ADVOCACYVA program
VA Decision Reviews and Appeals
RAMP was a voluntary program that gave veterans with legacy appeals early access to the new review process, and VA stopped accepting RAMP elections after February 15, 2019. Since the Appeals Modernization Act took effect on February 19, 2019, a VA decision can be reviewed in three ways: a Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence, a Higher-Level Review by a higher-level reviewer with no new evidence, or an appeal to the Board of Veterans' Appeals, where a Veterans Law Judge reviews the case.
Step-by-step guide
What you get
Three ways to ask VA to look again at a decision you disagree with: a Supplemental Claim, a Higher-Level Review, or a Board Appeal.
What a Supplemental Claim needs
- New and relevant evidenceEvidence VA did not consider before that relates to the issue. VA can help gather new evidence you name, such as medical records.
Source: VA.gov: Supplemental Claims (opens in new tab); VA.gov: choosing a decision review option (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 3.2501(a)(1) (opens in new tab)
Which review fits your situation?
- Supplemental Claim
For when you have new and relevant evidence VA did not have before. A reviewer decides if the new evidence changes the decision. You file VA Form 20-0995.
Source: VA.gov: Supplemental Claims (opens in new tab); VA.gov: choosing a decision review option (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 3.2500(a) (opens in new tab)
- Higher-Level Review
For when you think the decision has an error and you have no new evidence. A higher-level reviewer looks at the same evidence. You can ask for a one-time informal conference to point out the error. You file VA Form 20-0996.
- A request within 1 year, with no new evidenceFiled within 1 year from the date on your decision letter. The reviewer cannot consider new evidence.
Source: VA.gov: Higher-Level Reviews (opens in new tab); VA.gov: choosing a decision review option (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 3.2500(a) (opens in new tab); VA.gov: decision reviews FAQs (opens in new tab)
- Board Appeal
A Veterans Law Judge at the Board of Veterans' Appeals reviews your case. You pick Direct Review (no new evidence or hearing), Evidence Submission, or a Hearing. You file VA Form 10182.
- A Board Appeal form within 1 yearFiled within 1 year from the date on your decision letter, naming the review option you want.
Source: VA.gov: Board Appeals (opens in new tab); VA.gov: choosing a decision review option (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 20.202(b) (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 3.2500(a) (opens in new tab)
- A legacy appeal already in progress
For decisions dated before February 19, 2019. VA no longer accepts new appeals through the legacy process. If you are already in one, it continues, and at certain points you can opt in to one of the three newer options. Once you opt in, you cannot go back.
- A pending legacy appealAn appeal of a decision dated before February 19, 2019 that is already in progress. A new disagreement with a decision that old goes in a Supplemental Claim.
Source: VA.gov: manage a legacy VA appeal (opens in new tab); VA.gov: decision reviews and appeals (opens in new tab)
Time limits
For most VA benefits, you have 1 year from the date on your decision letter to ask for a Higher-Level Review or a Board Appeal. Your decision letter gives the deadline. A Supplemental Claim can be filed at any time, but filing within 1 year keeps your effective date.
What to gather, and what it shows VA
| Document | What it shows | How VA gets it | Have it? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your VA decision letter The letter VA sent with its decision. Its date starts the 1-year window. | What VA decided and your deadline to ask for a review | VA mails it to you. Keep the copy you received. | Yes |
| New and relevant evidence Records or statements VA has not considered before, such as a new medical report. | Something VA did not have when it decided | Send it to VA with VA Form 20-0995, or name the records and VA can help gather them. | |
| VA Form 20-0996 The Higher-Level Review request. | Which issues you want a higher-level reviewer to look at | For disability compensation, file it online on VA.gov. Otherwise send the form to VA. | |
| VA Form 10182 The Board Appeal request, where you pick the Board review option. | Which issues you are appealing and how you want the Board to review them | File it online on VA.gov or send the form to the Board. | |
| Statement of the Case In a legacy appeal, the document VA sends with its findings after you filed a Notice of Disagreement. | Where your legacy appeal stands, and the date that starts the opt-in window | VA mails it to you. Keep the copy you received. | Yes |
Records and statements go to VA. BeneVets never asks you to upload or type them here.
