Benefits Delivery at Discharge Allows Active-Duty Service Members to Get a Head Start on VA Claims

If you are on active duty and within a certain date range from discharge, you may be eligible to file for disability benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) ahead of your separation.   

The VA’s Benefits Delivery at Discharge (BDD) program allows active-duty service members to apply for VA disability compensation benefits 180 to 90 days before separation. During this time, VA can review medical records, schedule mandatory exams, and evaluate claims. This means that by the time you provide your discharge paperwork, like your DD214, much of the work behind your VA claim is already done, helping you get a head start preparing for your post-military life.  

Wounded Warrior Project^® (WWP) can help active-duty service members who qualify for BDD navigate the claims process. WWP® has a team of VA-accredited national service officers dedicated to helping military members prepare strong, accurate applications. 

Service members can do things on their own to help with their VA claims, but having the support of veterans service organizations like WWP can make the process less stressful. 

Q&A About BDD Claims 

There are often a lot of questions when it comes to filing for VA benefits, especially for the first time, and that includes BDD claims. WWP benefits training and operations specialist Michael Snook answers some common questions service members may have about BDD claims. 

Question: Should you file for BDD even if you’re unsure where your permanent residency will be when you get out?  

Answer: Yes, but more important is understanding where you need to reside when the examinations for your BDD claim are ordered. If you’re not at the address you put on the VA forms, your exams will be ordered for the wrong place and might delay your decision.  

What if you file for BDD but move before scheduling your compensation and pension (C&P) exam or move before your scheduled appointment?  

Answer: Your exams will be ordered based on your address on the VA application. If you miss those exams, you must reschedule them, which could significantly delay the processing of your BDD claim.  

How long does a BDD claim take? Is the BDD claim timeline the same regardless of whether it’s a BDD claim?  

Answer: The timetable is quite different. When a veteran files a claim after they separate, it can sometimes take nine months to a year. BDD claims run parallel to your active military service, meaning you still receive a paycheck while the claims are processed. In most cases, your claim is completed within weeks after separation, up to a few months.  

If I’m serving in the National Guard or Reserves but am activated for 180 days and will receive my DD214 during this activation, can I apply for BDD?  

Answer: The requirements of BDD require that you file your claim within 180-90 days from separation. So, if you fall within this timeframe, you can file a BDD claim.  

If I have already submitted my BDD claim but receive additional support for the claim, like new medical records or buddy letters, can I still submit those?  

Answer: You should always talk to your VSO to determine what to do with additional evidence. But having additional medical evidence that shows the seriousness of the condition or an eyewitness account via buddy statements that can provide credibility to the condition is always helpful!  

Since I won’t get my DD214 until right before my separation from the military, and the VA requires a DD214 for VA claims, how can I file for a BDD without it? 

Answer: VA expects that and doesn’t require a DD214 for a BDD claim. When you get within a month of separation, the VA will send you a letter asking for the DD214 once your branch of service issues it. Then, it will finish up your claim.  

Can you receive retroactive pay for a BDD claim?  

Answer: Sometimes, but rarely, does a BDD claim take longer than a month after separation to complete.  

What if I receive a rating from VA on my BDD claim but disagree with the rating?  

Answer: You have timeframes to request an appeal or a higher-level review of the findings of a BDD claim. Remember that a decision on a BDD claim is not forever, and you still have the same due process appeal rights as any other type of claim.   

Important Tips for BDD Claims

Preparation Is Key 

It’s never too early to start preparing for your BDD claim. More importantly, it’s never too late to start documenting your injuries. The sooner you get your conditions reviewed and in your medical record, the better off you’ll be for your claim. Up-to-date medical evidence is especially important for any chronic conditions. 

• Document every injury, illness, or wound before submitting your BDD claim. Even minor issues should be evaluated and recorded. Don’t assume an injury, illness, or wound won’t be service-connected.   
• Don’t dismiss or minimize what you’re experiencing. Don’t ignore your body. If something hurts or feels off, ask a veterans service organization whether it should be included in your claim. This includes genitourinary/OB-GYN concerns, which are often overlooked.  
• Request your service treatment records early. Always make sure that when submitting a BDD claim, you’ve already requested your active-duty service treatment. Request these records 180 days prior to your discharge/retirement date. You cannot submit a BDD claim without them.  
  • Further, make sure you make separate requests for all medical, dental, and mental health records. 
  • Lastly, make sure you double-check that you have your entrance exam (to include at MEPS) in your documents. Double-check your military personnel file, as it’s sometimes placed there instead. 

About Your C&P Exams 

The Compensation and Pension (C&P) exams are ordered by the VA, but they are not conducted by a VA examiner. Instead, they’re completed by private physicians through one of the VA’s contracted third-party vendors. Watch for any communication from these contractors (contact information below): 

• Loyal Source Government Services (LSGS), 833.832.7077 (TTY: 711). Caller ID will show “VA Exam - Loyal Source.” 
• OptumServe Health Services (OSHS), 866.933.8387. Caller ID will show “VA EXAM - Optum.” 
• For Leidos QTC Health Services (QTC), 800.682.9701. Caller ID will show “VA EXAM-QTC.” 
• Veterans Evaluation Services (VES), 877.637.8387. If you’re outside the continental U.S., call +1-713-255-5656. Caller ID will show “VA EXAM-VES.”  

Tip: Save these phone numbers in your contacts, so you don’t mistake them for spam. Also, check your email regularly to see if the contractors have reached out that way. 

Additional Tips 

• Review the VA’s rating schedule. The VA’s online live manual explains how disabilities are evaluated. The more you understand, the better prepared you are for your C&P exams. 
• VA only uses Disability Benefits Questionnaires (DBQs) for conducting C&P exams, to include contracted providers who are trained to fill them out. Do you want to gain an understanding of how they will be conducted? VA publishes nearly all Disability Benefits Questionnaires online here. 

You Don’t Have to Go It Alone 

Whether it’s filing for VA benefits, understanding the claims process, learning to budget finances, or preparing for a new civilian job, WWP can help. WWP’s financial wellness programs help warriors navigate their post-military lives and reach their financial and career goals.  

Find out how WWP helps warriors thrive for a lifetime.

Contact: Paris Moulden, Public Relations, pmoulden@woundedwarriorproject.org, 904.570.7910

About Wounded Warrior Project
Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) is the nation's leading veterans service organization, focused on the total well-being of post-9/11 veterans, active-duty service members, and their families. Our programs, advocacy, and awareness efforts help warriors thrive, provide essential lifelines to families and caregivers, and prevent veteran suicides. Learn more about Wounded Warrior Project.