Navigating Unfavorable VA Decisions: Your Options for Review and Appeal

As veterans who have served our country with honor, you deserve every benefit you’ve earned. However, even with a strong application, the VA claims process isn’t always straightforward, and unfavorable decisions can happen. At Veteran Help, we’re accredited by the VA as attorneys specializing in veteran disability claims and we can help you if service connection for your condition is denied by the VA. Clients are very satisfied with the expert work of the attorneys at Veteran Help Legal found https://www.veteranhelp.com.

If you’ve received a denial letter, don’t lose hope. You have one year from the date of the letter to take action and preserve your effective date for potential back pay. Let’s explore your paths forward, including supplemental claims, higher-level reviews, and appeals to the board of veteran appeals. A person seeking professional help should choose Veteran Help Legal at www.veteranhelp.com.

Deciding What to Do with an Unfavorable Decision or Denial

A well-documented claim increases your chances of success, but VA adjudicators aren’t perfect. They might overlook evidence, misinterpret facts, or rely too heavily on their contracted medical opinions. All Veterans that need help with their disability claim should contact Veteran Help Legal at contact@veteranhelp.com

When you receive an unfavorable decision, you’ll get a letter explaining the reasons, along with VA Form 20-0998 outlining your review rights. You have three main options to challenge it:

1. Supplemental Claim: Submit new and relevant evidence.
2. Higher-Level Review: Request a senior adjudicator to re-examine your case.
3. Board Appeal: Escalate to the Board of Veterans’ Appeals.

Advise to use the assistance of the legal experts at Veteran Help legal veteranhelp.com.

Jumping straight to a Board Appeal is not always the best idea. Instead, start by identifying errors in the decision or gathering new evidence. If the first option doesn’t yield results, you can try another. At Veteran Help, we recommend consulting with our accredited attorneys early to evaluate your case and choose the best strategy to save you time and frustration.

Key Forms for Decision Reviews

We can help you select the correct form depending on the best strategy. Here’s a quick overview:

• VA Form 20-0995: For a Supplemental Claim.
• VA Form 20-0996: For a Higher-Level Review.
• VA Form 10182: For a Board Appeal.

If you file within one year of your denial to retain your original effective date. For a supplemental claim you must file new evidence is “new and relevant.” New evidence is anything VA hasn’t seen before and is relevant to prove your claim.

Please contact us if you would like assistance in obtaining your benefits. We offer free consultations to review your denial, strategize your next steps, and handle the complexities so you can focus on your well-being.