The forms veterans and service members actually need — plus statement and letter templates that aren’t numbered forms but matter just as much. Plain-English titles, when to use each, what to attach, and common mistakes — with direct links to the official sources.
For reference and educational purposes only. Always verify the current version of any form at the official agency source before filing.
Last updated May 1, 2026 · VA Disability · Healthcare · Pension · Survivor · Records · DFAS · Insurance
Bottom line up front
The VA, DoD, and DFAS have hundreds of forms — this reference covers the ones veterans and service members actually file. The most-used forms cluster into a few high-impact patterns: VA Form 21-526EZ (the disability claim — the most-filed VA form), VA Form 21-0966 (Intent to File — locks in your effective date up to 1 year earlier; takes 5 minutes; the single most valuable preserving step in the entire claim process), VA Form 21-686c (add/remove dependents — required at 30%+ rating), VA Form 21-22 (appoint a VSO), VA Form 10-10EZ (apply for VA healthcare), SF-180 (request your military records), DD Form 149 (BCMR/BCNR — correct military records), DD Form 293 (Discharge Review Board), and DD Form 2656-2 (SBP coverage update at retirement). Search by form number (e.g. “21-526”), topic (“add dependent”), or trigger (“buddy letter”) below. Each entry includes when to use it, what to attach, common mistakes, and a direct link to the official source.
This reference was built by Em, a retired U.S. Navy Commander (Medical Service Corps, 20+ years). Page 214 is free, privacy-first, and entirely client-side. Forms catalog sourced from VA.gov forms catalog (va.gov/find-forms), benefits.va.gov (insurance forms), DoD Forms Directorate (esd.whs.mil), DFAS forms library, the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC), and TSP.gov. The most-cited statutory and regulatory authorities for these forms include 38 U.S.C. Chapter 11 (compensation), 38 C.F.R. Part 3 (claim adjudication), 38 C.F.R. Part 19 (BVA appeals), 38 C.F.R. Part 20 (Board procedures), 38 C.F.R. Part 17 (VA healthcare), 38 C.F.R. § 3.155 (claim filing rules including the Intent to File preserving rule), 38 C.F.R. § 3.304(f)(5) (MST relaxed-evidence standard), 10 U.S.C. § 1552 (BCMR/BCNR — DD Form 149), and 10 U.S.C. § 1553 (Discharge Review Board — DD Form 293). The Appeals Modernization Act (AMA, effective Feb 19, 2019) governs the Supplemental Claim, Higher-Level Review, and Notice of Disagreement appeal pathways. Forms and rules change — always confirm the current version at the official agency source before filing. This reference is a starting map, not a substitute for the official VA, DoD, or DFAS form pages. For complex situations, work with a VA-accredited representative.
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