Insider strategy
How to get your VA claim expedited
The VA moves some claims to the front of the line. It is called priority processing, and only certain situations qualify. Here is what those situations are, how to ask, and what it can and cannot do for you.
The wait is the hardest part. You filed months ago, the status page has not moved, and rent is due. So you start hearing the same question everywhere: is there a way to make the VA go faster?
There is, for some people. The VA runs a lane it calls priority processing. It pulls a claim to the front of the line when the veteran is in one of a set of specific situations. It is not a trick, and it is not for everyone. It is a real program with real rules, and knowing whether you qualify is worth five minutes before you file your next claim.
The short version
Priority processing moves your claim up the queue if your life fits one of the recognized grounds, like severe financial hardship, terminal illness, or homelessness. You request it with VA Form 20-10207 and supporting proof. It changes the speed, not the decision. You still need the same evidence, and it does not raise your odds of a grant.
What priority processing actually does
Think of the claims backlog as a line. Priority processing does not skip any of the steps in your claim. The VA still gathers your records, still orders an exam if one is needed, and still decides the claim on the same evidence. What changes is your place in line. Your claim gets worked ahead of others that are waiting.
That distinction matters. Nobody at the VA looks more kindly on a claim because it was expedited. A weak claim that moves fast is still a weak claim. So use this to shorten a painful wait, not as a substitute for building your evidence.
The situations that qualify
The VA lists the recognized grounds on the priority processing form itself. If one of these describes you, you can ask for your claim to be moved up:
| If you are… | What it means |
|---|---|
| In extreme financial hardship | Facing eviction or foreclosure, past-due utility shut-off, or debt in collections. |
| Homeless or at risk of it | You have no stable housing, or you are about to lose the housing you have. |
| Terminally ill | You have an illness that is terminal in nature. |
| Diagnosed with ALS | Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. |
| Very seriously injured or ill | A severe disability or injury from a military operation likely to end your service. |
| Age 85 or older | The claim moves up on age alone. |
| A former Prisoner of War | Confirmed by your service records or details of your internment. |
| A Medal of Honor or Purple Heart recipient | Confirmed by your records or award documentation. |
This is the full recognized list, not a menu you argue around. If none of these fits, priority processing is not your path, and that is worth knowing early so you do not lose time chasing it.
How to request it
The form is VA Form 20-10207, the Priority Processing Request. You fill it out, check the reason that applies to you, and attach or reference the proof. You can complete it online or on paper. If you mail it, compensation claims go to the Compensation Intake Center, and the form's instructions list the exact address for each benefit type.
The VA also says the fastest way to reach them is to call the National Call Center at 1-800-827-1000. The time it takes your request to reach the VA affects how fast they can act on it, so speed on your end helps.
You do not have to do this alone. A Veterans Service Officer can file the request for you and flag the hardship directly. A VSO knows how the intake staff read these forms, and their help is free. If you already work with one, ask them to submit the 20-10207 with your claim.
What documentation helps
Each ground has its own proof, and the form tells you what to send. For financial hardship, that means the paper that shows the emergency: a copy of an eviction notice or statement of foreclosure, a past-due utility bill, or a collection notice from a creditor. For terminal illness or ALS, it is medical evidence of the diagnosis. For age 85, it is your date of birth. For former POW status, the Medal of Honor, or the Purple Heart, it is your service records, such as a DD Form 214, or the award documentation.
Send what you have. You do not need to prove the merits of your whole claim here. You only need to show that the situation you checked is real.
Only ask when it genuinely applies
This is a lane for veterans in real trouble. Requesting it when none of the grounds fits your life wastes intake staff time, and it can cost the credibility you want them to give the rest of your file. If the situation is true, document it and ask without hesitation. If it is not, build your evidence instead and let the claim run its normal course.
Why honesty here is the whole game
Everything you put in front of the VA is part of one record. When you check a box that says you are facing eviction, the notice you attach is the thing that makes it real. State the facts plainly and let the paper carry the weight. You are not asking for a favor. You are telling the VA that your circumstances match a category it already agreed to prioritize.
And keep your expectation in the right place. Priority processing can turn a long wait into a shorter one. It cannot turn a denial into a grant. The evidence still decides the claim. If your file is thin, the fastest thing you can do for the outcome is strengthen it, not just speed it up.
Where to verify this yourself
Do not take our word for it. The grounds and the documentation for each one come straight from the VA. You can read them on the Request Priority Processing page at VA.gov, which links the current version of Form 20-10207 and its instructions. If your situation fits a ground listed there, you have a real case to move your claim up.
Not sure where your claim stands?
The VA Claims Copilot can walk you through whether a priority processing ground applies and what to attach. Or upload your decision letter and it will explain, in plain English, exactly where your claim is and what to do next.
This is general education, not legal advice, and not from the VA. Your claim depends on your records, your evidence, and your exam. For advice on your specific situation, work with a free VA-accredited representative or a Veterans Service Organization. We are not the VA and are not affiliated with the VA.