Disability Pay Calculator

VA CLAIM DECISION GUIDE

VA Claim Denied? Start With the Decision Letter.

A denial does not automatically tell you which review option to choose.

Start with the reason VA gave, the evidence VA considered, the favorable findings VA made, and the date printed on the decision letter.

Understand Your Denial Request a Free VA Rating Review

VA Pay Calc is an independent educational website. It is not affiliated with the Department of Veterans Affairs and is not a law firm.

Start here

The short answer

For many direct service-connection claims, VA looks for three basic parts:

  1. A current physical or mental condition.
  2. An event, injury, or disease during service.
  3. A link between the current condition and what happened during service.

A denial often means VA found one or more of these parts missing, unsupported, or outweighed by other evidence.

But not every claim follows this exact pattern. Presumptive claims, secondary claims, increased-rating claims, aggravation claims, and some special claims use different requirements.

Official VA evidence requirements

The basic framework

A simplified direct service-connection claim

CURRENT CONDITION

Medical evidence and, when applicable, competent lay evidence

DocumentedNeeds review
IN-SERVICE EVENT

Injury, disease, exposure, symptoms, or another qualifying event

DocumentedNeeds review
CONNECTION

Evidence linking the current condition to service

DocumentedNeeds review
VA DECISION

The letter explains what VA accepted and what it found unsupported.

This is a general explanation of direct service connection. Other claim types may use different requirements.

Read before choosing

Read the Decision Letter Before Choosing a Review Path

The decision letter is more useful than the word “denied” by itself. It should identify the issues VA decided, summarize the evidence considered, explain the basis for the decision, identify favorable findings, and state which required elements were not satisfied when a claim was denied.

38 U.S.C. § 5104 — Decisions and notices of decisions
Anatomy of a decision letter Review each issue separately
  1. Decision date

    Find the date printed on the letter. Review deadlines usually run from this date, not from the day you opened the envelope.

  2. Issues decided

    Check each condition or issue separately. VA may grant one issue, deny another, and defer another.

  3. Evidence considered

    Review the records VA says it considered. Compare that list with the evidence you expected VA to review.

  4. Favorable findings

    These are facts VA accepted in the decision, such as a current diagnosis, qualifying service, or a documented event.

  5. Reason for decision

    This section explains why VA granted, denied, or assigned a particular evaluation to the issue.

  6. Review rights and deadline

    The letter should explain the available review options and when a request must be received.

Practical note: Keep the complete letter, including every page. Review rights, deadlines, and instructions may appear near the end.

Translate the language

What Common Denial Language Usually Points To

The exact wording varies, but the reason-for-decision section usually points to the part of the claim VA found unsupported.

Current condition

Example: “The evidence does not show a current diagnosed disability.”

VA may be saying that the record did not establish a current condition, or that the evidence did not clearly identify the claimed condition.

Questions to review

  • Was a diagnosis or current condition documented?
  • Were relevant medical records missing?
  • Did VA discuss the symptoms and medical findings that were submitted?
In-service event

Example: “The evidence does not show an event, disease, or injury in service.”

VA may have accepted the current condition but found insufficient evidence of what happened during service.

Questions to review

  • Did VA review the relevant service treatment or personnel records?
  • Are deployment, unit, incident, exposure, or training records relevant?
  • Could a competent personal statement or buddy statement help document what happened?
Connection to service

Example: “The evidence does not establish a link between your condition and military service.”

VA may have accepted both a current condition and an in-service event but found the evidence linking them insufficient or less persuasive than other evidence.

Questions to review

  • Was there a C&P medical opinion?
  • Did the examiner discuss the relevant history?
  • Did VA address supportive medical opinions or treatment records?
  • Did the decision explain why one opinion was given more weight?
Secondary service connection

Example: “The evidence does not show that the claimed condition was caused or aggravated by a service-connected condition.”

A secondary claim involves a new condition linked to a disability VA has already determined is service connected. The evidence requirements differ from a direct-service-connection claim.

Official VA evidence requirements
Rating or severity

Example: “The evidence does not support a higher evaluation.”

This may mean VA granted service connection but found that the documented symptoms or functional impairment did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

Questions to review

  • Which rating criteria did VA apply?
  • Did VA discuss the relevant DBQ or examination findings?
  • Did the decision address frequency, severity, duration, limitations, and functional impact?

If an already service-connected condition has simply worsened, VA generally treats that as an increased-rating claim rather than a Supplemental Claim based only on worsening.

VA Supplemental Claims guidance
New and relevant evidence

Example: “New and relevant evidence has not been received.”

This wording may appear when VA determines that evidence submitted with a Supplemental Claim was not both new and relevant to the issue.

New: information VA did not previously consider.

Relevant: information that proves or disproves something in the claim.

VA Supplemental Claims guidance

Deadline check

Check the Date Before You Do Anything Else

For most VA benefits, a Higher-Level Review or Board Appeal generally must be requested within 1 year from the date on the decision letter.

A Supplemental Claim can generally be filed later, but VA recommends filing within 1 year if you want to preserve the possibility of an earlier effective date.

Some claims use different deadlines. Always follow the deadline stated in the decision letter.

