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Veterans Crisis Line:988, press 1
Scenario
For: Recently separated veteran filing for PTSD for the first time
A path for a veteran who has never filed a VA disability claim and is starting with PTSD. The steps lock in an effective date, gather the evidence VA actually reads, and prepare for the C&P exam without overstating the case.
Filing an Intent to File can preserve an effective date up to a year before the full claim is submitted, if eligibility is later established. It is a single form (VA Form 21-0966) and takes minutes.
Your service treatment records (STRs) are the backbone of in-service-event evidence. Request your STRs and any post-service VA treatment records before you file. The records-request guide walks through DD-214, STR, and VA medical record paths.
For PTSD claims, a buddy statement from someone who served with you, or from a family member who has seen symptoms after service, can be useful when in-service event documentation is thin. The statement generator walks through what to include and what to leave out.
A County Veterans Service Officer (CVSO) or VSO can file the claim with you at no cost. VBN does not file claims and is not accredited under 38 U.S.C. § 5904.
After the claim is filed, VA may schedule a Compensation & Pension exam. The exam-prep guide explains how examiners typically score mental-health conditions and how to describe symptoms accurately, including on bad days.
Last reviewed: 2026-04-25. Scenarios are illustrative. For your own case, work with a County Veterans Service Officer (CVSO) or VA-accredited representative.