VA Form 20-10207
Priority Processing Request
Who fills it
veteran
Journey phase
Appeals
Estimated time
15-30 minutes plus time to gather supporting evidence.
When to file
Anytime during a pending claim/appeal.
Your claim is pending and you qualify for expedited processing.
Gather before you start
—Your claim/appeal information (VA File Number, decision date if appealing)
—Eligibility category: terminal illness, financial hardship, homelessness, age 85+, MoH, FPOW
—Supporting evidence: doctor letter (terminal), bank/eviction docs (hardship), shelter letter (homeless), DOB (85+), MoH citation, POW records
Attach with the form
—Supporting evidence specific to your eligibility category
Section I - Veteran/Claimant Identification
Blocks 1-5Name, SSN, VA File NumberPII
Match exactly to your VA records as they appear on every prior letter or DD-214 - any mismatch causes intake delays.
Example
(legal name)
Common mistakes
- Mismatched name/SSN.
Section II - Eligibility
Block 6Eligibility category
Check ALL that apply: TERMINAL ILLNESS (life expectancy <= 6 months per doctor); FINANCIAL HARDSHIP (eviction, utility shut-off, foreclosure pending); HOMELESS (or at imminent risk); AGE 85+; MEDAL OF HONOR; FORMER POW.
Example
Check all applicable
Common mistakes
- Claiming hardship without documentation - VA requires proof (eviction notice, foreclosure filing, utility shut-off letter).
- Claiming terminal illness without doctor letter stating <= 6-month prognosis - VA cannot process expedite without medical certification.
Section III - Supporting Evidence
Block 7Description of attached supporting evidence
Per category: terminal = doctor letter with prognosis; hardship = court/bank docs; homeless = shelter letter or affidavit; 85+ = DOB on file; MoH = citation; FPOW = service records.
Example
e.g., Doctor letter dated 03/15/2026 from Dr. Smith confirming 4-6 month prognosis (Stage IV pancreatic cancer)
Common mistakes
- Submitting without supporting evidence - request denied.
- Vague descriptions - examiner can't verify eligibility.
Section IV - Signature
Blocks 8-9Signature and datePII
Sign and date under penalty of perjury. Knowingly false statements are a federal crime.
Example
(signature/date)
Common mistakes
- False eligibility claim - federal fraud.
- Forgetting to sign.
Statutory & regulatory authority
38 CFR 3.500 - When VA reduces or discontinues benefits.
38 USC 5101 - Standardized form requirement.