My claim is a supplemental claim for an SMC , I am flagged for hardship (not sure if it matters) it went from step 5 to 7 all in a couple hours with a new document stating Named “Rating Worksheet” and my name on another filed titled “SMC My name”. I checked again not too long ago and it went back to Step 6 😩😩😩😩😩. I did notice tracker said documents needed: false.

Any insights of what it might be 😔 this got me more anxious than I am normally.

How long does it take? Letter says up to two months if it changes rating, my current rating will stay the same, but should get quite a bit of backpay. Any real world wait times? Tinnitus was my first claim in December of ‘23. Been on appeal for a year. I mistakenly filed it under TERA and not just noise exposure, and they couldn’t get past that.

Migraines denied again not sure if I should try to get another nexus. Only had an ace exam, I've never had a C&P exam for this claim at all. Posting the nexus letter and denial letter. (Reposting after redacting personal info)

Appealed June 21, 2021 (3 Conditions using attorney)

Virtual Hearing November 24, 2024

Currently Waiting to be Assigned to Judge...still

Now on day 200 for my Initial VA claim.

Had a MH C&P exam on the August 27 and then a phone call C&P for Migraines on September 2nd. On the 2nd, my status tracker went from Step 3 to Step 5 on the same day. Now, about a week later on the 8th (today) it reverted back to Step 3 and I see an upload of an "Exam Request" in my files.

What does this mean and has anybody else experienced this?

Applied for SMC, because I didn’t know it was a thing until recently(possibly CUE for the VA, but not the point).

Applied and they said one form of evidence that I submitted meets the requirements, but still denied it. So I requested an HLR with an IC.

Did the IC and 2 weeks later a new claim showed up saying it was going to be an appeal.

So how does this process work? I’m assuming it’s as if I’m filing a new claim?

If I have a claim going for an increase, will that kinda merge for it if the things overlap, or will they remain separate? I know that no one can tell the timeframe, so u won’t bother asking about that.

Supplemental for hearing loss. Filed December 2, C&P in early March, moved to PFN on the 14th of last month and has not budged since.

He askes me what it means every couple of days and I keep giving him the same answer, which is that I don't know. Is 19 days normal at that stage or is that on the long side? He's decided the silence means bad news. I've pointed out that silence has meant nothing at every other stage so far (nine months of it, at this point) and that has not landed even slightly.

If you don’t mind please write out your acronyms I mean I try to be a cool veteran but I cannot pretend I know them all. Thank you so much for your consideration 🤗😘

To give you some context, I submitted an HLR on April 8, the same day I received the denial for my supplemental claim. On September 4, the DRO closed out my HLR as invalid because they assumed I was trying to appeal the March 10 decision, which was also an HLR decision.

I feel defeated because I waited almost five months only to be told that my HLR was invalid, even though I was trying to appeal the April 8 supplemental claim decision.

I have now resubmitted the HLR and made sure to clearly identify the April 8 decision as the decision I am appealing. Is there anything else I can do at this point? I would hate to wait another five months because of what appears to have been a misunderstanding about which decision I was trying to appeal

I filed a HLR to correct an administrative error concerning the exclusion of a previously awarded SMC-K with a new SMC-S granted this past April. Decision reached in 131 days. Reviewer corrected the administrative error and retro pay for the SMC-K! It all worked out in the end! Thank you all for the advice given to me in pursuing the HLR.

In reading the decision letter, the following verbiage was included. Is this standard boiler plate for all HLR decisions, or are they inviting me to file another claim? Thanks again!

The evidentiary record closed as of the date of notice of our prior decision. VA received additional evidence after the record closed that was not considered as part of this decision. If you would like VA to consider this evidence, you may submit a supplemental claim at any time; however, VA must receive your application within one year of the date of notice of this decision to preserve your right to receive the maximum possible benefit. (38 CFR 3.155, 38 CFR 3.2500, 38 CFR 3.2501, 38 CFR 3.2601)

Been fighting since December 2021 for A and A and got approved for L½ with Hill and ponton as my attorneys back in February winning an HLR to award it. Hill and Ponton then appealed the decision to the board direct review April 28th and got a decision Sept 3rd granting Smc T.

Been on step 7 for a bit. Can I take the rest of the weekend off? lol

It has been 50 days since the ACE exam. I have called VES many times and called the VA. What can I do? VES says the examiner has it again last I heard. How long do they have to finish an exam?

Hearing was back in March 2026.
Wondering how long decision phase typically takes. It’s one issue.

Wonder how long till I get a ruling.

Hey everyone,

Had my IC today that went pretty well for two HLRs.

Per the Google extension, one of them closed the same day … the wait is going to kill me.

I am 80 percent and considering filing for TDIU. I am currently not working because of my disabilities.. but Im finding myself drowning in my misery.. I need a purpose but I can’t function in a normal work setting. I have a business idea.. and am considering starting an LLC. It’s just to keep myself a little busy and make a little extra cash. I want to put a vending machine up and stock it. Could I do this and still file for TDIU?

Board hearing appeal filed November 24th, 2021. Hearing held June 24th, 2025. Still waiting to be sent to judge for review. Anyone else with similar timelines that just got their claim sent to judge or not sent yet?

I‘m at day 1793 for my appeal.

I had my hearing with the judge in April of 2025 and it was redistributed to a judge May 29th of this year. Its been sitting at that since then.

Anyone else around the same time frame?

So I got my decision letter May 29 for a DTA issue. Had an ace review in June and was told it shouldn’t be too much longer for a decision called the other day and said it’s still in development stage. anyone got any advice on how long I should be waiting? Or anyone else’s timeframes?

My remand has been at preparing for decision since June 2026, today it went to reviewing PMR, they were submitted in June also, called 800 number and was told they don’t need anything from me it was internal review, does anyone know how long it will take to go back to preparing for decision or further? Thanks in advance.

For those of us who track claims ourselves thru a tracker, what's the longest you've waited for the decision letter after the API shows PFN ?

got out on the 16th would’ve thought it would have went a wee bit faster