The VA Evidence Intake Center is the single facility in Janesville, Wisconsin that receives, scans, and digitizes every piece of paper evidence submitted for a VA benefit claim. You can send documents there three ways: upload them online through VA.gov, fax them, or mail them to the Janesville PO box. Online upload is the fastest because it skips the physical scanning step; mail is the slowest and won’t show up in your online claim file even after it’s processed.
How to Send Your Documents
Online Upload
Uploading through VA.gov is the fastest route because your file goes straight into the electronic claims system without waiting for anyone to open an envelope. You can upload through the claim status tool on VA.gov or through QuickSubmit, the VA’s dedicated evidence upload portal.1VA News. QuickSubmit Is the New Evidence Intake Tool for VA Claims
QuickSubmit accepts files up to 200 MB each. Accepted file types include PDF, DOC, DOCX, JPG, JPEG, TIFF, and PNG. Sign in with your Login.gov or ID.me account, select the document type, and attach your file.
Fax
From within the United States, fax evidence toll-free to 844-531-7818. From outside the U.S., fax to 248-524-4260.2Veterans Affairs. How to File a VA Disability Claim Include a cover sheet with your name, VA file number, and a description of what you’re sending. Fax quality degrades on handwritten pages, so type or print whenever you can.
Send documents to:3Department of Veterans Affairs. Attachment I – VA Evidence Intake Centers
Department of Veterans Affairs
Evidence Intake Center
PO Box 4444
Janesville, WI 53547-4444
Send copies, never originals. The VA does not guarantee return of original documents.4Veterans Affairs. Upload Evidence to Support Your Disability Claim Use certified mail with return receipt if you want proof of delivery.
Prepare Your Documents to Scan Cleanly
The EIC runs a high-volume scanning operation, and submissions that aren’t scan-ready get held up. A few steps make a real difference:
- Remove all staples and paper clips. Fastened documents have to be manually taken apart before scanning.
- Don’t fold your pages. Flat sheets scan more cleanly and process faster. Use a large enough envelope.
- Write your full name and VA file number (or Social Security Number) on every page. If pages separate during processing, unlabeled sheets may not get matched back to your file.
- Send copies. Keep the originals in your own records.
What Happens After Your Documents Arrive
Physical submissions are logged, prepped, and scanned. The scanned images are indexed and uploaded into your electronic claims file in the Veterans Benefits Management System (VBMS), then routed to your assigned claims processor after a quality check.5Department of Veterans Affairs. FY25 Veterans Benefits Management Systems (VBMS) Cloud Assessing PIA
VA scanning contractors are generally required to complete uploads within five business days of receiving the source materials. Your total wait depends on mail transit, scanning backlogs, and how much you sent. Online uploads bypass most of this pipeline, which is why they land in your file so much sooner.
How to Confirm Your Evidence Was Received
This part trips up a lot of veterans. When you sign into the claim status tool on VA.gov, the online document list only shows documents that were uploaded digitally. Anything you mailed, faxed, or dropped off in person is still processed and added to your file, but it will not appear on the website.6Veterans Affairs. Check Your VA Claim, Decision Review, or Appeal Status
To confirm that mailed or faxed evidence made it into your file, call the VA benefits hotline at 800-827-1000, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. ET.7Veterans Affairs. Contact Us A representative can look at your VBMS file directly. A certified mail return receipt confirms the envelope arrived at the EIC, but it doesn’t tell you whether the pages have been scanned in yet.
What Kinds of Documents the EIC Accepts
The EIC processes evidence for disability compensation, pension, supplemental claims, appeals, and other benefit types. The common submissions include:
- Medical records, including service treatment records, private doctor reports, lab results, imaging, and hospital records.4Veterans Affairs. Upload Evidence to Support Your Disability Claim
- Military service records such as your DD-214 or other separation documents.8National Archives. DD Form 214 Discharge Papers and Separation Documents
- Lay witness or buddy statements. The VA provides Form 21-10210 for these.9Veterans Affairs. Submit a Lay Witness Statement to Support a VA Claim
- Private medical opinions, including nexus letters connecting a current condition to your service.10Veterans Affairs. Evidence Needed for Your Disability Claim
- VA forms supporting your claim or appeal, including releases that allow the VA to pull records on your behalf.
Two Filings That Change What Your Evidence Is Worth
File an Intent to File First
Before you start gathering evidence, consider submitting an Intent to File (VA Form 21-0966). This one-page form sets a potential start date for your benefits. If the VA later approves your claim, retroactive payments can go back to the date your Intent to File was processed rather than the date you submitted your completed claim. You then have one year to submit the full claim with evidence; miss that window and the effective date expires.11Veterans Affairs. Submit an Intent to File
Request Priority Processing if Your Situation Qualifies
You can ask the VA to fast-track your claim with VA Form 20-10207. Qualifying situations include homelessness or risk of homelessness, extreme financial hardship, a diagnosis of ALS or a terminal illness, a VSI or SI designation from the Department of Defense, age 85 or older, former prisoner of war status, or receipt of the Medal of Honor or Purple Heart. You can submit Form 20-10207 online or mail it to the same Janesville address. Supporting evidence strengthens the request, but the VA will accept the form without it.12Veterans Affairs. Request Priority Processing for an Existing Claim