VA Priority Processing: Who Qualifies for a Faster Decision
VA Priority Processing places a flag on a veteran's claim file that moves the file to the front of the queue at every workflow stage. It is not a tool to skip evidence collection or to bypass C&P exams. It moves the veteran ahead of the line for whichever step is next, whenever a step is ready to begin.
What priority processing actually does
The Department of Veterans Affairs runs every disability claim through the same sequence of internal stages: Initial Review, Evidence Gathering, Evidence Review, Rating, Preparing Decision Letter, Final Review, Complete. Priority processing does not skip any of those stages. What it does is move the file ahead of non-priority files at each stage transition, so the cumulative wait time is shorter.
The mechanism is a "priority flash" or "hardship flash" attached to the veteran's file in VA systems. The flash is visible to every VSR, RVSR, examiner, and reviewer who touches the claim. Workload schedulers pull priority files first when assigning new work.
See the 8-stage workflow for context on what each stage involves.
Which benefits priority processing covers
The flag travels with the veteran across most VA benefit programs. The covered categories are:
- Disability compensation claims and appeals. Original claims, increase claims, supplemental claims, higher-level reviews, and appeals.
- Pension and survivors benefit claims. Including Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) for surviving family members.
- Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA) appeals. Priority docket position under 38 CFR 20.800.
- Education benefits claims. Post-9/11 GI Bill, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment, and related programs.
- Fiduciary claims. Appointment and oversight matters.
- Benefits Delivery at Discharge (BDD). Automatically receives priority processing without separate application. See the BDD guide.
The 10 eligibility pathways
A veteran qualifies for priority processing by meeting at least one of the following criteria. Each pathway has its own evidence requirements.
| Eligibility pathway | Evidence required |
|---|---|
| Age 85 or older (75 or older for BVA appeals) | Date of birth already in the VA system; usually no additional documentation |
| Terminally ill | Medical evidence of a terminal diagnosis (typically physician statement of life expectancy) |
| ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, "Lou Gehrig's disease") diagnosis | Medical records confirming diagnosis; ALS receives a special hierarchy in the priority queue |
| Former Prisoner of War (POW) status | DD-214 noting POW status, or service personnel records confirming POW period |
| Medal of Honor recipient | DD-214, citation, or other official documentation |
| Purple Heart recipient | DD-214, citation, or other official documentation |
| Homeless or imminent risk of homelessness | Personal statement plus a working phone number and mailing address; the VA does not require formal proof beyond the attestation |
| Extreme financial hardship | Eviction notices, past-due utility shutoff notices, collection letters, or other documentation showing inability to meet basic necessities |
| Very seriously injured or ill (post-9/11 service-related) | Medical evidence; pathway typically used for service members facing a Medical Evaluation Board or for BVA appellants |
| BDD filer (pre-discharge) | Active duty service status and BDD filing window (90 to 180 days before separation) |
How to apply for priority processing
The application is short. The VA uses a dedicated form to add the priority flash.
- Form: VA Form 20-10207, "Priority Processing Request."
- Attach: Evidence from the pathway column above (medical records, eviction notice, DD-214, etc.).
- Personal statement (optional but helpful): One paragraph explaining the qualifying category in plain language. A VSO can help draft this.
- Timing: File the priority request as early as possible, ideally with the underlying claim. Mid-claim requests are accepted but take effect only after the VA processes the flash.
Download VA Form 20-10207 at va.gov/find-forms/about-form-20-10207.
Where to submit VA Form 20-10207
Four routes are accepted. Choose the one that matches the benefit category.
Through a VSO
An accredited Veterans Service Organization representative can submit the form on the veteran's behalf at no cost. This is the most reliable route because the VSO confirms the flash was applied and follows up if it was not. Find a VSO representative.
VA.gov Direct Upload
Sign in to VA.gov with Login.gov or ID.me, navigate to the open claim or appeal, and upload the completed 20-10207 with evidence as supporting documentation. Works for all benefit categories.
Fax (disability claims only)
Fax the form and evidence to 844-531-7818. Include a cover page identifying the veteran by name, last four of SSN, and the open claim number. Disability claims and appeals only; not used for education, fiduciary, or pension routes.
Mail to category-specific intake center
Mail submission goes to different addresses depending on the benefit type:
- Disability and pension claims: Department of Veterans Affairs, Claims Intake Center, PO Box 4444, Janesville, WI 53547-4444.
