New evidence is information VA did not consider before. Relevant evidence tends to prove or disprove something that matters to the issue. For a Supplemental Claim, connect the new item to the reason in the prior decision instead of submitting a larger pile without a theory of relevance.

VA uses this plain-language definition on its current Supplemental Claims page. The regulatory definition appears in 38 C.F.R. § 3.2501.

Example 1: a new medical report addresses secondary causation

Prior reason: VA accepted both diagnoses but found no medical connection between the service-connected knee condition and the claimed hip condition.

New item: A clinician reviews the gait history, imaging, later fall, and other risk factors, then provides a reasoned opinion about causation and aggravation.

Why it may be relevant: It addresses the missing medical-link question rather than simply repeating the diagnoses.

VA gives a similar official example involving a new medical report that connects a service-connected injury to a mental-health condition.

Example 2: a buddy statement documents the missing event

Prior reason: The current back diagnosis is documented, but the claimed service injury is not established.

New item: A person who served with the veteran describes witnessing the incident and driving the veteran to the clinic.

Why it may be relevant: It bears on the event the prior decision said was missing. VA's Supplemental Claims page also uses a buddy statement about a witnessed back injury as an example.

Example 3: an earlier treatment note corrects the timeline

Prior reason: The decision relies on an opinion stating symptoms began in 2025.

New item: A 2019 private treatment note documents the same symptoms and diagnosis.

Why it may be relevant: It changes a material factual premise in the prior analysis.

See how to find supporting evidence in your records for a way to locate and preserve the original passage.

Example 4: a new record is not relevant to the disputed fact

Prior reason: The claim was denied for no medical link.

New item: Another recent note confirms the already accepted diagnosis but says nothing about service, causation, or aggravation.

Why it may not address the reason: It is new, but it may not tend to prove or disprove the missing connection.

Example 5: duplicate evidence is not new

Prior reason: VA considered a March 2024 MRI and denied the claim for no in-service event.

Submitted item: The same MRI with a new cover page.

Why it is a problem: A different file name or cover sheet does not make previously considered evidence new.

Use the reason-to-evidence test

For every item, write:

  1. The exact prior reason.
  2. The new source and date.
  3. The fact the source tends to prove or disprove.
  4. Why that fact matters to the issue.
  5. Whether VA already considered the same information.

If you cannot complete lines three and four, reconsider whether the item belongs in this evidence packet. If line one is hard to pin down, the VA rating decision letter example shows where the reason appears.

Keep the review lane separate from the evidence review

VA says a Supplemental Claim can be used when you have new and relevant evidence or, in some circumstances, a change in law. Higher-Level Review uses the same evidence and does not accept new evidence. Read VA decision review options and the instructions in your decision.

Supplemental Claim vs. HLR vs. Board Appeal compares the three routes. This guide does not determine eligibility, deadlines, or which route is best for an individual case.

Start with the reason, then locate the record

Raven Eye can explain the decision letter and identify the reason and accepted facts. If the proposed new evidence is buried in a medical-record file, Raven Scan can identify documented conditions, symptoms, treatment history, and supporting passages with page references in the records it can read. Raven Scan is a Plus feature, and Deep Review or full C-file analysis are separate purchases.

Sources and scope

Reviewed September 20, 2026: VA Supplemental Claims; 38 C.F.R. § 3.2501; VA decision review options; Raven Eye product page; Raven Scan product page. Examples are fictional except where identified as parallels to VA's published examples.