If your VA disability claim has been denied or you disagree with the decision, you don’t have to start over from scratch. The VA offers two main ways to appeal: a Higher-Level Review (HLR) or a Supplemental Claim. Each has specific advantages, depending on your situation.
A Higher-Level Review is when you ask the VA to take a fresh look at your case without submitting any new evidence. This means a more senior reviewer, who wasn’t involved in the original decision, will re-evaluate your claim based solely on the evidence already in your file. If you believe the VA made a clear error or misapplied the law, this is often the quickest and most efficient way to challenge the decision. You can also request an informal conference, where you or your representative can speak directly with the reviewer to explain why the decision should be changed.
On the other hand, a Supplemental Claim allows you to submit new and relevant evidence that wasn’t included before. This might be updated medical records, a new diagnosis, a letter from your doctor, or a buddy statement from someone who knows about your condition. The VA is required to review both your old file and the new evidence to make a decision. This route is best when you’ve gathered new information that could strengthen your case or if you didn’t have everything you needed during the initial claim process.
So, when should you choose one over the other?
If you’re confident that the VA simply got it wrong and your existing evidence supports your case, a Higher-Level Review might be the faster and better choice. But if there’s new information or documents that could make a big difference in your claim, a Supplemental Claim is likely the better path.
In some cases, you might even want to do both. You can start with a Higher-Level Review, and if it doesn’t go your way, you can then file a Supplemental Claim with additional evidence.
Both options are tools designed to help you get the benefits you’ve earned. Understanding how and when to use them can significantly impact the outcome of your claim.
