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This tool provides estimates for educational purposes only. We are not accredited by the Department of Veterans Affairs and do not file claims, provide legal advice, or represent veterans before the VA (38 U.S.C. § 5904). For official assistance, contact a VSO, CVSO, or VA-accredited attorney.

Scenario

First-time filer with PTSD

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.

  1. File an Intent to File

    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.

    Effective-date strategy→

  2. Request your service treatment records

    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.

    Records request guide→

  3. Add lay (buddy) statements where helpful

    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.

    Statement generator→

  4. File the full claim through an accredited representative

    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.

    Find a CVSO→

  5. Prepare for the C&P exam

    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.

    C&P exam prep→

Tools and guides this scenario uses

Last reviewed: 2026-04-25. Scenarios are illustrative. For your own case, work with a County Veterans Service Officer (CVSO) or VA-accredited representative.