You do not need to have every possible document in hand before asking VAC or a qualified representative what to do next. Start by organizing what you have and identifying what is missing.
Service information
Service number and dates, trade or occupation, units, ships or bases, deployments, duties and relevant incidents or exposures.
Medical information
Diagnosis, treating-provider records, test results, treatment history, prognosis and any medical opinion relevant to the relationship between service and the condition.
Your personal statement
A clear chronology of what happened, when symptoms began, when you sought care, and how the condition affects you now.
Supporting statements
Where useful, statements from people with direct knowledge of your duties, events, symptoms or changes in function. Explain how each person knows what they describe.
A document log
Keep a dated list of everything submitted, when it was sent, how it was sent and any confirmation received.
Put the file in order
Use a simple folder structure: 01 Service History, 02 Medical Evidence, 03 Personal and Witness Statements, 04 VAC Forms and Submissions, and 05 Decisions and Correspondence. Name files with a date and short description, and keep an unchanged copy of every submission.
Use the detailed evidence checklist or follow the personal statement guide.