Living abroad doesn't stop you from filing a VA claim. It changes who handles it, how exams work, and what can go wrong.
1. File an Intent to File first
An Intent to File (VA Form 21-0966) can lock in your effective date while you gather evidence. You then have 1 year to file the full claim. Starting the online claim on VA.gov creates one automatically. From abroad you can also call 1-800-827-1000 or +1-412-395-6272.
2. File the claim (VA Form 21-526EZ)
File online at VA.gov, or by mail to Department of Veterans Affairs, Claims Intake Center, PO Box 4444, Janesville, WI 53547-4444. Include your foreign physical address. Claims for veterans living overseas are handled by the Pittsburgh Regional Office; Philippine compensation claims go to Manila.
- DD-214 and service treatment records
- Private medical records, or VA Form 21-4142 so VA can request them
- Buddy statements on VA Form 21-10210
- Foreign-language records are accepted; VA can translate them
3. The C&P exam abroad
VA schedules exams as close to your home as possible, often through a contract examiner. If there's no examiner in your country, VA may use a Foreign Out-of-Network (FOON) exam: VA mails you the Disability Benefits Questionnaire and a local doctor you choose completes it. Veterans living abroad aren't reimbursed for travel to exams. Missing an exam can mean VA decides on the evidence it already has.
4. Track it
Use the claim status tool on VA.gov or the VA Health and Benefits app. Average processing time changes monthly; VA reported about 69 days in October 2026.
5. If you disagree with the decision
| Supplemental Claim | VA Form 20-0995, with new and relevant evidence. File within 1 year to keep your effective date. |
|---|---|
| Higher-Level Review | VA Form 20-0996, within 1 year. No new evidence; a senior reviewer looks again. |
| Board Appeal | VA Form 10182, within 1 year. Virtual hearings are available from abroad. |
6. Get free, accredited help
VSOs like the American Legion, DAV, VFW, AMVETS and PVA have desks at the Pittsburgh Regional Office and help overseas veterans for free. Check anyone helping you with VA's accreditation search. Report unaccredited "claim consultants" at VSAFE.gov.
Agent Orange: overseas locations
Presumptive locations include Thailand (any U.S. or Royal Thai base, Jan 9, 1962 – June 30, 1976), Laos, parts of Cambodia, Guam and American Samoa, Johnston Atoll and the Korean DMZ. The Philippines is not a presumptive location.
Questions about your situation?
Ask in the VA Benefits Abroad channel. Vets who've filed from your country answer fast.
Common questions
Can I file a VA claim while living overseas?
Yes. File online at VA.gov or by mail. The Pittsburgh Regional Office handles claims for most veterans abroad; Manila handles Philippine compensation claims.
How do C&P exams work overseas?
VA schedules exams near you, often through a contract examiner. If none exists, VA may send a Disability Benefits Questionnaire for a local doctor to complete.
Is the Philippines an Agent Orange presumptive location?
No. Thailand bases, Laos, parts of Cambodia, Guam, American Samoa, Johnston Atoll and the Korean DMZ are, but the Philippines is not.
Last reviewed November 2026. Information only. Confirm with the official sources.