Post-Decision Timing & Back Pay

Winning the claim is only halftime; now you have to verify the pay hits the bank on schedule. Start by reviewing the award letter against current compensation charts and use Request a VA Regional Office Review if the retroactive deposit or cost-of-living adjustments lag longer than the timeline VA promised. Keep a spreadsheet of actual payment dates so you can point to missed milestones in writing.

Effective dates are the backbone of back pay. Lock In VA Favorable Findings walks you through capturing every concession the rater made so a later appeal cannot erase them, while Request Your C-File gives you the code sheet and internal notes that explain how VA calculated your percentages. Store those documents with certified mail receipts so you can prove when you alerted VA to any discrepancy.

Dependency paperwork trips up more veterans than new claims. Stop Lost Records provides the checklist for updating names, marriages, divorces, or school certifications so your monthly rate keeps pace with household changes. When you add a spouse or child, include copies of the documents you already uploaded to eBenefits so there is no excuse for delayed adjustments.

Stay on offense if the math still looks wrong. Use the VA Form 20-0995 Guide to prep a supplemental claim that attacks calculation errors, and keep Request Your C-File close so you can send exact page references during congressional or White House hotline calls. That persistence protects every dollar of back pay and keeps future increases from stalling at the payment center.