What evidence should I gather?
Find VA manual guidance on records requests, lay statements, and how evidence is reviewed.
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VA decision reviews and Supplemental Claims
Find references on Supplemental Claims, Higher-Level Reviews, informal conferences, and duty-to-assist errors.
Start with the process named in the decision or review request you are reading. These links help you locate the relevant procedures; they do not choose a review option for you or calculate a deadline. Check the decision notice and current official instructions for those details.
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- M21-1 II.iii.2.B
Supplemental Claims
Read the M21-1 reference specifically addressing Supplemental Claims.
Official section: Supplemental Claims
- M21-5 5.1
Higher-Level Review overview
Start with general HLR information in the appeals and reviews manual.
Official section: General Information on HLRs
- M21-5 5.3
Informal conferences
Browse the HLR procedures for requests for informal conferences.
Official section: Requests for Informal Conferences
- M21-5 5.4
New evidence during a Higher-Level Review
Read the specific guidance on attempts to introduce new evidence.
Official section: Attempts to Introduce New Evidence
- M21-5 5.5
Duty-to-assist errors
Find the HLR reference on errors in the duty to assist.
Official section: Errors in the Duty to Assist
This is a curated selection, not every rule that might apply. References awaiting source or editorial review are omitted.
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Locate current and historical VA effective-date guidance and related award-adjustment references.
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