Steps, in order
- Find the date on your decision letter
The deadlines under Time limits count from that date.
Source: VA.gov: decision reviews FAQs (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 3.2500(a) (opens in new tab)
- Get free help
Free help: an accredited VSO can file this with you. Find one near you in the BeneVets VSO directory at Find an accredited VSO near you.
Source: VA.gov: accredited representatives (opens in new tab)
- Choose one review for each issue
New evidence points to a Supplemental Claim. An error with no new evidence points to a Higher-Level Review. A judge review points to a Board Appeal.
Source: VA.gov: choosing a decision review option (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 3.2500(b) (opens in new tab)
- File the form for that review
VA Form 20-0995 for a Supplemental Claim, VA Form 20-0996 for a Higher-Level Review, or VA Form 10182 for a Board Appeal. You can file a Board Appeal online. For disability compensation, you can also file the other two online.
Source: VA.gov: choosing a decision review option (opens in new tab); VA Form 20-0995 (opens in new tab); VA Form 20-0996 (opens in new tab); VA Form 10182 (opens in new tab)
- After the decision
If you disagree, you can choose another review for the issue. After a Board decision, the options are a Supplemental Claim or an appeal to the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.
Source: 38 CFR 3.2500(c) (opens in new tab); VA.gov: decision reviews FAQs (opens in new tab)
Good to know
While one review of an issue is pending, you cannot file a different review of the same issue. After each decision, you can choose a next review, as long as you file in time.
Source: 38 CFR 3.2500(b) (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 3.2500(c) (opens in new tab); VA.gov: decision reviews FAQs (opens in new tab)
If VA has not decided your Supplemental Claim or Higher-Level Review, you can withdraw it in a signed letter and file the review you want instead. To switch to a Higher-Level Review or Board Appeal, you must still be within 1 year of your decision letter. You can switch to a Supplemental Claim at any time. You can also switch out of a Board Appeal. That works only if you have not sent new evidence or had a hearing, and the Board has not decided.
Source: VA.gov: after you request a decision review (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 3.2500(e) (opens in new tab)
If more than 1 year has passed since your decision letter, a Supplemental Claim is the only option left.
Source: VA.gov: decision reviews FAQs (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 3.2500(a) (opens in new tab)
Free help: an accredited VSO can file this with you. Find one near you in the BeneVets VSO directory at /vso-directory. An accredited attorney, claims agent, or VSO representative can help you request a decision review.
Source: VA.gov: accredited representatives (opens in new tab); VA.gov: decision reviews and appeals (opens in new tab)
BeneVets is informational and is not an accredited representative. Free help: an accredited VSO can work through VA benefits with you at no cost. Find an accredited VSO near you
Sources checked October 8, 2026: 38 CFR 3.2500(a) (opens in new tab), 38 CFR 3.2500(b) (opens in new tab), 38 CFR 3.2500(c) (opens in new tab), 38 CFR 3.2500(e) (opens in new tab), 38 CFR 3.2501(a)(1) (opens in new tab), 38 CFR 20.202(b) (opens in new tab), VA.gov: decision reviews and appeals (opens in new tab), VA.gov: choosing a decision review option (opens in new tab), VA.gov: decision reviews FAQs (opens in new tab), VA.gov: after you request a decision review (opens in new tab), VA.gov: Supplemental Claims (opens in new tab), VA.gov: Higher-Level Reviews (opens in new tab), VA.gov: Board Appeals (opens in new tab), VA.gov: manage a legacy VA appeal (opens in new tab), VA.gov: accredited representatives (opens in new tab), VA Form 20-0995 (opens in new tab), VA Form 20-0996 (opens in new tab), VA Form 10182 (opens in new tab)