VA Appeal Deadline Timeline
When are my VA appeal deadlines? Enter your decision date and see your review deadlines on a simple timeline.
Free · No account needed · Private · About 3 minutes
How it works
- 1
Answer a few questions
When your decision was, whether you have new evidence and if you want a hearing.
- 2
See your timeline
Your review options laid out with their deadlines and goal times.
- 3
Spot slow points
See where cases often wait and what may speed things up.
What you get
- Which review options may still be open for you
- Each option's key rules on one simple timeline
- The VA's and the Board's published goal times
- Common points where cases may slow down
What this tool does
- • Uses the VA's 1-year deadline to show open options
- • Shows the VA's published goal times for each option
- • Explains the three Board dockets and their evidence windows
What this tool does not do
- • Does not tell you your exact deadline date. Check your decision letter
- • Does not promise how long the VA will take
- • Does not file anything with the VA
How long do VA appeals take, and when are they due?
The clock starts on the date printed on your decision letter. The VA says you generally have 1 year from that date to request a Higher-Level Review or Board Appeal. If the claim is contested (two people claiming a benefit only one can get), a Board Appeal is due within 60 days.
A Supplemental Claim has no hard deadline, but the VA recommends filing within that same year so you keep your effective date, which is the date your back pay can start.
The VA's goal for a Higher-Level Review or Supplemental Claim (not about health care) is an average of 125 days. At the Board, the goal is 365 days for Direct Review, 550 days for Evidence Submission and 730 days for a Hearing. These are goals, not promises, so real waits can be longer.
Common questions
Keep going
Words to know
Last reviewed September 26, 2026. For general information only, not legal or medical advice.
Sources: VA: Higher-Level Reviews (VA Form 20-0996) · VA: Supplemental Claims (VA Form 20-0995) · VA: Board Appeals (VA Form 10182) · VA: After you request a decision review