Upload photos and evidence

Can I upload photos?

Yes. Photos are image files, and VA's upload tools accept image files.

VA's upload page lists medical records, reports, X-rays and lab results. It does not mention photos by name, and I found no VA rule that bans them. Photos of a visible scar, rash, swelling or a device you use can sit beside your medical records and your own statement.

File types and size VA lists

From VA's Claim Status Tool FAQ.

• ListedPDF, GIF, JPEG, BMP and TXT
• Not listedPNG and TIFF. The flyer says PNG works. VA's list does not name it.
• Size25 MB per file
• Too bigVA says to mail the file to the address on your claim or take it to a regional office.
• QuickSubmitA 2022 VA News article says up to 200 MB per file and 30 documents per submission. It is old, so confirm on VA.gov.

Many phones save photos as HEIC, which is not on VA's list either. Share or export the picture as a JPEG before you upload it.

Where to upload

• Claim pendingUse the claim status tool on VA.gov. VA says it is only for evidence on an initial claim.
• Supplemental ClaimYou need new and relevant evidence. VA says to use QuickSubmit to upload evidence for a decision review or appeal. VA's Supplemental Claim page also lists the online form (disability compensation only), mail, a regional office, or an accredited representative.
• Higher-Level ReviewVA: “You can't submit new evidence with a Higher-Level Review.” Photos will not be considered there.
• Board appealEvidence rules depend on the type of Board appeal you pick. See my appeal page.

Anything you mail, fax or hand in will not show up in the online tools.

The one-year window

VA says you can keep uploading evidence for up to 1 year.

For a standard claim, that year runs from the day VA receives your claim. VA says “Upload your evidence as soon as you can.” If you give VA no evidence, and no information to help it get evidence, within 30 days, VA may decide the claim earlier. You keep the rest of the year to add more.

The flyer says the same thing in different words: it is true for a pending initial claim. It is not true for Higher-Level Review, where new evidence is not allowed at all.

What a photo cannot do

A photo shows what your condition looks like. It does not show when it started or what caused it. VA's eligibility page says you generally need:

• A current illness or injury that affects your mind or body
• Qualifying service
• A link between the condition and service (for some conditions VA presumes the link)

VA's evidence list also names medical records and statements from people who know your condition, such as fellow service members, family and friends. Pair every photo with your medical records and a written statement. See Describing Symptoms to VA and the C&P exam cheat sheet.

Tips for useful photos

These are my suggestions. I found no VA rule that sets photo standards.

• Good light, sharp focus, plain background.
• A close-up and a wider shot, so the location is clear.
• Put a ruler or coin next to a scar or rash so size is visible.
• Photograph a flare-up on a bad day and note the date.
• Show a device you use (brace, cane, CPAP) in use.
• Do not use filters or edit the picture. Keep the original file.
• Add one page that says what each photo shows, the date taken and who took it.

What I could not verify

• QuickSubmit file types. No current VA page I read lists them. The 2022 article gives size and count limits but no file types. The list above is for the claim status tool.
• Page limits and the current QuickSubmit rules. I found no current page that states them.
• A VA photo standard. I found no published one, including the flyer's “write the date on paper in the photo” tip. It is harmless, but it is not a VA requirement.
• Whether the flyer is a VA product. It shows VA branding and a social media handle. I could not confirm VA made it.