The VA Appeals Modernization Decision Review Quick Start Guide (QSG) provides clear and concise information for the next steps a Veteran can take when they disagree with the decision VA made on their disability compensation claim. Appeals Modernization offers Veterans more choice, clarity and control over the decision review process and helps them seek faster resolution of their disagreement.

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VA implemented The Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2017 on February 19, 2019. As a result, Appeals Modernization transformed VA’s complex “legacy” appeals process.

Appeals Modernization benefits Veterans who disagree with the decision VA made on their compensation claims. Since February 19, 2019, Veterans have had a choice of three lanes for a review of the original VA decision. Previously, when a Veteran disagreed with a VA claim decision, the Veteran had to “appeal” the decision. That “legacy” appeals process was complex, inefficient, and often led to a lengthy wait for a second decision.

The new Quick Start Guide helps Veterans understand the new review lanes: supplemental claim, higher-level review, or direct appeal to the Board of Veterans’ Appeals.

The VA Appeals Modernization Decision Review guide covers:

  • Understanding the three lanes of review
  • How to start the new review process
  • How to get additional help with the review processes
  • Checking the status of a claim or appeal
  • Contact information, how to get forms, and other potential questions

The guide helps Veterans understand the options and how to pursue the decision review lane that best suits their needs.

“We hope that the availability of this Quick Start Guide helps Veterans understand how to get started with the modernized process,” said Chairman of the Board of Veterans’ Appeals Cheryl Mason. “Clear information about the options available to submit a disagreement with a VA decision will enable our Nation’s Veterans to receive the benefits they deserve.”

More Information

For more information about VA’s implementation of the Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act or to access the applicable forms, go to: www.benefits.va.gov/benefits/appeals.asp and follow the instructions for submission.

Additional Quick Start Guides

Veterans can find additional VA Quick Start Guides on a variety of topics. Those include: VA Mental Health Services, VA Burial Services, community and urgent care; applying for disability compensation, education benefits, and caregiver and survivor benefits. Those guides can be downloaded here.

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26 Comments

  1. Richard N Wagner July 28, 2020 at 14:09

    THE VA and mostly the VBA is a joke. Almost everyone that works there should be fired. Wilkie is just as bad as the last guy. NOTHING has gotten better at all. And the new Community Care group is PATHETIC AT BEST. When you get turned down for things that are CLEARLY IN your medical records. But you have been denied because some POS in an office thinks that your issues are due to your age NOW. That loser should be fired. My neck issues were CLEARLY cause while I was in the ARMY. Its in My medical records. So the least I should have gotten for My neck was SERVICE CONNECTED. Not told that we think your issues are due to your age NOW. WTF do you think you are??? You are Not GOD. And 10% for Fibro is a JOKE. You know it and I know it. BUT NONE OF YOU AT ALL GIVE A RATS AZZ.

  2. henry vega July 24, 2020 at 07:33

    The VA is not helping us. I fought for this country but still get left behind..My X lost our storage some yrs ago and all my medals, trophys, etc…I need my DD214 to try the Waiting Game for my benefits..I have been waiting 10yrs to get a copy of it..I have sent my request to everybody..It cant be that hard to make a copy and put it in the mail…I have ptsd and I struggle day to day with trying to maintain..I signed up for this and 2 more reups…Be All I Could Be….Just so society could forget about You n Me..

  3. Mark Menning July 21, 2020 at 13:16

    Why am I being denied VA medical benefits. I served 2 years in the army and am 73. Can somebody help me better understand why I have been denied benefits?

  4. John Carpenter July 17, 2020 at 08:08

    I need a good law firm to appeal my c& p decision from the VA again. I’m in Florida and been trying to get my 40% up 100% as I’m going on 70 yrs old. Who can HELP?

  5. P Murphy July 16, 2020 at 11:41

    https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/

    40,000 + Still waiting for help in past year to the more than 40,000 + who have been waiting in previous 10 years? It’s not getting any better….!!! ???

    Micro management at It’s best……

    Sad….!!!

    • P Murphy July 16, 2020 at 11:50

      That’s been just one of a dozen at least problems with today decision making., to much moderation! Yup! Back to the still waiting process! “The waiting process seams to be the only process a Veteran has”……, enough said…!!! ???

  6. Michael Davis July 16, 2020 at 07:05

    I’m with you. I went through a decade of major depression and homelessness.

    In that decade, (actually eight years in doctor’s care and two on my own), I say a psychiatrist a total of one visit for 15 minutes.

