Denied? Your Three Appeal Options Explained

A denial is a decision, not a dead end. Since the Appeals Modernization Act (AMA), you have three separate lanes to challenge a decision. Picking the right one depends on why you were denied.

Lane 1 — Supplemental Claim (VA Form 20-0995)

Use this when you have new and relevant evidence the VA hasn't seen. Under 38 CFR § 3.2501, submitting new and relevant evidence requires the VA to take a fresh look. This is the right lane when the problem was a missing piece of evidence — like a nexus letter you didn't have before.

Lane 2 — Higher-Level Review (VA Form 20-0996)

Use this when you believe the VA made an error on the evidence already in your file — no new evidence allowed. A more senior reviewer takes a fresh look at the same record. Right when you think the decision was simply decided wrong.

Lane 3 — Board Appeal (VA Form 10182)

This sends your disagreement to a Veterans Law Judge at the Board of Veterans' Appeals. You pick one of three dockets:

• •Direct Review — no new evidence, no hearing (fastest).
• •Evidence Submission — you submit new evidence in writing.
• •Hearing — you testify before the judge (longest wait).

The deadline that protects your effective date

You generally have one year from the date of your decision to choose a lane and keep your original effective date. Miss it and the decision becomes final — though a Supplemental Claim can still be filed later with new evidence (with a possibly later effective date).

Choose by the reason you lost

• •Missing evidence → Supplemental Claim
• •Right evidence, wrong call → Higher-Level Review
• •Want a judge to decide → Board Appeal

Reading your denial letter closely tells you which problem you actually have.