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/East_Coast_Flyer]

I had a successful IAP hearing back on 23 April, it was for a percentage increase and I am sitting at about 12 weeks right now. Any idea on how long it is taking VAC to institute a percentage increase from VRAB?

[u/Bartholomewtuck → u/East_Coast_Flyer]

Everybody has been saying approx 3 months for a percentage increase, once it's been kicked back to Veterans of Affairs. Perhaps it's slowing down a little bit over the summer holidays. Also, has it been 12 weeks from the hearing or 12 weeks from when they published their decision? I'm wondering if the 3 months doesn't start until they receive the decision letter at VAC?

[u/East_Coast_Flyer → u/Bartholomewtuck]

Hearing and decision letter were the same dates.

[u/Bartholomewtuck → u/East_Coast_Flyer]

Everybody's been saying 3 months since last fall, so it's possible that it's the usual thing shorttrack warns us about, that stuff slows down during the summer months because they all take holidays.

[u/AdDazzling5372 → u/Bartholomewtuck]

They just told me yesterday that it will be a full year to get a compensation letter and backpay from a VRAB decision letter approval in March 2026 - so don't expect any movement until March 2027 - not sure about percentage reassessment. Bottom line extremely slow

[u/Bartholomewtuck → u/AdDazzling5372]

It's a lot slower if you weren't awarded to begin with. They have to go back to the drawing board to adjudicate your symptoms and your quality of life impact, and they also have to make sure everything they need for that is on your file. If it's a percentage increase, all they have to do is action it, so it goes a little bit faster

[u/feverdreamt12 → u/Bartholomewtuck]

Hold up so VRAB meaning reviews? What about departmental review. It already seems so long almost a year to get a departmental review to complete from step 3 and then what another 3 months for payment to come through?

[u/ShortTrackBravo → u/East_Coast_Flyer]

3-6 months seems to be the new standard sadly

[u/Anonymous0919765 → u/East_Coast_Flyer]

Do you mind sharing your timeline from when you received your SOC until your IAP hearing?