VA Claims Timeline & Narrative Builder

A free planning tool to organize the story of your claim — visualize the timeline and draft a personal statement, all in one place.

No sign-up • Your data stays in your browser (localStorage) • Free to use

What This Tool Does

Visual Timeline

Plot every incident, claim, C&P exam, decision, and appeal on an interactive timeline that flags gaps over one year.

Auto-Generated Narrative

Generate a draft "Statement in Support of Claim" from your timeline data — then edit it in your own voice.

Condition-Aware Prompts

Add conditions by name or diagnostic code. Get automatic reminders for PTSD stressors, nexus letters, PACT Act eligibility, and more.

Print-Ready PDF

Export a clean PDF package with timeline, conditions, narrative, legal rights summary, and VSO referral info.

Template & Example

Here's a complete sample claim built with this tool — a rating progression, phased chapters, status-marked events, gap analysis, and the narrative statement it generates from that same data. Your version is fully editable, and nothing here is a real veteran's record.

Template · Example Output

PTSD Claim — Continuous Pursuit Timeline (2014–2026)

Combined Rating History
10%
Effective 2014
40%
Effective Nov 25, 2022
50%
Effective Mar 25, 2024
90%
Effective May 1, 2026
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
Initial Treatment & Claim
Feb 1, 2014 – Mar 15, 2014
Feb 1, 2014
Anxiety/insomnia treatment; Alprazolam started
VA treatment records
Mar 15, 2014
Early claim & award (10% combined)
PTSD Claims & Denials
Apr 23, 2015 – Dec 7, 2015
📄
Apr 23, 2015
Written PTSD stressor statement
Lay statement
Dec 7, 2015
First PTSD denial — no service connection
Second Denial & Misdiagnosis
Mar 31, 2016
Mar 31, 2016
Second denial — misdiagnosed as antisocial personality disorder
Flawed C&P exam, Mar 2016
Ongoing Treatment & Evidence
Feb 19, 2019
📄
Feb 19, 2019
VA letter acknowledging request to review previously denied PTSD claim
VA Letter, Feb 19 2019
MST Claim & Initial Ratings
Jan 25, 2021 – Nov 25, 2022
📄
Jan 25, 2021
MST stressor statement
Nov 25, 2022
PTSD/MDD/anxiety (MST) — increases to 40%, 50% combined
Appeals & BVA Decision
Sep 12, 2023 – Mar 25, 2024
Sep 12, 2023
BVA decision dismissing PTSD appeal
📄
Mar 25, 2024
QTC PTSD DBQ supports MST–PTSD nexus
DBQ, Mar 25 2024
HLR Rebuttal & Denial
Apr 16, 2025 – May 20, 2025
Apr 16, 2025
Denial of PTSD/MST, ED, IBS, sleep apnea
May 20, 2025
Rebuttal letter / Higher-Level Review-style request
HLR Correction & Final Grant
Jan 6, 2026 – May 1, 2026
Jan 6, 2026
HLR notes 'difference of opinion' & evidence-gathering error (corrective action)
HLR Decision, Jan 6 2026
May 1, 2026
PTSD 70% grant; 90% combined rating
⚠ Gaps > 1 year detected: Mar 15, 2014 → Apr 23, 2015 (1.1 yrs); Mar 31, 2016 → Feb 19, 2019 (2.9 yrs); Feb 19, 2019 → Jan 25, 2021 (1.9 yrs); Jan 25, 2021 → Nov 25, 2022 (1.8 yrs); Mar 25, 2024 → Apr 16, 2025 (1.1 yrs)
⚖️ Key Legal Authorities
38 C.F.R. § 3.304(f)
38 C.F.R. § 3.304(f)(5)
38 C.F.R. § 3.156(b)
38 C.F.R. § 3.156(c)
38 C.F.R. § 3.2500(b)
Rudd v. Nicholson
38 U.S.C. § 5107
📄 Critical Evidence
Written PTSD stressor statement
[Apr 23, 2015] Lay statement
VA letter acknowledging request to review previously denied PTSD claim
[Feb 19, 2019] VA Letter, Feb 19 2019
MST stressor statement
[Jan 25, 2021]
QTC PTSD DBQ supports MST–PTSD nexus
[Mar 25, 2024] DBQ, Mar 25 2024
📅 Effective Dates
10% · Jan 1, 2014
40% · Nov 25, 2022
50% · Mar 25, 2024
90% · May 1, 2026
🎯 Argument
The effective date should relate back to the original 2015 claim period, not May 2025. The 2016 denial rested on a flawed C&P exam and an antisocial-personality misdiagnosis; new and material evidence and corrected service-department records require reconsideration from the original claim under 38 C.F.R. § 3.156(b)–(c), and the HLR preserved the date under § 3.2500(b).
Theory: Continuous Pursuit / CUE
STATUS LEGEND
Approved / Granted
Denied
Pending
📄Critical Evidence
📝 Auto-Generated Narrative (from the same data)
