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    VA Appeal Options Explorer

    Disagree with a VA decision? Compare Higher-Level Review, Supplemental Claim, and Board Appeal side by side.

    Free · No account needed · Private · About 4 minutes

    VA Appeal Options Explorer illustration

    How it works

    1. 1

      Tell us about your decision

      Say whether you have a decision letter and when it is dated.

    2. 2

      Say what you disagree with

      A denial, a rating that seems too low, an effective date or a reduction.

    3. 3

      Compare your options

      See which review options may fit, and why, side by side.

    What you get

    • The three VA review options explained side by side
    • Which options may still be open, based on your decision date
    • Signals from your decision letter worth a closer look
    • Next steps you can download and keep

    What this tool does

    • • Explains Higher-Level Reviews, Supplemental Claims and Board Appeals in plain language
    • • Uses the VA's 1-year deadline to show which options may still be open
    • • Points to the VA form each option uses

    What this tool does not do

    • • Does not file a review or appeal for you
    • • Does not give legal advice or predict the VA's decision
    • • Does not need an account or your personal details

    Which VA review option is right for me?

    Under the Appeals Modernization Act, the VA gives you three ways to ask for another look at a decision. A Higher-Level Review asks a more senior reviewer to look at the same evidence for an error or a difference of opinion. You can't add new evidence, but you can ask for one informal conference call with the reviewer.

    A Supplemental Claim lets you add or point to evidence that is new and relevant, such as a new medical report or a statement from someone who saw what happened. A Board Appeal sends your case to a Veterans Law Judge at the Board of Veterans' Appeals. You pick a Direct Review, Evidence Submission or Hearing docket.

    Which one fits usually depends on two things: whether you have new evidence, and how long ago your decision letter was dated. The VA says you generally have 1 year from that date to request a Higher-Level Review or Board Appeal. It recommends filing a Supplemental Claim within that year too, to keep your effective date.

    Common questions

    If you disagree with a VA decision, you have three review options. A Higher-Level Review asks a senior reviewer to look at the same evidence. A Supplemental Claim adds new and relevant evidence. A Board Appeal sends your case to a Veterans Law Judge. You can choose a different option for each issue.

    You generally have 1 year from the date on your VA decision letter to request a Higher-Level Review or Board Appeal. You can file a Supplemental Claim at any time, but the VA recommends filing within that year to keep your effective date. In a contested claim, a Board Appeal is due within 60 days.

    The difference between a Higher-Level Review and a Supplemental Claim is evidence. A Higher-Level Review uses only the evidence the VA already had, and a senior reviewer looks for an error or difference of opinion. A Supplemental Claim is for new and relevant evidence, like a new medical report or a buddy statement.

    New and relevant evidence for a Supplemental Claim means information the VA did not have before that could help prove your claim. The VA's own examples include a new medical report linking conditions and a letter from a fellow service member who saw the incident. You can also point to records you want the VA to gather.

    The three Board Appeal dockets are Direct Review, Evidence Submission and Hearing. Direct Review uses only the existing evidence. Evidence Submission lets you add evidence within 90 days. Hearing lets you talk with a Veterans Law Judge and add evidence at the hearing or within 90 days after.

    Yes, you can choose different review options for different issues on the same decision. For example, you might ask for a Higher-Level Review on one condition and file a Supplemental Claim with new evidence on another. You can't use two options for the same issue at the same time.

    Yes, you can sometimes switch review options after you file. The VA says you can switch to a Higher-Level Review or Board Appeal if you are still within 1 year of your decision letter. You can switch to a Supplemental Claim at any time, but switching within that year keeps your effective date.

    Each VA review option has its own form. A Higher-Level Review uses VA Form 20-0996. A Supplemental Claim uses VA Form 20-0995. A Board Appeal uses VA Form 10182, called the Notice of Disagreement. You can also file each one online at VA.gov.

    No, you do not need a lawyer to request a VA decision review. You can file on your own. You can also get free help from a Veterans Service Organization (VSO), or work with a VA-accredited attorney or claims agent. Check that anyone helping you is accredited by the VA.

    Keep going

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    Words to know

    Last reviewed September 26, 2026. For general information only, not legal or medical advice.

    Sources: VA: Decision reviews and appeals · VA: Choosing a decision review option · VA: Higher-Level Reviews (VA Form 20-0996) · VA: Supplemental Claims (VA Form 20-0995) · VA: Board Appeals (VA Form 10182)

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