When the VA denies a claim, most veterans have never heard of the tool designed exactly for that situation: the Supplemental Claim. It is the decision review option built for new evidence, and the VA explains it plainly on its Supplemental Claims page.
What a Supplemental Claim is
A Supplemental Claim asks the VA to review its decision again because you have new and relevant evidence to add. It is available after almost any VA decision - an initial claim, a denial, even a prior Supplemental Claim.
It sits alongside two other review options, Higher-Level Review and Board Appeal. The differences matter, and our decision review options guide compares all three.
The new and relevant standard
The VA's rule has two parts. New means the VA did not have the evidence when it made the decision. Relevant means the evidence speaks to the reason the claim was decided the way it was.
This is why the decision letter matters so much. When the VA denies for a missing element - no current diagnosis, no documented in-service event, or no medical link between them - relevant evidence is whatever addresses that specific element. When the missing element is the medical link, a medical opinion such as a nexus letter is the kind of evidence designed to speak to it. Our guide on where medical evidence fits explains how the VA weighs it.
Where veterans start
Every case is different, and there is no obligation at any step. When veterans want to understand what their records actually support, these are the two most common starting points:
- Medical records review
A licensed physician reviews your records for a $250 flat fee and identifies which conditions the available evidence may support. The fee is refunded in full if nothing supportable is identified.
- Nexus letter
When the records support one, a licensed provider writes the medical opinion that addresses the link between your condition and your service.
Timing and the effective date
There is no deadline that closes the door - the VA accepts Supplemental Claims at any time. But timing still matters: per the VA's effective date guidance, filing within one year of the decision generally preserves the original effective date, which controls how far back any payment reaches. Waiting longer typically moves the effective date to the new filing.
How to file, per the VA
The VA accepts Supplemental Claims online, by mail, or in person using VA Form 20-0995. You identify the decision you are asking the VA to review and submit or identify the new evidence. An accredited representative can file one with you at no charge.
For the full claim lifecycle this fits into, see the step-by-step claim process guide.
This guide is educational. It summarizes the VA's own published rules and links to the exact sources it relies on. It is not legal or claims advice, and it is not a substitute for an accredited representative, who can advise you about your specific claim. Accredited help is free - search the VA's accreditation database to find a Veterans Service Organization, accredited agent, or attorney.
Frequently asked questions
What is a VA Supplemental Claim?
It is one of the VA's three decision review options. You file it when you have new and relevant evidence to add after a decision. The VA reviews the claim again with the new evidence included.
What counts as new and relevant evidence?
Per the VA, new means evidence the VA did not have when it decided the claim, and relevant means evidence that relates to the reason the claim was denied. A new medical opinion addressing the missing link in a denial is a common example.
Is there a deadline to file a Supplemental Claim?
You can file a Supplemental Claim any time after a decision. But filing within one year of the decision preserves your effective date for back pay purposes, per the VA's guidance on effective dates.