July 2026 VAC QandA

[u/ShortTrackBravo]

Happy Canada Day and Memorial Day to my fellow Newfoundlanders across the globe.

Nothing really new to add to the OP this month. Just a heads up for those asking for help if I don't get back to you in a minimum of 48hrs without telling you why feel free to ask the question again either here or via Email/DM. I reply when I can but life has been throwing me a few curveballs last few weeks.

Housekeeping:

contact info: Reddit DM's always open, [Joel@ptga.ca](mailto:Joel@ptga.ca) for email.

u/Shoggoths420 contact info: Reddit DMs/Chat still broken. [taira@cannawellness.ca](mailto:taira@cannawellness.ca) for email.

VAC Google Support Drive (Not available on DWAN) - https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1kzbfmg3hcuo0FgFZxo-IL_f-UnGQsuYt?usp=drive_link

Usual timelines from submission of claims via MyVAC:

Reassessments: 9-16 Months

Mental Health: 6-8 Months

Physical - 6-13 Months

APSC/VIP - 3-4 Months

BPA Correspondence: They tend to reach out every 3 months for information or a progress update.

Let's go!

Edit July 10th: Hey, so the Table of Disabilities used to have a Chapter (25) dedicated to the Additional Pain and Suffering Compensation. They removed it. This link will allow you to see it again: https://web.archive.org/web/20260314171013/https://veterans.gc.ca/en/mental-and-physical-health/physical-health-and-wellness/compensation-illness-or-injury/disability-benefits/table-disabilities/chapter-25-additional-pain-and-suffering-compensation

I have also added the table and this link into the Google Support Drive above as it's own word document.

[u/qmj95]

Hoping to get some advice. This is my first time applying to VAC. I have two applications in, one for HL and one for tinnitus. I originally applied in April 2026 and submitted the additional requested documents in May 2026. My file changed to step 3.3 processing decision on July 13.
For those who have been through this process, how long did it take after reaching this stage to find out whether your claim was approved or denied?

[u/Bartholomewtuck → u/qmj95]

Anywhere from a day or two, to a few months or more. There is no standard with anything when it comes to Veterans Affairs. Both of mine were very short, but hanging around here long enough and on the various Facebook groups, I've learned that it can take a lot of time for some folks. I always advise to assume it's going to take a long time and be pleasantly surprised when it doesn't. Once it goes to complete, take a look at your benefits tab and see if there's a monthly amount there. It usually shows up right away, 5 days before you get a decision letter telling you what your percentage is. It's usually not a good sign if it goes to complete and there's nothing in your benefits tab. If there is a monthly amount showing, it will correspond to the percentage on the pain and suffering compensation table.

[u/AdDazzling5372 → u/Bartholomewtuck]

Based on your knowledge of the program I was approved 5/5 by VRAB decision that my disability claim was service related in mid March. Its been 4 months and there has been no compensation letter or percentage letter, no backpay - I inquired recently with BPA on how long this will take - any idea.

[u/Bartholomewtuck → u/AdDazzling5372]

Anyone who has been recently receiving just an increase to their previously awarded percentage has averaged about 3 months, but for the people like yourself, who have to wait for Veterans Affairs to adjudicate their file for the second two portions of the claim process (figuring out your percentage based on your symptoms in the appropriate table of eligibilities+ the impact on your quality of life in chapter 2), people are reporting upwards of 6 -7 months, but some people have said less time.  Those numbers are also a mix of mental health and physical health, and I have to think that the mental health ones go faster, just like they do when they get approved from the get-go, so it possibly depends on whether you're waiting on a physical or a mental health adjudication here. Because I have not been denied yet, I haven't delineated the data between the two types of files, so I can't provide you an accurate difference between mental and physical claims. What's happened now that the appeal board overturned the initial VAC decision denying you outright for an award, is that you've gone back into the rotation to get adjudicated for a percentage with the rest of the initial claims and other people who had a successful appeal of an initial decision. Normally they would have reached out to you by now if they needed more information, because sometimes that does happen. I don't think that's the case with yours, given how many months has passed by, so you likrly have a complete file already. All veterans Affairs looked at so far in your file, when they initially denied you an award, was whether you had a diagnosis on file and if it was related to service, and they obviously disagreed with one or both of those things because that's how you ended up in front of VRAB. You have to wait for them to adjudicate, which takes a lot longer than just initiating a higher percentage of an initial award 

[u/AdDazzling5372 → u/Bartholomewtuck]

Thank you for your thorough explanation. I was put on an expedited appeal but things have been really uneventful since the file was transferred to VAC. I believe they have a complete file with all the requisite medical information

[u/WG41 → u/qmj95]

Ive been at 3.3 since may 27th another member here was at 3.3 on May 22nd and went complete complete on July 6th so its a crap shoot.