The Appeals Modernization Act (AMA) calls most VA post-decision requests “decision reviews.” The correct lane depends on what is wrong with the decision, what evidence is available, and whether you are still within the one-year continuous-pursuit period. Start with the notice date on the decision, preserve the deadline, and read the reasons for denial or the assigned rating before selecting a form. Claim Raven's annotated rating decision letter example, evidence chapter, and forms chapter can help organize the record; they do not select a legal lane for you.
The three AMA lanes
| Lane | Form | What VA may consider | When it fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supplemental Claim | VA Form 20-0995 | New and relevant evidence, plus the existing record | You have evidence that was not previously considered or that tends to prove a missing element |
| Higher-Level Review (HLR) | VA Form 20-0996 | The evidence in the closed record at the time of the prior decision; no new evidence | You believe VA made a factual, legal, or duty-to-assist error on the existing record |
| Board appeal | VA Form 10182, Decision Review Request: Board Appeal | The record and evidence permitted by the chosen Board docket | You want review by a Veterans Law Judge or need a Board-level decision |
Supplemental Claim
A Supplemental Claim requires new and relevant evidence. “New” means VA did not previously consider the item; “relevant” means it tends to prove or disprove a matter at issue. A medical opinion addressing an ignored nexus question, a newly obtained service record, or treatment evidence showing current severity may be relevant. Repeating the same statement or attaching a duplicate record does not satisfy the requirement. VA may have a duty to assist after the claim is substantially complete, but you should identify the missing element and submit what you can. A Supplemental Claim can be filed later than one year after the decision; filing late may affect the effective date because continuous pursuit is no longer preserved.
Higher-Level Review
HLR is a new look by a more senior reviewer at the closed record. You cannot add new evidence to the HLR itself. You may request an informal telephone conference to point out an error, but the conference is not a hearing and is not a substitute for evidence. If the reviewer finds a predecisional duty-to-assist error—such as an inadequate examination or an identified federal record that VA did not obtain—the HLR can return the issue for correction. If the problem is new evidence, use a Supplemental Claim instead. Be specific about the diagnostic code, favorable findings, overlooked record, or legal rule; a general disagreement with the outcome is harder to audit.
Board of Veterans' Appeals
Use Form 10182 to identify each issue and select one Board docket. The dockets control what the Veterans Law Judge can review:
- Direct Review: No new evidence and no hearing. The judge reviews the record that existed when the agency of original jurisdiction issued the decision.
- Evidence Submission: You may submit new evidence with the 10182 or during the 90-day period after VA receives it. There is no hearing. Evidence submitted outside the permitted period may not be considered unless an exception applies.
- Hearing: You may testify before a Veterans Law Judge. Evidence can be submitted at the hearing or during the 90-day period after the hearing, subject to the Board's rules. A hearing is not required to explain an appeal; choose it only when testimony adds value.
Board dockets have different record windows, and a Board appeal is not a promise of a particular timeline or outcome. Use the VA claim and appeal status tracker for the current status rather than relying on an old wait-time estimate. A Board remand usually returns an issue to VA for additional action; a final Board denial or grant is the type of decision that may be reviewed by the Court.
For a side-by-side decision aid, the Supplemental Claim vs. HLR vs. Board Appeal comparison focuses on the practical tradeoffs among the three lanes.
One-year deadlines and continuous pursuit
For most AMA decisions, a review request must be received within one year of the date VA mailed notice if you want to preserve the earliest possible effective date. Under 38 CFR § 3.2500(h), continuous pursuit generally means filing the next eligible review request within one year of the prior decision. A timely sequence—such as Supplemental Claim to HLR to Board, where the rules permit—can preserve the effective date of the original claim if the issue remains continuously pursued and is ultimately granted. The date is not guaranteed; the evidence and the applicable effective-date rule still control.
A Supplemental Claim can be filed after the one-year period, and a new-and-relevant-evidence review may still be available. The tradeoff is that a late request normally does not preserve continuous pursuit, so an award may receive the later Supplemental Claim date or another date required by § 3.2500 and 38 CFR § 3.400. If the deadline is close, file the correct request with the available evidence and supplement where the lane allows; do not wait for a perfect packet without protecting the date.
CAVC review and legacy appeals
After a final Board decision, a Notice of Appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC) generally must be filed within 120 days of the date the Board mailed its decision. A Board remand is ordinarily not a final decision for CAVC purposes. Filing an HLR, Supplemental Claim, or Board request with VA does not extend the CAVC deadline. Court review is limited and follows court rules; seek qualified legal help promptly if a Board decision is appealable.
Some claims remain in the legacy appeal system because the initial decision or Notice of Disagreement predates AMA implementation on February 19, 2019, or because VA specifically kept the appeal in that system. Legacy appeals use a Notice of Disagreement, Statement of the Case, and VA Form 9 process with different deadlines and evidence rules. Do not file an AMA form until you confirm the system shown in the decision and any Statement of the Case.
A practical lane checklist
- Save the decision, mailing date, issue list, favorable findings, diagnostic code, and effective date.
- Make a one-page error map: missing evidence, wrong fact, wrong law, inadequate examination, or disagreement with the percentage.
- Inventory new records. New and relevant evidence points toward a Supplemental Claim; a closed-record error points toward HLR; a judge, testimony, or broader legal review points toward the Board.
- Confirm the form, issue selection, signature, and one-year or 120-day deadline. Keep the submission confirmation.
- Ask an accredited attorney, claims agent, or Veterans Service Organization representative for help when the issue is complex. Use VA's accreditation search; avoid anyone who promises a guaranteed result or asks for an unlawful fee.
If a final decision contains a narrow, outcome-determinative error, read Chapter 17: Clear and Unmistakable Error before treating CUE as another appeal lane. CUE has its own pleading standard and is not a way to submit new evidence. Claim Raven's CAVC tracker can help track a court matter, while Veteran Programs can help locate accredited and local support resources.