My name is Sample, John A.. I honorably served in Army from Jun 1, 1990 to Jul 15, 1994. I am submitting this statement in support of my claim under the theory of Continuous Pursuit / CUE. I am claiming service connection for the following primary conditions: PTSD – Combat (DC 9411); PTSD – MST (DC 9413). I am also claiming the following as secondary to a primary service-connected condition: Irritable Bowel Syndrome (DC 7319), secondary to PTSD. The following is a chronological account of the events and evidence supporting my claim: On Feb 1, 2014, military treatment record — Anxiety/insomnia treatment; Alprazolam started. Supporting evidence: VA treatment records. On Mar 15, 2014, initial va claim filed [Approved / Granted] — Early claim & award (10% combined). On Apr 23, 2015, buddy statement [Critical Evidence] — Written PTSD stressor statement. Supporting evidence: Lay statement. On Dec 7, 2015, rating decision [Denied] — First PTSD denial — no service connection. On Mar 31, 2016, rating decision [Denied] — Second denial — misdiagnosed as antisocial personality disorder. Supporting evidence: Flawed C&P exam, Mar 2016. On Feb 19, 2019, military treatment record [Critical Evidence] — VA letter acknowledging request to review previously denied PTSD claim. Supporting evidence: VA Letter, Feb 19 2019. On Jan 25, 2021, buddy statement [Critical Evidence] — MST stressor statement. On Nov 25, 2022, rating increase [Approved / Granted] — PTSD/MDD/anxiety (MST) — increases to 40%, 50% combined. On Sep 12, 2023, bva decision [Denied] — BVA decision dismissing PTSD appeal. On Mar 25, 2024, dbq submitted [Critical Evidence] — QTC PTSD DBQ supports MST–PTSD nexus. Supporting evidence: DBQ, Mar 25 2024. On Apr 16, 2025, rating decision [Denied] — Denial of PTSD/MST, ED, IBS, sleep apnea. On May 20, 2025, higher-level review (hlr) [Pending] — Rebuttal letter / Higher-Level Review-style request. On Jan 6, 2026, higher-level review (hlr) [Approved / Granted] — HLR notes 'difference of opinion' & evidence-gathering error (corrective action). Supporting evidence: HLR Decision, Jan 6 2026. On May 1, 2026, rating increase [Approved / Granted] — PTSD 70% grant; 90% combined rating. I acknowledge there are 5 gaps in my documented timeline (Mar 15, 2014 to Apr 23, 2015, ~1.1 years; Mar 31, 2016 to Feb 19, 2019, ~2.9 years; Feb 19, 2019 to Jan 25, 2021, ~1.9 years; Jan 25, 2021 to Nov 25, 2022, ~1.8 years; Mar 25, 2024 to Apr 16, 2025, ~1.1 years). I am working to obtain additional records and lay statements to address continuity of symptoms during these periods. Combined rating history: 10% effective Jan 1, 2014 → 40% effective Nov 25, 2022 → 50% effective Mar 25, 2024 → 90% effective May 1, 2026. I also request consideration for the following Special Monthly Compensation categories: SMC(s) – Housebound status. The following legal considerations apply to my claim: Stressor Statement Required (38 C.F.R. § 3.304(f)); MST – Alternative Evidence Standards (38 C.F.R. § 3.304(f)(5)). Argument / Theory of Entitlement: The effective date should relate back to the original 2015 claim period, not May 2025. The 2016 denial rested on a flawed C&P exam and an antisocial-personality misdiagnosis; new and material evidence and corrected service-department records require reconsideration from the original claim under 38 C.F.R. § 3.156(b)–(c), and the HLR preserved the date under § 3.2500(b). Pursuant to 38 U.S.C. § 5107(b), I respectfully request that any reasonable doubt in this matter be resolved in my favor. I certify that the statements above are true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief. Respectfully submitted, Sample, John A.

This narrative was generated automatically from the example timeline above. In the builder you can edit every word before exporting. This sample is illustrative only and is not a real veteran's record.

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⚖️ Legal Disclaimer

This tool is a planning and organizational aid only. It does not constitute legal advice, does not establish an attorney-client relationship, and is not a substitute for representation by an accredited VA attorney or Veterans Service Organization (VSO).

For free, accredited representation, visit va.gov/ogc/apps/accreditation.