VA Form 21-526EZ — Application for Disability Compensation (Complete Guide)

What 21-526EZ is and when to use it

VA Form 21-526EZ is the primary application for service-connected disability compensation. The same form is used for an initial (first-ever) claim, a secondary-condition claim, and a claim for an increased rating on an existing service-connected condition.

The 'EZ' in the name signals the Fully Developed Claim program. Filing under FDC means the veteran certifies they have submitted all available private evidence with the application, which lets VA skip parts of the evidence-development phase and decide the claim faster. FDC is optional — a standard claim on the same form is still accepted.

21-526EZ is NOT used for pension (use 21P-527EZ), DIC (21P-534EZ), or to request a decision review on an existing decision (20-0995 for Supplemental Claim, 20-0996 for Higher-Level Review, 10182 for Board appeal).

Intent to file — protect your effective date first

Before completing 21-526EZ, file an Intent to File (VA Form 21-0966 or the online ITF tool on VA.gov). The ITF locks in the date VA uses to calculate retroactive benefits if the claim is granted. The veteran then has up to one year from the ITF date to submit the completed 21-526EZ.

If 21-526EZ is filed within 12 months of separation from active duty, benefits are payable back to the day after separation regardless of ITF. Outside that window, ITF is the single most important step for protecting backpay.

Section-by-section walkthrough

1. Section I — Veteran identification: name, SSN, VA file number, date of birth, gender, branch, service number, and contact information. Use the name and SSN that appear on the DD-214 to avoid mismatches.
2. Section II — Service information: dates of active service, reserve/guard service, and any time spent in a combat zone. Combat-zone service can trigger relaxed evidentiary standards under 38 U.S.C. § 1154(b).
3. Section III — Claim information: list each condition being claimed and identify it as direct service connection, secondary (state the primary service-connected condition), or increase. Be specific — 'lumbar strain' is better than 'back.' If the claim is a presumptive (PACT Act, Gulf War, Agent Orange), say so and identify the exposure.
4. Section IV — Service-treatment record exposure information: 1990-1991 Gulf War service, post-9/11 Southwest Asia service, Camp Lejeune water, Vietnam-era herbicide exposure, and other location-based exposures the PACT Act recognizes.
5. Section V — Standard or Fully Developed Claim: check FDC only if all private medical evidence is being submitted with the application and no further private records exist. If unsure, file as a standard claim and submit 21-4142 to authorize VA to request the records.
6. Section VI — Direct deposit: required by law unless a waiver applies. Account and routing numbers must match the receiving bank.
7. Section VII — Claim certification and signature: the veteran signs and dates. An accredited representative may sign on the veteran's behalf only with a properly executed VA Form 21-22 or 21-22a on file.

How to file

• Fastest: file online at va.gov/disability/file-disability-claim-form-21-526ez/. The online flow walks through each section, attaches uploaded evidence, and confirms receipt immediately.
• Through an accredited representative: a VA-accredited claims agent, VSO, or attorney with a current 21-22/21-22a can prepare and file on the veteran's behalf.
• By mail: Department of Veterans Affairs Claims Intake Center, PO Box 4444, Janesville, WI 53547-4444. Use certified mail with return receipt.
• By fax: 844-531-7818.

Evidence to file with 21-526EZ

• DD-214 (Member 4 copy) for every period of active service.
• Service treatment records and personnel records (if held privately or not already in VA's possession).
• Private medical records establishing the current diagnosis and treatment history for each claimed condition.
• Any medical nexus opinion from a qualified provider linking the claimed condition to service or to a service-connected primary condition.
• Lay statements on 21-4138 or 21-10210 from the veteran and witnesses documenting symptoms, in-service events, and continuity.
• DBQs (Disability Benefits Questionnaires) from a private provider, if available.

Where these claims break down

• ×Filing 21-526EZ without first filing an Intent to File — months of backpay can be lost.
• ×Listing conditions in vague terms ('joint pain everywhere') rather than naming each diagnosed condition separately.
• ×Selecting Fully Developed Claim when private records are still outstanding — converts the claim back to standard and slows it down.
• ×Omitting the secondary-cause relationship — a secondary claim filed as direct service connection without identifying the primary condition usually gets denied.
• ×Wet-signing an old saved PDF — VA updates the form periodically. Always download the current revision from VA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions