Supplemental Claims
Required Forms
VA Form 20-0995
Decision Review Request: Supplemental Claim
What a Supplemental Claim is
A is one of the three decision review lanes, and the only one that lets you add new evidence. It is the appropriate path when the reason for a prior denial can be cured by additional records, a new medical opinion, or a corroborating lay statement.
The standard is 'new and relevant' evidence. 'New' means the evidence was not part of the file at the time of the prior decision. 'Relevant' means it tends to prove or disprove an element of the — even slightly. This is a lower bar than the old 'new and material' standard.
What counts as new and relevant evidence
- Private medical records, specialist evaluations, or recent diagnostic tests not previously submitted.
- An () addressing , severity, or .
- Lay statements from family, fellow service members, or co-workers describing symptoms or in-service incidents.
- Newly available service personnel or treatment records.
- Buddy statements corroborating an in-service stressor or event.
Deadlines and effective date protection
There is no hard deadline to file a — you can file at any time. However, filing within one year of the prior decision preserves the original , which can mean significant retroactive benefits.
If you file more than one year after the prior decision, the generally becomes the date the is filed.
How these claims are filed
- Identify the prior decision and the specific issues you want reopened.
- Gather the new and relevant evidence before you file. Strong Supplemental Claims usually rest on a single piece of high-quality new evidence — often an or .
- is completed for this purpose, listing each issue and identifying the new evidence.
- Submit the form and evidence together by mail, fax, in person, or via .
- The VA's is reactivated for Supplemental Claims, so the VA may also order a new exam or request additional records.
Check what you actually have that is new
| If your record shows this | What it means |
|---|---|
| A record VA never had — private treatment notes, a unit record, a buddy statement | New and relevant under 38 CFR § 3.2501. This is the core of the lane. |
| A copy of something already in the claim file | Not new. Resubmitting it does not satisfy the standard and usually produces the same outcome. |
| A medical opinion that engages the negative examiner's rationale | Relevant to the element VA found missing, if that element was nexus. |
| Worsening since the last decision | Often an increased-rating claim rather than a supplemental claim on the old issue. |
| Filed within one year of the prior decision | The earlier effective date may be preserved under § 3.400 continuity. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Useful Tools & Topics
This kind of issue turns on lane, evidence, and timing
Matters like this often come down to lane selection, the right evidence at the right moment, and protecting your effective date. If your issue is already in dispute or post-decision, check whether your matter fits our review process.
Disclaimer: This page is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. 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. Each claim is decided on its individual facts.
Related guides
VA Form 21-0995: Supplemental Claim Guide
Line-by-line walkthrough of VA Form 21-0995 (Supplemental Claim) — when to use it, what qualifies as 'new and relevant' evidence, and the one-year effective-date protection.
VA Form 20-0995 — Supplemental Claim
Line-by-line guide to VA Form 20-0995: the new and relevant evidence standard, the one-year effective-date window, and how to identify the issue correctly.
Compare Appeals Lanes
Side-by-side comparison of Higher-Level Review, Supplemental Claim, and Board appeal — speed, evidence rules, and outcomes.
Back Pay for VA Appeals
How retroactive pay works on a successful VA appeal, why the one-year window matters, and how effective dates are preserved.