Congressional Inquiry

Do you feel like your claim is lost in VA purgatory? Or are having some other issue with the VA?

If so, contacting your representative might help things along.

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What an Inquiry CAN Do

Your representative will send a letter to the VA asking them what is going on. The VA will then send a response to your representative.

If your claim was hung up on something stupid, the VA should fix the issue. But do know that there are situations that will delay a claim's processing that are outside the control of the VA.

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An inquiry CAN:

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• Get things moving;

• Provide you with an explanation for delays;

• Get debts forgiven;

• Give your claim Priority processing.

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What an Inquiry Does NOT Do

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An inquiry does NOT:

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• Make your claim take longer;

• AUTOMATICALLY give your claim Priority processing;

• Influence the VA to make a decision that is NOT in line with current law/VA policy.

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Contacting your Representative

Click HERE to find out who you representative is and how to contact them.

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Creating a Letter for your Representative

When writing to your representative you should include the following:

1. What your issue is;

2. What outcome you are seeking; and

3. Relevant information:

• When you filed your claim

• If you are experiencing any hardship(s)

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Alternative Solutions

If you want to talk to someone else about your claim consider using:

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1. A Veterans Service Organization; or the

2. Visitor Engagement Reporting Application (VERA) to talk to someone at your VA's Regional Office (RO).

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If you have an issue with your VA Medical Center (VAMC) consider using:

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A Patient Advocate.

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FAQ

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How long does an inquiry take?

• Generally, you should hear back within a month.

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How long should I wait before submitting an inquiry?

• As the average time to complete a claim is around 120 days. You should really only submit an inquiry after 120 days.