VA Form 20-0995 — Supplemental Claim (Complete Guide)
Required Forms
What the form does
A is one of the three decision-review lanes created by the . Filing asks the to readjudicate an issue it already decided, this time with new and relevant evidence added to the record.
Unlike , the lane reopens VA's under 38 CFR § 3.159. That means VA must make reasonable efforts to obtain records you identify and, where the legal standard is met, schedule an examination or obtain a medical opinion.
The new and relevant standard
Under 38 CFR § 3.2501, evidence is new if it was not part of the record when the prior decision was made, and relevant if it tends to prove or disprove a matter at issue. This is a lower bar than the old 'new and material' standard, but it is not automatic — resubmitting records VA already has does not satisfy it.
Relevance is measured against the specific reason for the prior denial. If the decision denied because there was no opinion, a new private opinion addressing etiology is relevant. Additional treatment records showing current severity would not cure that particular gap.
Section-by-section walkthrough
- Sections I–II — and claimant identifying information. Use the name and file number exactly as they appear on the decision letter.
- Section III — Issues. List each issue separately and copy the wording from the decision's 'Issues' or 'Decision' section, along with the decision date. Vague entries such as 'my back' can result in an issue being processed differently than you intended.
- Section IV — New and relevant evidence. Identify each piece of evidence you are submitting or asking VA to obtain, including the provider name, address, and the treatment dates. Attach VA Form 21-4142 for each private provider whose records you want VA to request.
- Section V — Optional election regarding evidence VA should retrieve, including federal records such as Social Security disability files or additional service records.
- Sections VI–VII — Signature of the claimant, and of the accredited representative where one is appointed.
Timing and effective dates
- File within one year of the date on the decision letter to maintain continuous pursuit and protect the original for any resulting award.
- Filing after one year is permitted at any time on most issues, but the is generally the date VA receives the .
- A may follow a or a Board decision; the one-year clock runs from that later decision.
- There is no limit on how many Supplemental Claims may be filed on an issue, so long as each one identifies new and relevant evidence.
Where to file
- Online through under the decision review section.
- By mail to the Evidence Intake Center, PO Box 4444, Janesville, WI 53547-4444.
- By fax to the number printed on the current form.
- Through an accredited representative, who files electronically.
Check this against your decision letter
What the paperwork actually says usually determines whether a Supplemental Claim is the right lane.
| If your record shows this | What it means |
|---|---|
| The denial says 'no evidence of a link between your condition and service' | The gap is nexus. New treatment records rarely close it; a medical opinion addressing etiology is the evidence type the denial is pointing at. |
| The denial says 'VA was unable to obtain your records' | This may be a duty-to-assist error — Higher-Level Review can correct it without new evidence, and it may return the case with an earlier effective date preserved. |
| The decision date is more than one year old | Continuous pursuit has lapsed. A Supplemental Claim is still available, but the effective date generally starts from the new filing date rather than the original claim. |
| The rating decision lists an issue you never raised | VA may have inferred a claim. Confirm which issue was actually decided before selecting it in Section III. |
| You already filed a Supplemental Claim and it was denied again on the same basis | The new evidence probably did not address the specific element in dispute. A different lane, or different evidence, is usually the answer. |
Educational only. The regulation and your own record control.
Frequently Asked Questions
References & sources
Useful Tools & Topics
Have questions about your specific case?
Every veteran's facts are different. A free initial consultation with a VA-Accredited Claims Agent can tell you whether your matter is a fit for representation — and what the right next step looks like either way.
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 10182 — Board Appeal (Notice of Disagreement)
Choosing between the Direct, Evidence, and Hearing dockets on VA Form 10182, the 365-day filing window, and what each docket allows.
VA Form 20-0996 — Higher-Level Review
How to complete VA Form 20-0996, what a duty-to-assist error is, the informal conference request, and why no new evidence may be submitted.
VA Form 20-10206 — Request for Your VA Records (FOIA / Privacy Act)
Using VA Form 20-10206 to request your claims file or specific documents, and why a targeted document request is far faster than a full C-file request.