your claims account online shows a development letter has been sent, you may expect to see it in your mailbox in a matter of days. However, it can take weeks to receive the letter.

Also note that not every disability case is sent a development letter. The VA only sends one when they need additional evidence to make a decision.

If you have waited and still haven’t received your development letter, call the VA benefits hotline at 800-827-1000. Make a note of the day and time you called.

Find a Veterans Attorney to Help Coach You Through Your Claim

Acquiring VA benefits may involve appeals and calls to your VA office. You may even encounter confusion and claim denials throughout the way.

If you’re having trouble finding a lawyer to represent you, talk with LegalASAP. We have 500+ law firms around the United States ready to assist you in your claim.

If you need further assistance, fill out this short evaluation form to contact a representative for further information. For questions or concerns that can’t wait, you may contact us at 888-927-3080.