Position 8 of 8 in VA's typical disability-claim review process
What happens at this stage
VA places the decision letter in the claim status tool and sends a paper copy. VA says the mailed letter should arrive within 10 business days, although it can take longer.
Critical: review the date on the decision letter. For most benefits, requests for Higher-Level Review or Board Appeal have a 1-year deadline. Supplemental Claims may be filed at any time, but filing within a year can be important for the potential effective date.
Timing
Mailed decision notice: typically within 10 business days after the claim is decided (not guaranteed).
The total processing time varies by claim complexity, availability of evidence, and other circumstances. VA reported 68.2 days as the average time to complete disability-related claims in September 2026, not an individual deadline.
Why it matters
The issued decision, not an estimate shown by this website, governs deadlines and the available review procedures.
Official VA resources
- Decision review rules ↗https://www.va.gov/resources/decision-reviews-faqs/
- Check and download decisions ↗https://www.va.gov/claim-or-appeal-status/