If VA denied your claim or rated it lower than it should be, you have three different paths forward — and picking the right one matters as much as the appeal itself.
The three VA appeal lanes
Supplemental Claim (VA Form 20-0995)
This is the path when you have new and relevant evidence VA didn't have the first time — new medical records, a fresh opinion from a doctor, additional buddy statements. It can actually be filed at any time, not just within a year, though filing within a year of your decision is what protects your effective date (more on that below).
Higher-Level Review (VA Form 20-0996)
No new evidence here — instead, a more senior VA reviewer takes a fresh look at the exact same file, specifically to catch an error the original decision-maker may have made. This is the right lane when you believe VA had what it needed but got the decision wrong.
Board Appeal (VA Form 10182)
This goes to a Veterans Law Judge at the Board of Veterans' Appeals, and you can choose how it's handled: a Direct Review of the existing record, an Evidence Submission docket (you can add evidence but there's no hearing), or a Hearing docket where you testify before the judge. This is generally the path for more complex or contested cases.
Source: VA.gov, Decision reviews and appeals
The deadline that actually matters
Whichever lane you choose, filing within one year of your decision letter preserves your original effective date — which is what your retroactive back pay is calculated from. Miss that window, and you may still be able to file, but your effective date can reset to whenever you actually filed, potentially costing months or years of back pay.
Choosing the right lane is a strategy decision, not a formality
The three lanes aren't interchangeable, and picking the wrong one can cost real time. If you have solid new evidence, Supplemental Claim is usually faster and more direct than restarting through the Board. If you're confident VA simply got it wrong on the existing record, Higher-Level Review skips the wait for new evidence to be gathered. And some cases genuinely need the Board's more thorough process. Reviewing your denial letter with someone who does this regularly is often the difference between the right lane the first time and losing months on the wrong one. (Here's why legal representation matters at the appeal stage.)
If you're not sure where your case fits
That's exactly the conversation we have with every veteran who calls — walking through the decision letter together and figuring out the strongest path forward. Learn more about our VA disability rating increases and appeals work.