Why Would a Veteran Appeal Their Disability Rating?

There are several common reasons why a veteran might challenge their rating:

• You believe the VA underrated your condition
• Your condition has worsened since your last evaluation
• The VA didn’t consider all your medical evidence
• You were denied service connection entirely or received a 0% rating

Appealing can result in a higher monthly benefit, potential back pay, and access to additional VA benefits.

How to Appeal a VA Disability Rating

As of the VA’s new decision review process (implemented in 2019), veterans now have three main options to appeal a disability decision:

Higher-Level Review

Request a senior reviewer to take another look at your case. No new evidence is allowed, but you can request a phone conference to explain why you think the decision was wrong.

Supplemental Claim

Submit new and relevant evidence that wasn’t considered in the original decision. This is often used when the VA missed something important in your records or when you’ve received new diagnoses.

Board Appeal

Take your case to the Board of Veterans' Appeals, where a judge will review your claim. You can choose:

• Direct review (no new evidence, no hearing)
• Evidence submission (submit new evidence within 90 days)
• Hearing option (have a hearing with a Veterans Law Judge)

Key Deadlines to Remember

You typically have one year from the date of the VA’s decision to file an appeal. Waiting longer could require starting a new claim entirely.