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Here is the shortest path that does not waste months: 1. Submit an VA Form 21-0966 today. This locks in your effective date for one year. 2. Log into VA.gov and request your Service Treatment Records (STRs). If you need your full claims file (C-file), submit a FOIA request. 3. List every condition — physical and mental — that started or worsened during service. Do not filter. Let the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs determine what is ratable. 4. Obtain current medical evidence. A diagnosis strengthens your claim, though the VA may also schedule a C&P exam if needed. 5. File your claim using VA Form 21-526EZ. Submitting all available evidence upfront can help speed up processing. Most veterans leave money on the table not because they got denied, but because they neverclaimed the condition at all.
How long does it take to get C-File?
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