VSO TRIP #1 2026/2027 | 300+ Practice Questions, Correct
Answers & Detailed Rationales
SECTION 1: INTENT TO FILE AND CLAIM BASICS
1. What is the primary purpose of an Intent to File?
A. To guarantee service connection
B. To establish a potential effective date while the claimant gathers
evidence
C. To establish a disability rating
D. To request an examination
Answer: B
Rationale: An Intent to File preserves a potential earlier effective date
while the claimant completes the substantive claim.
2. Which VA form is used for an Intent to File?
A. VA Form 21-22
B. VA Form 21-526EZ
C. VA Form 21-0966
D. VA Form 21-4138
Answer: C
Rationale: VA Form 21-0966 is the current Intent to File form for
applicable compensation, pension, and survivor/DIC claims. (Veterans
Affairs)
3. After notifying VA of an Intent to File, how long generally does the
claimant have to complete the claim?
,A. 30 days
B. 90 days
C. 6 months
D. 1 year
Answer: D
Rationale: VA states that the claimant generally has one year after
notifying VA of an Intent to File to complete and file the claim.
(Veterans Affairs)
4. Which benefit is NOT one of the benefit types for which VA
currently describes an Intent to File process?
A. Disability compensation
B. Pension
C. DIC
D. Automobile insurance
Answer: D
Rationale: Automobile insurance is not a VA benefit covered by the
Intent to File process.
5. What does an Intent to File potentially protect?
A. The claimant's military rank
B. The earliest possible effective date
C. A guaranteed percentage evaluation
D. A guaranteed award
Answer: B
Rationale: The purpose is to preserve a potential start date for benefits,
which can affect retroactive payments. (Veterans Affairs)
,6. If a claimant submits an Intent to File but never submits the
completed claim within the applicable period, what generally
happens?
A. The Intent to File remains permanently active
B. It expires
C. It automatically becomes a disability award
D. It becomes an appeal
Answer: B
Rationale: An Intent to File does not remain open indefinitely; VA states
that the claimant has one year to complete the claim. (Veterans Affairs)
7. How many active Intents to File may generally exist at one time?
A. One
B. Two
C. Three
D. Unlimited
Answer: A
Rationale: VA states that a claimant can have only one active Intent to
File at a time. (Veterans Affairs)
8. If a claimant has an active Intent to File for disability compensation
and later wants to file a pension claim, what should the claimant
understand?
A. The disability Intent automatically covers pension
B. No Intent is ever needed for pension
C. A separate Intent to File may be required for the different benefit
type
D. Pension must be filed as an appeal
, Answer: C
Rationale: VA explains that an Intent for one benefit type does not
automatically establish an Intent for another benefit type. (Veterans
Affairs)
9. Which situation best illustrates why a claimant might use an Intent
to File?
A. The claimant has all evidence and wants an examination immediately
B. The claimant needs time to gather evidence but wants to preserve a
potential earlier date
C. The claimant wants to appeal a Board decision
D. The claimant wants to change representatives
Answer: B
Rationale: The process is designed for claimants who need additional
time to complete their evidence and claim.
10. If a claimant starts an eligible disability compensation application
online using a verified account, what does VA indicate?
A. A separate Intent to File is always required
B. The online process can automatically establish the intent date
C. The claimant must submit VA Form 21-0966 by mail
D. The claimant must first receive a rating decision
Answer: B
Rationale: VA explains that starting an eligible online application with a
verified account can automatically establish the potential start date.
(Veterans Affairs)
11. Which term describes the date from which an awarded VA benefit
generally becomes payable?
Answers & Detailed Rationales
SECTION 1: INTENT TO FILE AND CLAIM BASICS
1. What is the primary purpose of an Intent to File?
A. To guarantee service connection
B. To establish a potential effective date while the claimant gathers
evidence
C. To establish a disability rating
D. To request an examination
Answer: B
Rationale: An Intent to File preserves a potential earlier effective date
while the claimant completes the substantive claim.
2. Which VA form is used for an Intent to File?
A. VA Form 21-22
B. VA Form 21-526EZ
C. VA Form 21-0966
D. VA Form 21-4138
Answer: C
Rationale: VA Form 21-0966 is the current Intent to File form for
applicable compensation, pension, and survivor/DIC claims. (Veterans
Affairs)
3. After notifying VA of an Intent to File, how long generally does the
claimant have to complete the claim?
,A. 30 days
B. 90 days
C. 6 months
D. 1 year
Answer: D
Rationale: VA states that the claimant generally has one year after
notifying VA of an Intent to File to complete and file the claim.
(Veterans Affairs)
4. Which benefit is NOT one of the benefit types for which VA
currently describes an Intent to File process?
A. Disability compensation
B. Pension
C. DIC
D. Automobile insurance
Answer: D
Rationale: Automobile insurance is not a VA benefit covered by the
Intent to File process.
5. What does an Intent to File potentially protect?
A. The claimant's military rank
B. The earliest possible effective date
C. A guaranteed percentage evaluation
D. A guaranteed award
Answer: B
Rationale: The purpose is to preserve a potential start date for benefits,
which can affect retroactive payments. (Veterans Affairs)
,6. If a claimant submits an Intent to File but never submits the
completed claim within the applicable period, what generally
happens?
A. The Intent to File remains permanently active
B. It expires
C. It automatically becomes a disability award
D. It becomes an appeal
Answer: B
Rationale: An Intent to File does not remain open indefinitely; VA states
that the claimant has one year to complete the claim. (Veterans Affairs)
7. How many active Intents to File may generally exist at one time?
A. One
B. Two
C. Three
D. Unlimited
Answer: A
Rationale: VA states that a claimant can have only one active Intent to
File at a time. (Veterans Affairs)
8. If a claimant has an active Intent to File for disability compensation
and later wants to file a pension claim, what should the claimant
understand?
A. The disability Intent automatically covers pension
B. No Intent is ever needed for pension
C. A separate Intent to File may be required for the different benefit
type
D. Pension must be filed as an appeal
, Answer: C
Rationale: VA explains that an Intent for one benefit type does not
automatically establish an Intent for another benefit type. (Veterans
Affairs)
9. Which situation best illustrates why a claimant might use an Intent
to File?
A. The claimant has all evidence and wants an examination immediately
B. The claimant needs time to gather evidence but wants to preserve a
potential earlier date
C. The claimant wants to appeal a Board decision
D. The claimant wants to change representatives
Answer: B
Rationale: The process is designed for claimants who need additional
time to complete their evidence and claim.
10. If a claimant starts an eligible disability compensation application
online using a verified account, what does VA indicate?
A. A separate Intent to File is always required
B. The online process can automatically establish the intent date
C. The claimant must submit VA Form 21-0966 by mail
D. The claimant must first receive a rating decision
Answer: B
Rationale: VA explains that starting an eligible online application with a
verified account can automatically establish the potential start date.
(Veterans Affairs)
11. Which term describes the date from which an awarded VA benefit
generally becomes payable?
