Our Practice: VA Disability Appeals.
We focus primarily on post-decision representation — appeals, Higher-Level Reviews, Supplemental Claims, and Board appeals — and we build every case on the record already in your file. We also take initial claims and increases for worsened conditions based on case fit and current availability; a free, accredited VSO is always an option too.
Fee-eligible claim types
Each lane has its own rules on evidence, deadlines, and who decides. Not sure which one fits? Answer four questions.
Higher-Level Review
A Higher-Level Review is a VA appeal lane where a more senior adjudicator re-reviews the exact evidence already in your file and looks for a difference of opinion or a clear error. Any claimant with a VA decision issued within the last year qualifies. No new evidence may be submitted in this lane.
VA Form 20-0996Supplemental Claim
A Supplemental Claim asks the VA to readjudicate a previously decided issue based on new and relevant evidence. Any claimant with new evidence the VA has not already reviewed qualifies, at any time after a decision. Filing within one year of the decision preserves the original effective date for back pay.
VA Form 20-0995Board Appeal (BVA)
A Board appeal sends your VA decision to a Veterans Law Judge at the Board of Veterans' Appeals in Washington, D.C. Any claimant with a VA decision issued within the past year qualifies. You choose one of three dockets — Direct Review, Evidence Submission, or Hearing — and that choice controls whether new evidence is allowed.
VA Form 10182 (Notice of Disagreement)CUE Claim
A Clear and Unmistakable Error claim asks the VA to revise a final decision that contained an undebatable error which would have changed the outcome. Any claimant with a final, unappealed VA decision qualifies — there is no time limit. If granted, benefits are paid back to the date of the erroneous decision.
No dedicated form — filed as a written motion (VA Form 20-0995 is not used)Earlier Effective Date
An earlier effective date claim argues that your VA benefits should have started sooner than the date the VA assigned — which directly increases retroactive back pay. Any claimant whose award date does not match the correct date under 38 CFR § 3.400 may qualify. The argument is usually raised on appeal of the rating decision or through CUE.
38 CFR § 3.400 — General effective date rulesUnderrated Decision Appeals
Oakridge Claims focuses primarily on post-decision representation — appeals, Higher-Level Reviews, Supplemental Claims, and Board appeals — and builds every case on the record already in your file. If your condition has worsened since your last decision, that is filed as a new claim — we accept cases based on case fit and current availability, and a free, accredited VSO is always an option. What we do best is appeal: if you disagree with a decision because VA rated you too low on the evidence it already had, that underrating is an appeal issue, and appeal-stage representation is the core of our practice.
VA Form 20-0995 / 20-0996
Survivor Benefits (DIC)
Representation for surviving spouses, dependent children, and dependent parents seeking Dependency and Indemnity Compensation — including denied DIC decisions, service-connected death claims, cases where the veteran was never service connected during life, § 1318 deemed service connection, and accrued benefits. See the DIC & Survivor Benefits Center for the full guide.
Underrated Decision Appeals
If you disagree with a decision because VA set your rating too low on the evidence it already had, that underrating is an appeal issue and we handle it. A condition that has worsened since the decision is a new claim — we accept cases based on case fit and current availability, and a free VSO is always an option.
Conditions We Frequently See in These Services
The appeals we handle involve a recurring set of conditions. Each guide breaks down the rating criteria and the evidence VA looks for when it decides them.
PTSD
38 CFR § Part 4 · DC 9411 · Mental Health
Depression
38 CFR § Part 4 · DC 9434 · Mental Health
Anxiety
38 CFR § Part 4 · DC 9400 · Mental Health
Traumatic Brain Injury
38 CFR § Part 4 · DC 8045 · Neurological
Migraine Headaches
38 CFR § Part 4 · DC 8100 · Neurological
Tinnitus
38 CFR § Part 4 · DC 6260 · Auditory
Hearing Loss
38 CFR § Part 4 · DC 6100 · Auditory
Sleep Apnea
38 CFR § Part 4 · DC 6847 · Respiratory
Sinusitis & Rhinitis
38 CFR § Part 4 · DC 6510–6514 · Respiratory
Low Back (Lumbar Spine)
38 CFR § Part 4 · DC 5237 · Musculoskeletal
Neck (Cervical Spine)
38 CFR § Part 4 · DC 5237 · Musculoskeletal
Knee Conditions
38 CFR § Part 4 · DC 5260/5261 · Musculoskeletal
Radiculopathy / Sciatica
38 CFR § Part 4 · DC 8520 · Neurological
Diabetes Mellitus II
38 CFR § Part 4 · DC 7913 · Endocrine
Hypertension
38 CFR § Part 4 · DC 7101 · Cardiovascular
Ischemic Heart Disease
38 CFR § Part 4 · DC 7005 · Cardiovascular
GERD
38 CFR § Part 4 · DC 7346 · Digestive
IBS
38 CFR § Part 4 · DC 7319 · Digestive
Do you handle initial VA disability claims?
