Published 12 October 2026
Maybe your letter says “claim denied,” or the rating came back lower than you expected. Between FY 2020 and FY 2024, about 26% of veterans asked VA to review a decision, and 86% of them chose a Supplemental Claim or a Higher-Level Review , according to VA’s February 2025 report to Congress.
Maybe your letter says “claim denied,” or the rating came back lower than you expected. Between FY 2020 and FY 2024, about 26% of veterans asked VA to review a decision, and 86% of them chose a Supplemental Claim or a Higher-Level Review, according to VA’s February 2025 report to Congress.
HLRs move fast, too. VA finished them in about 93 days on average in FY 2024. Fast isn’t the same as successful, though. In this guide, we explain the higher-level review success rate and how to tell if an HLR fits your initial decision.
From what we’ve seen, many veterans file before they know which path suits their case. A first ruling on your VA disability claim isn’t always final, but an HLR works only in certain situations. Here’s what the numbers mean and how to tell if an HLR is the right move.
If you want more background, start with our earlier article on what percentage of VA claims are denied. It shows how common a first denial is.
Next in this series, this VA disability increase guide covers what to do when a rating is too low. For the full picture, read this post on VA claim success rate.
Numbers can calm a lot of worry. Here’s what VA data shows, which outcomes to expect, and how long the wait runs.
The higher-level review success rate was 24.2% in FY 2025. That means about one in four requests ended in a granted decision.
The trend points up. The grant rate hit 20.1% in FY 2023 and 24.2% in FY 2025. Volume grew too, from 16,512 claims in FY 2019 to 283,975 in FY 2025.
One caution applies. The published rate doesn’t separate duty-to-assist returns from difference-of-opinion grants. Please don’t stack the two for a bigger number. For instance, adding a “return” percentage to 24% would give a wrong total.
VA lists three results on its Higher-Level Review page. Here they are:
Each result brings a new rating decision letter. Say VA never ordered a C&P exam, the medical exam for your claim. That gap is a duty-to-assist error.
VA’s goal for a VA higher-level review on a non-health-care claim is an average of 125 days, or 4 to 5 months. In practice, VA has often beaten that time frame. In FY 2024, HLRs took about 93 days on average, according to VA’s February 2025 report to Congress.
Your review may still take longer, especially if you request an informal conference.
Two lanes handle two different problems. Here’s how to match yours.
Use an HLR when the proof already sat in your file, but the rater misapplied the rating criteria or weighed it wrong. For example, a rater may overlook a doctor’s note that VA already had.
VA sets two conditions, per its HLR page. You must file within 1 year of the decision on your initial claim or Supplemental Claim. You also must have no new evidence to submit.
Missing proof is a Supplemental Claim problem, so an HLR can’t fix it. Does your file need a document it lacks? Then pick the other lane. VA disability claims that can’t be proven yet often share these gaps:
Knee pain with no service treatment records
A mental health condition with no nexus, the doctor-backed link to service
Three kinds of new evidence help most:
Together, these build service connections: a current condition, an event in service, and a link between them. In the case of a veteran with knee pain and no service records, a private doctor’s letter plus a buddy statement can fill that gap.
Heads up: VA can gather private records for you if you sign VA Form 21-4142. See this nexus letter article for more.
Quick Comparison: HLR vs. Supplemental Claim vs. Board Appeal
Table details come from VA’s Choosing a decision review option page. File within one year of your decision letter to protect your effective date, per 38 CFR 3.2500.
Most HLRs stall for three reasons. Each one is easy to spot once you know the signs.
This is the most common mistake. The reviewer works only from the evidence VA already had. The word “review” makes many veterans expect a chance to add proof.
If proof is missing, head back to the Supplemental Claim lane. For instance, a denial for lack of a nexus needs a new doctor’s letter, not an HLR.
Vague disagreement does not work. The reviewer needs a specific error to fix.
Here’s an example. A knee rating comes out too low because the rater misread range-of-motion results from your C&P exams. The fix is to compare the denial letter to the exam report and point to the exact measurement VA got wrong.
See our C&P exam article.
A strong error statement names:
The informal conference is a phone call with your reviewer. Its purpose is to point out factual or legal errors. It is not a hearing, and new evidence is not allowed.
Examples help here. Mark your page numbers before the phone rings, so each point takes seconds.
A little prep makes the HLR process smoother. These four steps keep your higher-level review request clear and on time.
Start with your denial letter. Compare each denied issue against the rating criteria, which are VA’s rules for each percentage. Then check the evidence already in your file, including your military service records.
Look for these gaps:
VA itself suggests a written statement with your application. It can speed up the decision.
Explain your position in plain words. Support each point with something already in the record. A sample line: “Page 4 of the exam lists a measurement the letter left out.” Short statements are easier to read, so keep it to one page.
It is optional, and each HLR allows only 1 conference. The reviewer makes 2 attempts to call you. After that, the VA decides without it.
A conference may add time, so some veterans skip it. Not sure an error exists? Ask a VA-accredited representative to read the letter with you.
Check off these five items before you submit:
Here’s the short version: An HLR fixes mistakes in the evidence VA already has. A Supplemental Claim adds the proof your claim is missing.
A denial leaves your claim open to another try. File within one year of your decision letter, and your effective date stays put. So does any back pay you may be owed.
Pick the lane that matches your problem, and the appeal path gets clearer. Still unsure which lane fits your claim? We at Your VA Benefits can help you understand your benefits and your options. Stop by our homepage whenever you are ready.
No, a higher level review uses only the evidence VA already had. Send new proof through a Supplemental Claim or a Board Appeal.
VA’s goal is an average of 125 days, or 4 to 5 months, per its HLR page. An informal conference may add to the waiting time.
No. A past HLR or Board Appeal on the same claim issue rules it out.
Request a Board Appeal if you want a Veterans Law Judge to review your case. File a Supplemental Claim if you have new and relevant evidence.