    The two years without doctors or meds were after I quit the meds and told the doctors to stay out of my life.

    The drugs they were giving me took time to fully leave my system. Within two years I was out of depression and have been out, except a couple short relapses, now for 8 years.

    In my experience with VA mental health services, I have made the decision that if I ever have mental health issues I will NEVER trust the VA again.

  7. Edgardo Llanos July 16, 2020 at 06:46

    I’ve been without pain medication since last month and even though I went to the VA clinic for my urinalysis, they still haven’t mail the medication. This is causing me to be depressed do to the pain I have.

    • Pleer July 16, 2020 at 13:00

      The VA medical system is horrible in all aspects. It is terribly run and has terrible processes. This org needs to be privatized and not left up to the federal government to run. It’s main purpose is to cater and help veterans. It causes harm more than anything. I have numerous examples if horrible system. I will not use the VA anymore for my healthcare needs. I feel sorry for the veterans that do not have a choice. Lastly, the VA takes doctors that can’t pass their board exams. Those doctors work under a doctor that is licensed.

    • Keith Dicks July 17, 2020 at 22:01

      I had the same problem due to rlthe fact that my VA will not prescribe pain meds, they send you to a pain clinic. My problem is that I travel for extended periods.

      I finally called my U.S. Senator. Got my meds 2 weeks later.

  8. Timothy Kramp July 16, 2020 at 03:36

    I filed a claim or multiple claims for my knees and shoulders, hepatitis C and a couple others back in 2015 and then again in 2017 and was waiting for information when I went down to see the VSO at the AMVETS in LomaLinda and because it was a few weeks away from running out of time she told me to let it expire and then refile, which I did and find now that it wasted that whole year; so now I have been waiting for the appeal and was expecting information the end of 2019 but then the fella there at the VA in Loma Linda who was there once a week three times a month told me it all looked good and that we were waiting for information and then he retired and the COVID-19 started and I haven’t heard anything since he told me we were waiting for information, so now I am in limbo again. So I am looking to see a good VSO if there is one. If anyone knows of a good one please let me know because I need the help. Thank you

  9. William Hays July 16, 2020 at 00:58

    I have been waiting on my disability decision for aost 6 years. Now they send me a form for being seen by the actual board for close to a year. I have been in therapy for 8 years, tried to commit suicide and was in lockdown at the VA Hospital, I see a VA psych. I suffer from severe PTSD. I’m still waiting and I figure they might get to me in the next 5 years. I’m tired of the wait.

  10. Bradley Olson July 15, 2020 at 21:55

    I’ve been in the waiting game for years on my ptsd appeal. I had a online hearing with a judge three years ago and still no decision. Now within the last 2 months I am told I have to go through the C&P all over again…. I’m still waiting. I sure hope I get back pay since 2012 if I win my appeal!!

  11. bobby neal July 15, 2020 at 21:36

    Vietnam army vet been appealed since 2014 for IU 100%,Still waiting ?

  12. bobby neal July 15, 2020 at 21:31

    been waiting since 2014 ,already 90%,on appeal for IU100% Still Waiting !!!!!

  13. Bernard Smith July 15, 2020 at 21:00

    I have had 2 claims, one I injured my back in Korea and when I was getting my hearing aids, the technician who was testing me said I should file a claim from my service in Korea from January of 1952 till returned home in May 1953. The back injury was rejected by the Doctor who examined me over 50 years later saying it was wear and tear that was causing the pain. I KNOW I INJURED MY BACK IN KOREA., and the hearing was NEVER responded to.

  14. Thelma L Williams July 15, 2020 at 20:48

    RAPED….
    Three left knee surgeries..
    My documents were shredded due to embarrassment to the unit on 7077 Perimeter Dr. in Houston, TX. While on Annual Training in NM I was assaulted by a fellow male soldier. I was taken to the hospital by my unit staff and given a rape kit and a deposition the next morning while being forced to stay in that room over night. I was sent home early due to depression and told to report to the unit the following week. I then was told by my Captain that I was placed in the IRR with less than two years in the Army. I was confused. I have been denied three times for my claim of PTSD due to MST because I don’t have documents that were shredded.
    My three left knee surgeries were due to an injury that happened in basic training in SC. I was initially told I was born with a degenerative osteoarthritis until I produced an LOD proving the injury. Then I was denied with the VA saying oh this injury was just a contusion and they are not responsible for my surgeries. However, I read where a blunt contusion to a limb can cause meniscus tears and that is why I have had three surgeries to my left knee after the prior injury in basic. I will DIE appealing their decisions. 14 years of wasted time in the Army because when we fulfill our obligation we are sent home and treated like a homeless dog on the street…just shameful!!

