A denied pension claim is not the end of the file. VA's decision review process gives three lanes, and each one asks for something different. The steps below follow the order a family should work through once the letter arrives.[1]

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Step 1: Read the reason, not just the result

The denial letter names the reason the claim failed, such as a missing medical statement, an income figure VA could not verify, or a service document it did not find. Copy the reason into your own notes word for word. Every later choice depends on that reason.

Step 2: Find the deadline on the letter

Decision review requests carry a filing window, and the letter states it. For these lanes the usual window is one year from the decision date, but the letter controls for your file, so write the date on the letter's own terms, not from memory.[1]

Step 3: Pick the lane that matches the gap

  • Supplemental claim (VA Form 20-0995): use this when you have new evidence that fills the reason named in the letter.
  • Higher-level review (VA Form 20-0996): use this when VA made an error with the evidence it already had, and no new proof is needed. You cannot add new evidence to this lane.
  • Board appeal (VA Form 10182): use this when you want a Board decision and are prepared to choose a docket and evidence rules, which takes longer than the other two.[1]

Choosing the wrong lane is the most common expensive mistake. If the gap is missing proof, a higher-level review wastes the time because the reviewer cannot consider what you add later.

Step 4: Assemble the proof the letter names

Gather only what the reason calls for. For an aid and attendance denial, that is often a current medical statement on daily needs, or the form the examiner used to record them.[2] Keep a copy of every page you send.

Step 5: Send it so you can prove the date

Use a trackable method and keep the receipt. Write down the date you sent it, what you included, and the name of the person who took the call if you phoned to confirm receipt.

Step 6: Watch for the next letter

VA answers with a new decision letter. Read it against the reason you listed in Step 1 before you plan anything around it. If the gap is still open, the next lane is the decision that counts.

An accredited representative can file any of these lanes for free. The St. Louis offices page explains who takes these filings, and the How We Write This Briefing page explains how each step here is sourced.

Sources

[1] VA.gov, Decision reviews and appeals page, including the descriptions of the supplemental claim, higher-level review, and Board appeal lanes, and VA Forms 20-0995, 20-0996, and 10182.

[2] VA.gov, Aid and Attendance and Housebound benefits page.