If you think you have a secondary claim — even if you haven't gotten a doctor's appointment yet, even if you're not sure — file an Intent to File right now. It takes five minutes. It costs nothing. And it can be worth thousands of dollars in back pay.
Here's why.
What an Intent to File Is
An Intent to File (ITF) is a simple notice to the VA that you plan to file a disability claim. It's VA Form 21-0966. You file it on VA.gov, by phone, or in person at a regional office.
Filing it locks your effective date — the date from which your disability compensation will be calculated if your claim is granted.
Without an ITF, your effective date is the date you submit your formal claim (VA Form 21-526EZ). With an ITF, your effective date is the ITF date — which could be months earlier.
That difference is back pay.
The Math
A 30% VA rating for sleep apnea is worth $526.05 per month as of 2026. If your formal claim takes 138 days to process (the VA's current average), that's 4.5 months of back pay — $2,367 — you would lose if you hadn't filed an ITF before gathering your evidence.
If your nexus letter takes two months to obtain and the claim processes in five months, you're looking at seven months of back pay. At 30%, that's $3,682. At 50%, $5,320.
File the ITF first. Gather the evidence second. Submit the formal claim when you're ready.
Use the Back-Pay Estimator to calculate your specific number.
The 12-Month Rule
After you file an ITF, you have 12 months to submit the formal claim (VA Form 21-526EZ).
If you miss the 12-month window, your ITF expires. You can file a new one, but you lose the back-pay protection from the original date. The clock resets.
12 months is enough time to:
- Get the formal diagnosis on record
- Find a physician willing to write a nexus letter
- Use nexus templates to prepare the letter language
- Submit the 21-526EZ with all evidence uploaded
If you're not going to be ready within 12 months, file a new ITF closer to when you're ready rather than letting the original one expire.
How to File an ITF in Five Minutes
Online (fastest)
- Go to va.gov
- Sign in with ID.me, Login.gov, or DS Logon
- Search "Intent to File" or go to VA Form 21-0966
- Complete the form — it asks for your name, contact info, and the type of benefit (disability compensation)
- Submit. You'll receive a confirmation number.
By Phone
Call 1-800-827-1000. Tell the representative you want to file an Intent to File for disability compensation. They will record it.
In Person
Visit your nearest VA regional office. Ask the front desk to help you file an ITF.
Through a VSO
If you work with a Veterans Service Organization, they can file it on your behalf. But don't wait for a VSO appointment — file it yourself online first.
ITF for Secondary Claims
An ITF works the same way for secondary claims as it does for new claims. File it even if you only suspect you have a secondary condition.
Use our Condition Finder to identify what conditions you may be able to secondary-service-connect. If anything comes up as a likely candidate, file the ITF the same day. Then start gathering evidence.
What to Do in the 12 Months After Your ITF
- Identify your secondary conditions — use the Condition Finder
- Get the diagnosis on record with a private physician
- Obtain a nexus letter — use the free templates
- Complete VA Form 21-526EZ and upload all evidence
- Prepare for your C&P exam — use the C&P Prep Checklist
Track your ITF date and the 12-month deadline with the Effective Date Visualizer.