  15. James Reule July 15, 2020 at 20:41

    was my comment published? I do not see it?

  16. James Reule July 15, 2020 at 20:29

    I have a problem with the VA CBOC that I am a part of. I do not have Covid-19 nor do I plan on getting it. At my physical on June 19, 2020, I brought up the subject of Hydroxychloroquine with my PA. He would neither prescribe it not recommend it. He got into all the tremendous side-effects of it. We had earlier talked about two other meds and their side-effects which he said were “supposed side-effects as though they were nothing, but the side-effects of Hydroxychlororquine were dangerous to one’s life expectancy! He told me why do you listen to that “guy” referring to President Trump. I told him because he has my respect, something which he does not have for him!. Today I was told that neither of the other Physicians or PAs at the Bloomington IB CBOC would recommend or prescribe Hydroxychloroquine either so I am left without the means of obtaining the medication that I believe has good reports both by the VA and the Henry Ford Health System. I was told I would have to go outside of the VA system to obtain it and at my expense. I am ready to write a letter to the Secretary of the VA over this matter. I have a letter in which he tells of the VA is treating 1300 Vets with Hydroxychloroquine, but I can’t get it from the clinic I am treated at? What would you recommend that I do? This is not just about me but any vet that would like to be treated with it and would be refused. What am I to do? Do you have any suggestions? My Patient Advocate with the VA is worthless!

  17. Clifford Zatelli July 15, 2020 at 20:06

    I applied for benefits in 2012 and the VA disapproved some of the old benefits I was receiving (20%). The VA couldn’t find the records when I was in Vietnam . I sent them a letter giving them the dates and stated It was during my Army service not Air Force service. I never received a reply to my letter. Figured they cared less. The VA compensation I receive is deducted from my retired Air Force retired pay, so other words I pay for my VA disability. So, therefore do not ask me to support VA programs.

  18. Jerry R Gutierrez July 15, 2020 at 13:56

    I been waiting on my Decision since 3 years on my employability Disability. Decision for my persent service connected.

  19. Franklyn E. Bannerman July 15, 2020 at 12:06

    Since this COVID 19, I must speak to physicians on the phone. I spoke to a psychiatrist about my PTSD and I know she really had no time to listen. I felt rushed on this call, as though hurry up I have other things to do. No one has even asked for witnesses. My wife can confirm my condition. She sees me cry at waking up hollering, crying, calling out!

  20. Edgar Butler July 15, 2020 at 11:18

    I need to reopen my case I’m a veteran of 10 years he United States Marine Corps my name is Edgar Butler.

    [Editor: If you received a disability compensation claim or appeals decision 10 years ago, then you will need to submit a new claim. You can do that at http://www.VA.gov, or you can work with a VSO for assistance.]

  21. Terence McNamara July 15, 2020 at 08:08

    How about clearing out the legacy system before you start something new. I’ll tell you how screwed up it is. After 4 years I finally get a grant for my TBI and Migraines in February of 2920, it is now July, about 5 months later and I haven’t heard one word from anyone at the VA. NOTHING!!! The letter from the board said 1-2 months. Very frustrating. Wait 4 years for a decision, finally get one and its wait some more. Your system stinks. I’m about ready to call my congressman.

    • Juan Daniel Baez July 15, 2020 at 18:36

      You’re lucky. I’ve been waiting since 3/2011 and my appeal is still being worked on. I’ve been to the Board. It was remanded and still, not done. I’ll probably be eligible for retirement and social security by the time they get around to my decision.

      The NYC Regional Office, as well as their American Legion reps are terrible with customer service.

  22. Warren H.Anderson Jr. July 15, 2020 at 07:32

    Maybe the VA is lieing. I have what I thought was a simple supplemental claim for tdiu. I have a 80 percent rating and had applied for Unemployability the VBA had an appeal from years earlier and for some reason they made a decision and had granted me 50 percent for migraines and two 10 percent rantings for knees which the raters in Winston Salem didn’t look at. The supplemental claim was to ask them to consider the 50 percent in their decision for the tdiu . It’s been over a year now . I think they lost the claim and when I called they found it and when I called months later they had not entered it to start the process. I’m sure all they do to me is lie and they are definitely not telling the truth to My President and the other people in authority. Now with this covid they have me scheduled for a C&P exam that might be a long way down the road.

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