BDD Claim Window Checker
Drop in your separation or retirement date. We'll tell you exactly which VA pre-discharge filing path you're in — and whether you're inside the window that gets you a rating decision the day you out-process.
File your VA claim 180 to 90 days before you separate — that's the BDD window, and it's the fastest path to a rating the day you get out.
| Days left on active duty | What you file |
|---|---|
| 180–90 days | BDD — Benefits Delivery at Discharge (expedited) |
| Fewer than 90 days | Standard pre-discharge claim |
| More than 180 days | Too early — wait for the window to open |
- You have to be available for any VA exams during the 180–90 day window. If you're about to deploy or PCS through the whole window, BDD may not work for you — file standard instead.
- You need a completed Separation Health Assessment. Get it scheduled early; it's the medical baseline the rating is built on.
- Inside 90 days, BDD is off the table — but file a standard pre-discharge claim anyway. Getting it in the system before you separate still protects your effective date.
Common questions
What is the BDD program?
Benefits Delivery at Discharge (BDD) is the VA's expedited pre-discharge claim path. You file your disability claim while you're still on active duty — somewhere between 180 and 90 days before you separate or retire — so the VA can do the legwork (exams, records review) before you ever take off the uniform. The payoff is speed: a BDD claim is processed faster, and the goal is to have a rating decision waiting for you at, or shortly after, your separation date instead of months down the road.
When can I file a VA claim before separation?
For the BDD path, you file when you have 180 to 90 days left on active duty. That 90-day window is the sweet spot: enough runway left for the VA to schedule and complete any disability exams before you separate, but close enough to discharge that your medical picture is current. You also have to be available for those VA exams during the window and have completed your Separation Health Assessment. File earlier than 180 days and the VA will turn you away; wait until fewer than 90 days are left and you lose BDD eligibility.
What if I have fewer than 90 days left?
If you're inside 90 days from separation, you can no longer use BDD — but you are not out of luck. You can still file a standard claim through the pre-discharge process with whatever documentation you have. It just won't get the expedited BDD handling, so expect the rating decision to land after you separate rather than at your discharge date. File anyway: getting the claim in the system before you separate still protects your effective date.
Can I file more than 180 days before I get out?
No. More than 180 days out is too early for BDD — the VA won't accept a BDD claim yet because your separation is too far off and your medical evidence would go stale before discharge. Wait until you hit the 180-day mark, then file. Mark the date your window opens (your separation date minus 180 days) on the calendar so you don't miss the front edge of it.
Official Sources
- VA — File a Pre-Discharge Disability Claim →
The source of truth for the BDD (180–90 days) and standard pre-discharge paths, including the Separation Health Assessment and exam-availability requirements.