Official VA decision review deadlines
DECISION LETTER DATE
Review each issue, reason, and favorable finding
Identify whether new evidence is available
MOST HLR / BOARD REQUESTS: 1-YEAR WINDOW

Your decision letter controls.

Review paths

The Three Main VA Decision-Review Options

If you disagree with a VA benefit decision, the modern review system generally provides three main paths: a Supplemental Claim, a Higher-Level Review, and a Board Appeal.

They are separate review options, not three steps that every claimant must complete in order. Which options are available can depend on the decision that came before.

Official VA review-option overview
START: WHY DO YOU DISAGREE?

I have new and relevant evidence

SUPPLEMENTAL CLAIM

I want a higher-level reviewer to review the existing record for an error

HIGHER-LEVEL REVIEW

I want a Veterans Law Judge to review the case

BOARD APPEAL

This is an educational overview, not a recommendation for a specific case.

01

Supplemental Claim

Best understood as:
A request for VA to review new and relevant evidence, identify evidence for VA to gather, or review certain claims based on a change in law.
New evidence allowed:
Yes.
A common reason to consider it:
A missing part of the claim may be supported by evidence VA did not previously consider.
Official form:
VA Form 20-0995.

Important: A Supplemental Claim is not the same as an increased-rating claim based only on a service-connected condition getting worse.

Supplemental Claims at VA.gov
02

Higher-Level Review

Best understood as:
A new review by a higher-level reviewer using the existing evidentiary record.
New evidence allowed:
No.
A common reason to consider it:
You believe the prior decision contains a factual or legal error, or the existing record supports a different result.
Official form:
VA Form 20-0996.
Optional informal conference:
You may request one informal conference to identify specific factual or legal errors. It is not a hearing and does not allow new evidence.
Higher-Level Reviews at VA.gov
03

Board Appeal

Best understood as:
Review by a Veterans Law Judge at the Board of Veterans’ Appeals.
Board options:
Direct Review.
Evidence Submission.
Hearing.
New evidence allowed:
It depends on the Board option selected.
Official form:
VA Form 10182.

Important: Direct Review uses the existing record. Evidence Submission and Hearing options allow evidence under their applicable timing rules.

Board Appeals at VA.gov

Prepare the basics

What to Gather Before Requesting Help

You do not need to write a legal argument before asking for help. But having the core documents and dates available makes it easier to understand what VA actually decided.

How to Request Your VA C-File
  • The complete decision letter, including every page.
  • The date printed on the decision letter.
  • The condition or issue that was denied.
  • The reason-for-decision section.
  • The favorable-findings section.
  • The list or summary of evidence VA considered.
  • Any relevant C&P exam or DBQ already available to you.
  • Relevant medical records, medical opinions, service records, or lay statements.
  • Prior decisions or review requests involving the same issue.
  • Your C-file or eFolder records, if available and relevant.

Protect your information: Do not send unnecessary Social Security numbers, bank details, account passwords, or unrelated medical information.

Not Sure What VA Actually Denied?

Tell us the condition, the decision date, and the reason VA gave.

Your message may be reviewed for possible referral to a VA-accredited attorney or representative.

No cost to submit. Contact, referral, representation, benefits, or a changed rating are not guaranteed.
Request a Free VA Rating Review

Independent help

You Can Also Get Help From an Accredited Representative

VA-accredited Veterans Service Organization representatives, attorneys, and claims agents can help with a claim or decision review.

VA states that accredited VSO representation on benefit claims is free. Accredited attorneys and claims agents may charge fees for some services.

Find a VA-Accredited Representative

Common questions

VA Claim Denial FAQ

No. Depending on the type and date of the decision, you may be able to file a Supplemental Claim, request a Higher-Level Review, or request a Board Appeal. The decision letter should identify the review rights that apply.

For most VA benefits, a Higher-Level Review or Board Appeal generally must be requested within 1 year from the date on the decision letter. A Supplemental Claim may be filed later, but filing within 1 year may be important for preserving an earlier effective date. Follow the deadline in your letter.

No. A Higher-Level Review generally uses the evidence that was already part of the record when VA made the decision being reviewed.

New evidence is information VA did not previously consider. Relevant evidence is information that proves or disproves something in the claim.

No. You may submit a review request yourself. You may also seek help from an accredited VSO representative, accredited attorney, or accredited claims agent.

VA generally treats this as an increased-rating claim, not a Supplemental Claim based only on the fact that the condition worsened. Current evidence showing increased severity may be relevant to an increased-rating claim.

Some older matters may still involve the legacy appeals process. Check the decision documents and current VA guidance before relying on the modern review paths described on this page.

A Denial Is a Starting Point for Review, Not an Explanation by Itself

The next step depends on what VA accepted, what VA found missing, what evidence was already in the record, and when the decision was issued.

Start by identifying those facts before choosing a review path.

Tell Us What Happened

VA Pay Calc provides general educational information only. It is not a law firm, does not provide legal advice, and does not represent claimants before VA. Information submitted through the site may be reviewed for referral purposes and may be shared with a VA-accredited attorney or representative. No contact, referral, representation, benefit, rating change, or other outcome is guaranteed.

Primary references

Official sources

Content reviewed: July 2026

Related resources