Q: If I file a new or supplemental VA claim, do I need to resubmit my old evidence, or does the VA already have it on file?

Answer:

If you file a new claim or a supplemental claim, you usually don’t have to resubmit evidence you already sent in for previous claims—the VA keeps your records on file. But here’s the catch: the rater handling your new claim might not always dig through your whole file to find old evidence, especially if you don’t point it out. Best practice? If there’s any old evidence that directly supports your new claim, attach it again and reference it in your application. It never hurts to make the VA’s job easier. Bottom line: the VA has your old stuff, but it’s smart to resubmit anything important—just to make sure it actually gets looked at.