If a person not ready to file a claim yet, the VA's Intent to File a Claim's process provides more time to prepare and collect supportive evidence for the claim (the who, what, where, when, why, and how of the claim). It also marks the earliest possible effective date for any benefits resulting from a disability claim. That means, the effective date of benefits is when the VA receives the Intent to File form. The effective date is important because benefits could be paid from the time the claim was filed to the date it was approved.
​
Once the form is submitted, you can begin to gather the information needed for the claim, for up to one year from the Intent to File effective date. The effective date is when the VA actually receives the form.
To start the Intent to File claim, visit this webpage, scroll down to the bottom until you see "Start your intent to file," then click "Sign in to start your intent to file." You can also download and file the claim via mail or in-person.