We focus primarily on post-decision representation — appeals, Higher-Level Reviews, Supplemental Claims, and Board appeals — and we build every case on the record already in your file. We also take initial claims and increases for worsened conditions based on case fit and current availability. A free, accredited VSO is always an option too, and for a straightforward initial claim it is often the best place to start.
What if my rating just needs to be increased because my condition got worse?
An increased-rating request based on a worsened condition is filed as a new claim. We take these based on case fit and current availability — request a consultation and we'll tell you if yours is a fit; a free VSO is always an option as well. If instead you believe your original rating was wrong based on the evidence already in your file, that's an appeal issue — and appeals are what we do best.
Can you help me with my appeal and my new claim at the same time?
Yes — VA allows properly limited, claim-specific appointments to run concurrently. Our representation on your appeal is limited to that specific issue and doesn't disturb your VSO's authority on your separate new claim. We make sure our appointment is set up correctly and help you confirm the same with your VSO.
I want to get to 100% — can you help with that?
It depends on how you'd get there. If it requires new conditions to be added to your record, that's new-claim work — we take these based on case fit and current availability, and a free VSO is always an option. If your current service-connected conditions already keep you from maintaining steady employment, you may qualify for TDIU, which pays at the 100% rate and is something we can pursue as part of your appeal. Reaching 100% depends entirely on the specifics of your case and the evidence available — not every claim qualifies, and we can't guarantee any particular rating or outcome.
What is the difference between a Higher-Level Review and a Supplemental Claim?
A Higher-Level Review has a senior VA reviewer re-examine the same evidence already on file to find errors — no new evidence is allowed. A Supplemental Claim reopens a decision by submitting new and relevant evidence.
Can Oakridge Claims represent survivors seeking DIC benefits?
Yes. Oakridge Claims represents surviving spouses, dependent children, and dependent parents pursuing Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC), including service-connected death claims, § 1318 deemed service connection, and accrued benefits.
Initial VA Claims — No Fee*
We accept initial VA disability claims based on case fit and current availability. There is no fee for initial-claim representation.* You can also file directly with VA yourself at no charge, or get free help from a VA-accredited VSO.
*No fee is charged for representation before VA issues an initial decision. If representation continues after an initial decision, fees may apply to eligible post-decision representation under a written VA-compliant fee agreement. See Fees for details.
What we take on
We focus primarily on post-decision representation — the appeal after a decision — and we build every case on the record already in your file. We take on representation once VA has issued a decision you disagree with — a denial, an underrated combined rating, or an incorrect effective date — and you want to pursue a Higher-Level Review, Supplemental Claim, or appeal to the Board. If the Board has denied you, we can also help you evaluate options at the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC), where representation requires a VA-licensed attorney.
We also take initial claims and increases for worsened conditions based on case fit and current availability, and no fee is ever charged for initial-claim representation — request a free consultation and we'll tell you whether yours is a fit. A free, accredited Veterans Service Organization (VSO) is also an excellent option for this stage. You can find one in VA's accredited representative directory.
Trying to reach 100%? Two different paths
- ★If reaching 100% means adding new conditions to your record, that's new-claim work — we take cases based on case fit and current availability, and a free VSO is always an option.
- ★If your existing service-connected conditions already prevent you from maintaining steady, gainful employment, you may qualify for TDIU, which pays at the 100% rate without your combined rating literally reaching 100%. TDIU is something we can evaluate and pursue as part of your appeal.
We'll always tell you plainly which category your situation falls into before you decide how to proceed. Reaching 100% — whether through combined ratings or TDIU — depends entirely on the facts of your case and the evidence available. Not every claim qualifies, and we cannot guarantee any particular outcome or rating.
Rating increases vs. underrated-decision appeals
A request for an increased rating on a condition that has worsened since your last decision is filed as a new claim — we accept these based on case fit and current availability, and a free VSO is always an option. What we specialize in is appealing decisions you disagree with: if your rating was incorrect when it was assigned — you were underrated on the evidence VA already had — that is an appeal issue, and we can evaluate it.
Already working with a VSO on a new claim?
If you have both an existing appeal and a new claim you'd like to file, that's not an either/or situation. VA rules allow properly limited, claim-specific appointments to run at the same time — our representation on your appeal only carves out that specific issue and doesn't disturb your VSO's authority on your separate new claim. We'll make sure our appointment is limited correctly, and walk you through what to confirm with your VSO so both representations work side by side. Before you sign anything with a VSO, read the three questions to ask first.
Disclaimer: Oakridge Claims is a private business and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. No guarantees of outcomes are made.