VA appeals: your options after a decision

A VA decision you disagree with is not the end of the road. Under the Appeals Modernization Act (AMA), you have three “decision review” options — and you generally have one year from the date on your decision letter to act while protecting your effective date. Don’t give up on a denial or a low rating.

Option 1 — Supplemental Claim

File a Supplemental Claim (VA Form 20-0995) when you have new and relevant evidence the VA didn’t have before — a recent exam, additional records, or a doctor’s nexus statement. The VA has a “duty to assist” in gathering evidence for this lane. This is often the best move when your denial came down to missing evidence.

Option 2 — Higher-Level Review

Request a Higher-Level Review (VA Form 20-0996) to have a more senior reviewer take a fresh look at the same evidence. You can’t submit new evidence, so this is best when you believe the VA made a mistake with what it already had. You can ask for an informal conference by phone to point out the error.

Option 3 — Board Appeal

Appeal to the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (VA Form 10182), where a Veterans Law Judge reviews your case. You choose one of three dockets:

Direct Review — the Board decides on your existing evidence (fastest, no hearing).
Evidence Submission — you add new evidence within 90 days.
Hearing — you testify (usually by video) before the judge; new evidence allowed.

Which should you choose?

Have new evidence? → Supplemental Claim (or a Board Evidence-Submission docket).
Think the VA made an error on the evidence it had? → Higher-Level Review.
Want a judge to decide, or need a hearing? → Board Appeal.

You can also switch lanes — for example, if a Higher-Level Review is denied, file a Supplemental Claim with new evidence, or appeal to the Board. If the Board denies you, you can appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC).

ℹ️

Deadline & effective date: filing within one year of your decision generally preserves your original effective date (so back pay reaches further). Miss it and you may have to start a new claim with a later effective date.

Get help

A free, accredited Veterans Service Officer (VSO) can help you pick the right lane and file — at no cost. You never pay a percentage of your back pay to file an initial claim; representatives may charge regulated fees only on certain appeals after an initial decision.

General information, not legal advice. Options, forms, and timelines are set by the VA and can change. Confirm at VA.gov/decision-reviews. Source: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Frequently asked questions

How long do I have to appeal a VA decision?

Generally one year from the date on your decision letter to file a decision review and keep your original effective date. Some issues have different timelines — check your letter.

Which VA review option lets me add new evidence?

A Supplemental Claim (Form 20-0995) requires new and relevant evidence, and the Board’s Evidence-Submission docket lets you add evidence within 90 days. A Higher-Level Review does not allow new evidence.

What is a Higher-Level Review?

A more senior VA reviewer re-examines your case using the evidence already on file to look for errors — no new evidence — and you can request an informal phone conference to explain the error.

Can I switch between appeal options?

Yes. The AMA lets you move between lanes — for example, if a Higher-Level Review is denied you can file a Supplemental Claim with new evidence or appeal to the Board of Veterans’ Appeals.