Fillable Form VA 21-526EZ

VA 21-526EZ Form is used by a retired or disabled veteran who wishes to receive benefits. The document will request for personal information of the veteran to ensure that the proper benefits are handed to them.

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What is Form VA 21-526EZ?

 

Officially Application for Disability Compensation and Related Compensation Benefits, Form VA 21-526EZ is a Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) form that veterans use to submit a claim for disability compensation and related compensation benefits.

 

Filing Form VA 21-526EZ starts the application to get benefits from the VA. Before completing the form, a veteran must know if he or she meets the set qualifications in order to receive VA benefits. Form VA 21-526EZ asks the applicant to describe relevant information and submit evidence to qualify.

 

In general, a veteran may qualify for disability benefits if he or she was diagnosed with a service-connected medical condition or disability. However, if a veteran received an other than honorable, bad conduct, or dishonorable discharge, he or she may not be eligible for VA disability benefits.

 

There are two claim options when filing Form VA 21-526EZ:

 
  • FDC Program — is an Optional Expedited Process. This process informs the VA that you are filing Form VA 21-526EZ together with all evidence available to support your claim. It enables the department to decide faster.
  •  
  • Standard Claim Process — lets an applicant submit additional evidence for up to one year after filing Form VA 21-526EZ.
  • How to submit Form VA 21-526EZ?

     

    You may Form VA 21-526EZ in three methods:

     

    By Mail
    Department of Veterans Affair
    Evidence Intake Center
    PO Box 4444
    Janesville, WI 53547-4444

     

    Via Fax
    844-531-7818 (Toll-Free)
    248-524-4260 (For Foreign Claims)

     

    Online
    Go to the official site of the Department of Veteran Affairs

     

    How to Fill Out Form VA 21-526EZ?

     

    Item 1
    Select the type of claim program or process. You can choose:

     
  • Fully Developed Claim (FDC) Program
  •  
  • Standard Claim Process
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  • IDES — Only select this if you have been referred to the IDES Program by your Military Service Department.
  •  
  • BDD Program Claim — Only select this if you meet the criteria for the BDD Program specified on the Instruction Page 5 of Form VA 21-526EZ.
  •  

    Section I: Identification and Claim Information

     

    Item 2
    Provide your full veteran or service member name.

     

    Item 3
    Provide your social security number (SSN).

     

    Item 4
    Select “Yes” if you have ever filed a claim with VA and “No” if otherwise.

     

    Item 5
    If Number 4 is yes, provide VA File Number.

     

    Item 6
    Provide your date of birth.

     

    Item 7
    Provide your veteran service number, if applicable.

     

    Item 8
    Select “Male” or “Female.”

     

    Item 9
    For BDD Claims only. Provide the date or anticipated date of release from active duty in MM-DD-YYYY format.

     

    Item 10
    Provide telephone numbers, including area code.

     

    Item 11
    Provide your current mailing address.

     

    Item 12
    Provide email address, if available.

     

    Item 13
    Check the box if you are currently a VA employee.

     

    Section II: Change of Address
    Complete Items 14A through 14C if you are temporarily or permanently changing your address.

     

    Item 14A
    Determine the type of address change, either “Temporary” or “Permanent.”

     

    Item 14B
    Provide the complete new address.

     

    Item 14C
    Provide the effective dates of the new address.

     

    Section III: Homeless information
    Complete this section only if you are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.

     

    Item 15A
    Select “Yes” if you are currently homeless. “No” if not.

     

    Item 15B
    Mark the box that applies to your living situation:

     
  • Living in a homeless shelter
  •  
  • Not currently in a sheltered environment
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  • Staying with another person
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  • Fleeing current residence
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  • For other situations, use the space provided.
  •  

    Item 15C
    Select “yes” if you are currently at risk of becoming homeless. “No” if not.

     

    Item 15D
    Mark the box that applies to your living situation:

     
  • Housing will be lost in 30 days
  •  
  • Leaving publicly funded system of care
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  • For other situations, use the space provided.
  •  

    Item 15E
    Provide the name of the person VA can contact to reach you.

     

    Item 15F
    Provide the telephone number of the person VA can contact to reach you.

     

    Section IV: Claim Information

     

    Item 16
    List current disabilities or symptoms that you claim are military service-related. Provide exposure type, how the disabilities relate to the in-service event, exposure, or injury, and approximate date the disabilities began or worsened.

     

    Item 17
    List VA Medical Centers (VAMC) and Department of Defense (DOD) Military Treatment Facilities (MTF) where you received treatment for your claimed disabilities in Item 16. Provide the approximate beginning dates of treatment.

