What happens if the claimant declines FDC processing?

When a claimant declines the Fully Developed Claim (FDC) processing option, the claim transitions to a standard processing route. This means that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will handle the claim using their typical claim processing procedures rather than the expedited FDC route, which is designed for claims that are complete and ready for review with all relevant evidence submitted upfront.

In standard processing, the VA may need to gather additional evidence and documentation, which can lead to longer processing times. The standard processing method recognizes that not all claimants have the necessary documentation ready at the outset or may choose not to submit their claims as FDCs for various reasons. Hence, this option prioritizes a more traditional assessment of the claim through regular procedures rather than an automatic denial or prioritization for expedited service.