VA Denied the Claim — Appeal Routes
When VA denies a disability claim
Description
When VA denies a disability claim
Appeal Paths
- Name
- Supplemental Claim
- Form
- VA Form 20-0995
- Requirement
- New and relevant evidence
- Separation Timeline
- 4-6 months average
- Name
- Higher-Level Review (HLR)
- Form
- VA Form 20-0996
- Requirement
- No new evidence — reviewer looks for clear error
- Separation Timeline
- 4-6 months average
- Name
- Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA)
- Form
- VA Form 10182
- Requirement
- Direct review, evidence submission, or hearing
- Separation Timeline
- 12-24 months
- Name
- CAVC (Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims)
- Requirement
- Must exhaust BVA first
- Deadline
- 120 days from BVA decision
- Separation Timeline
- 12-24 months
- Name
- Federal Circuit
- Requirement
- Must exhaust CAVC
- Separation Timeline
- 12-24 months