How to Request a VA Higher-Level Review

Mission Brief

A Higher-Level Review (HLR) is the fast lane for correcting VA errors—no new evidence, just a sharper argument. Use this playbook to re-run your file with a senior rater who actually knows the law.

Start by treating the decision letter like an after-action report. Highlight every regulation the VA cited, then line it up against what your evidence already proved. When you submit VA Form 20-0996, you are not adding documents—you are demanding a correct reading of the record under the same evidence.

Lock down an informal conference, prep your talking points, and keep a copy of every CFR citation you plan to read back to the reviewer. If the VA still misses the mark, you can pivot to a Supplemental Claim or Board appeal without losing your momentum.

• Know the lane: HLR is for duty-to-assist failures, misapplied diagnostic codes, or overlooked evidence—not for uploading new exhibits.
• Script the conference: outline each issue, cite the regulation, and reference where the evidence already answers the question.
• Preserve the paper trail: document conference attempts, call notes, and follow-up letters so you have proof the VA touched the claim on time.

Situation Brief

Your decision letter is wrong on the law, ignored favorable evidence, or flubbed the diagnostic code. Higher-Level Review lets a senior rater fix those mistakes without making you restart the claim. You cannot add new evidence, but you can show exactly where the original rater failed to apply the rules.

Pro tip: Ask for the informal conference on the form and follow up within seven days if you do not get a scheduling call.

Higher-Level Review Prep Checklist

Walk through this checklist before you hit submit. The goal is to prove the VA already has what it needs—it just needs to read it correctly.

• Pull the full decision packet and highlight every denial bullet or lowballed rating.
• Match each issue to the evidence that already lives in VA.gov or your file number (STRs, DBQs, lay statements).
• Record the exact CFR sections, diagnostic codes, or M21-1 guidance that support your argument.
• Draft a one-page conference script: issue, error, evidence reference, and regulatory citation.
• Complete VA Form 20-0996, requesting the informal conference, and list each contention separately.
• Set reminders for 30, 60, and 90 days to follow up on scheduling or status changes.

Keep copies of the form, fax confirmation, and any VA call logs in your claim binder.

Step-by-Step Playbook

1. Break down the decision letter: Highlight every denial reason, rating code, and CFR reference. Mark what the VA got wrong or ignored so your script stays focused.
2. Pair each issue with evidence already on file: List the exhibit, page, and upload date proving the VA had the needed information—no new documents allowed in HLR.
3. Build an informal conference script: Use bullet points to walk the reviewer through each issue, citing 38 CFR and pointing to where the evidence sits in the record.
4. Submit VA Form 20-0996: File online or via fax, request the informal conference, and keep the confirmation number or time stamp.
5. Execute the informal conference: Stay calm, lead with the regulation, and confirm the reviewer has the same evidence packet while you walk through each error.
6. Track the decision and next moves: Log every call, upload the new decision to your binder, and be ready to pivot to a supplemental claim or Board appeal if needed.

If the reviewer spots a duty-to-assist miss, ask them to document the correction or order the exam before ending the call.

Evidence Arsenal (What You Already Have)

You are not adding exhibits in HLR—you are pointing the reviewer back to the evidence the VA ignored. Organize the proof so the senior rater can’t miss it this time.

Reminder: If you truly need to add new or updated evidence, jump into the supplemental lane instead of trying to force it into HLR.

Intel & Tools

Run the HLR like a command briefing—log every contact, confirm the reviewer has your evidence, and stay ready to pivot if the decision comes back short.

• Conference prep: rehearse your script with a spouse, VSO, or mentor so you can deliver it in under 15 minutes.
• Status tracking: check VA.gov every 10–14 days, screenshot updates, and note who you spoke with and when.
• Escalation path: if your reviewer confirms an error but the decision ignores it, file a Supplemental Claim immediately with new and relevant evidence.

Keep your binder updated after every touchpoint so the next reviewer—or Board judge—sees a precise paper trail.

Next Actions & Support

Each lane has a one-year clock—log the deadline the day you receive any new decision letter.