- BVA appeals: Board of Veterans' Appeals, PO Box 27063, Washington, DC 20038.
- Education benefits: Education Service intake at the appropriate Regional Processing Office (Buffalo, St. Louis, or Muskogee, depending on residence).
- Fiduciary matters: The hub fiduciary office assigned to the veteran's region.
- National Pension Intake Center: PO Box 5365, Janesville, WI 53547-5365 (for pension-specific filings).
What priority processing does not do
The flash speeds up the queue, not the substance of the claim. The most common misconceptions:
What it does
- Moves the file ahead at every stage transition (Initial Review, Evidence Review, Rating, etc.).
- Persists across future claims by the same veteran.
- Applies to appeals as well as new claims.
- Combines with the underlying claim's Duty to Assist obligations.
What it does not do
- It does not speed up evidence collection. Private records still take as long as the provider takes to send them.
- It does not speed up C&P exam scheduling much. Examiner availability is the bottleneck, not VA queue position.
- It does not change the outcome of the claim. A weak claim with priority is still a weak claim.
- It does not stack. Qualifying under three pathways instead of one does not move you triple-fast (except for the ALS hierarchy).
Primary authorities
- 38 CFR 20.800 (order of consideration of appeals; advancement on the docket at the Board of Veterans' Appeals). law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/38/20.800
- VA Form 20-10207, Priority Processing Request. va.gov/find-forms/about-form-20-10207
- M21-1, Part III, Subpart ii, Chapter 2, Section G (priority processing categories).
- M21-1, Part X, Subpart i, Chapter 1 (priority processing programs).
- M21-5, Chapter 1, Section A (general claims processing standards).
- M27-2, Part I, Chapter 02 (BVA priority docket procedures).
- M28C.IV.A.1, Chapter 31 (VR&E expedited processing for service members).
Frequently Asked Questions
How much faster will my claim move with priority processing?
The improvement varies by Regional Office workload and by the specific stage where your claim sits. For a Standard Claim that normally takes around five months, priority can compress the timeline by roughly 30 to 60 days in many cases, mostly by reducing time spent waiting in the rating queue. There is no fixed guarantee, and the improvement is smaller for claims stalled in Evidence Gathering, which is the slowest stage and the one least affected by priority.
Do I need to reapply for priority on every new claim?
No. Once the priority flash is on your file, it persists and applies to future claims and appeals automatically. The VA may re-verify eligibility for certain time-limited categories (extreme hardship, homelessness, terminal illness) if many years have passed without a related filing, but most pathways do not expire.
If I qualify under three categories, do I get processed three times faster?
No. The categories share equal priority weighting, with the exception of ALS, which sits at the top of the priority hierarchy. Qualifying under more than one pathway can be useful as a backup in case one piece of evidence is questioned, but it does not compound the speed.
I'm homeless but I don't have any documents. Can I still apply?
Yes. The homeless pathway is the most accessible of the ten. The VA does not require formal third-party proof of homelessness for the priority flash. A signed personal statement on VA Form 20-10207, plus a working phone number and a reliable mailing address (a friend, family member, or VSO office can be the mailing address), is usually enough.
Does priority processing apply to my Board of Veterans' Appeals docket position?
Yes, under a separate procedural rule. The BVA "advancement on the docket" provision at 38 CFR 20.800 lets the Board move an appeal forward for serious illness, advanced age (75 or older), severe financial hardship, or "other sufficient cause." If you already have a priority flash on your file from a Regional Office determination, the BVA usually honors that finding, but a separate motion to advance on the docket may still be needed for the appeal itself.
I filed for BDD. Do I still need to submit Form 20-10207?
No. Benefits Delivery at Discharge (BDD) claims receive priority processing automatically, by virtue of the BDD program design. No separate priority form is needed. See the BDD guide for the 90-to-180-day pre-separation filing window.
My VSO submitted the priority request weeks ago and nothing has changed on my tracker. What now?
The tracker does not visibly show the priority flash to the public. Call 1-800-827-1000 and ask the call center representative to confirm whether a hardship or priority flash is on the file. If it is not, ask the VSO to resubmit with confirmation of receipt, or schedule a VERA consultation for a second pair of eyes from a Regional Office senior staffer.
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