Why is My VA Claim Stuck on Gathering Evidence?

One of the most common frustrations for veterans filing disability claims is seeing their status marked as “stuck on gathering evidence”.

This phase can take time and often feels like it’s dragging on. In this article, we’ll explain why your claim might be in this stage, what happens during evidence gathering, review, and decision, and how you can ensure your claim moves forward.

What is the Evidence Gathering Stage?

The evidence gathering stage of your VA disability claim is where the VA collects all the necessary documents, medical records, and service-related evidence needed to make a decision. This stage includes:

• Gathering medical evidence: The VA may request medical records from VA hospitals, private physicians, or specialists.
• Service records: The VA collects your service records to verify the conditions or events that contributed to your disability.
• Additional documentation: The VA might need more documents or statements from fellow service members (buddy statements) to support your claim.

While it may seem like a long process, the evidence gathering stage is critical for building a complete picture of your claim. For tips on how to navigate this phase, visit this guide on VA claims.

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Why is My VA Claim Stuck on Gathering Evidence?

If your VA claim is stuck on gathering evidence, it could be due to a variety of reasons:

1. Waiting for medical records: The VA may be waiting on records from VA hospitals, private doctors, or third-party specialists. Delays can happen if these records are incomplete or if there’s a backlog.
2. Pending exams: If you’ve been scheduled for a Compensation & Pension (C&P) exam, your claim may be on hold until the results are in.
3. Missing documents: The VA might need additional information, such as service records or updated medical evaluations, which could be causing the delay.

For more tips on expediting your claim, check out this VA resource.

Your Claim Moved to Evidence Gathering, Review, and Decision

If your claim status has been updated to “moved to evidence gathering, review, and decision,” it means that the VA is in the process of collecting the required evidence and reviewing it to make a determination. While it’s a positive sign that your claim is moving forward, this phase can still take time depending on the complexity of the case and the volume of evidence required.

This stage includes:

• Reviewing the evidence: After gathering all the necessary documents, the VA reviews the evidence to ensure everything is in order.
• Making a decision: Once the review is complete, the VA will move on to make a final decision based on the evidence.

For more on this process, you can read about how the VA manages disability claims and timelines.

Evidence Gathering, Review, and Decision Timeline

The timeline for evidence gathering, review, and decision can vary depending on several factors:

• Volume of claims: If the VA is processing a large number of claims, delays may occur.
• Complexity of the claim: Claims that involve multiple conditions or require a lot of evidence typically take longer to review.
• Pending exams or evaluations: If the VA needs to schedule additional exams, it can extend the timeline.

On average, this phase can take several months, but each claim is unique. Veterans should monitor their claim status regularly and provide any requested documents as soon as possible to avoid further delays.

For more details on how long this process might take, visit VA claim processing updates.

VA Claim Stuck in Preparation for Decision

If your VA claim is stuck in preparation for decision, it means the evidence has been gathered, but the VA has not yet made a final determination. This phase often involves a final review of the gathered evidence before the claim is moved to a decision.

Veterans in this phase should ensure that all necessary documents and exams have been completed. You can also reach out to the VA for updates if your claim has been in this stage for an extended period.

For more on how often VA claims are reviewed, check out how often is VA disability reviewed.

What to Do If Your VA Claim is Stuck

If your VA claim is stuck in evidence gathering, there are steps you can take:

1. Submit additional evidence: If you believe your claim is delayed because of missing documents, gather any outstanding medical records or service documents and submit them to the VA.
2. Check the status regularly: Use the VA’s online claim status tool to monitor updates and ensure that no further information is requested.
3. Contact the VA: If your claim has been stuck in the same phase for an extended time, contact the VA for clarification and to see if additional steps are required. The VA’s phone is: 800-827-1000 and they tend to answer pretty quickly.

Staying proactive and providing all the necessary documents can help move your claim along more quickly.

VA claims can sometimes get stuck in the gathering evidence phase, but understanding why and what actions to take can help ease the frustration. Whether waiting on medical records, exams, or service documents, veterans can take steps to ensure their claim progresses as smoothly as possible.

For more information on reviewing VA disability claims and the timeline for decisions, use the VA Disability Calculator to estimate your compensation based on your rating.