     

    Section V: Service Information

     

    Item 18A
    Select “Yes” if you served under another name. “No” if not.

     

    Item 18B
    List the other names you served under if you answered Item 18A yes.

     

    Item 19A
    Select branch of service:

     
  • Army
  •  
  • Navy
  •  
  • Marine Corps
  •  
  • Air Force
  •  
  • Coast Guard
  •  

    Item 19B
    Select component:

     
  • Active
  •  
  • Reserves
  •  
  • National Guard
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    Item 20A
    Provide the most recent active service dates in MM-DD-YYYY format.

     

    Item 20B
    Provide the place of last or anticipated separation.

     

    Item 20C
    Select “Yes” is you served in a combat zone since 9-11-2001. “No” if not.

     

    Item 20D
    Provide additional periods of service.

     

    Item 21A
    Select “Yes” if you are currently serving or have ever served in the reserves or national guard. “No” if not. If yes, answer Items 21B to 21F; if no, skip to Item 22A.

     

    Item 21B
    Select component:

     
  • National Guard
  •  
  • Reserves
  •  

    Item 21C
    Provide dates of obligation.

     

    Item 21D
    Provide current or last assigned name and address of unit.

     

    Item 21E
    Provide current or assigned phone number of unit.

     

    Item 21F
    Select “Yes” if you are currently receiving inactive duty training pay. “No” if not.

     

    Item 22A
    Select “Yes” if currently activated on federal orders within the national guard or reserves. “No” if not. If yes, complete Items 22B and 22C.

     

    Item 22B
    Provide date of activation in MM-DD-YYYY format.

     

    Item 22C
    Provide anticipated separation date in MM-DD-YYYY format.

     

    Item 23A
    Select “Yes” if you have ever been a prisoner of war. “No” if not. If yes, complete Item 23B.

     

    Item 23B
    Provide dates of confinement.

     

    Section VI: Service Pay

     

    Item 24A
    Select “Yes” if you are receiving military retired pay. “No” if not. If yes, complete Items 24C and 24D.

     

    Item 24B
    Select “Yes” if you will receive military retired pay in the future. “No” if not. If yes, explain in the space provided.

     

    Item 24C
    Select the branch of service:

     
  • Army
  •  
  • Navy
  •  
  • Marine Corps
  •  
  • Air Force
  •  
  • Coast Guard
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    Item 24D
    Provide the monthly amount.

     

    Item 25
    Provide retired status:

     
  • Retired
  •  
  • Permanent Disability Retired List
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  • Temporary Disability Retired List
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    Item 26
    Mark the box if you do not want to be paid VA compensation. If you are currently in receipt of VA compensation and you check the box in Item 26, your VA compensation will be terminated, if you are also eligible for military retired pay.

     

    Item 27A
    Select “Yes” if you ever received separation pay, disability severance pay, or any other lump-sum payment from your branch of service. “No” if not. If yes, complete Items 27B to 27D.

     

    Item 27B
    Provide the date the payment was received in MM-DD-YYYY format.

     

    Item 27C
    Provide the branch of service:

     
  • Army
  •  
  • Navy
  •  
  • Marine Corps
  •  
  • Air Force
  •  
  • Coast Guard
  •  

    Item 27D
    Provide the pre-tax amount received.

     

    Item 28
    Mark the box if you do not want to receive VA compensation.

     

    Section VII: Direct Deposit Information

     

    Item 29
    Mark the box to certify that you do not have an account with a financial institution or certified payment agent. If you check this box, skip to Section VIII.

     

    Item 30
    Provide the account number. Select if checking or savings account.

     

    Item 31
    Provide the name of the financial institution.

     

    Item 32
    Provide the routing or transit number.

     

    Section VIII: Claim Certification and Signature

     

    Item 33A
    Provide your signature.

     

    Item 33B
    Provide the date when you signed Form VA 21-526EZ.

     

    Section IX: Witnesses to Signature

     

    Items 34A, 34B, 35A, 35B
    Provide signatures, names, and addresses of witnesses. Only use this section if the veteran signed in Item 33A using an “X.”

     

    Section X: Alternate Signer Certification and Signature
    Only use this section if Item 33A is blank.

     

    Item 36A
    Provide the signature of the alternate signer.

     

    Item 36B
    Provide the date when Form VA 21-526EZ was signed by the alternate signer.

     

    Section XI: Power of Attorney (POA) Signature
    A POA cannot sign for an original claim only.

     

    Item 37A
    Provide the signature of the POA.

     

    Item 37B
    Provide the date when Form VA 21-526EZ was signed by the POA.

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