After you request a decision review
When your review is complete, VA will mail you a decision packet that includes details about the decision on your case.
What should I do while I wait?
You don’t need to do anything unless VA sends you a letter asking for more information. If VA schedules any exams for you, be sure not to miss them.
If you requested a decision review and haven’t heard back from VA yet, please don’t request another review. Call VA at 800-827-1000 (TTY: 711).
If you’ve filed a request for a decision review, we may randomly select you to receive an email with a short, optional survey. If selected, you’ll get a survey about 10 days after we receive your request for a decision review. You aren’t required to fill it out, but your feedback will help us improve the new decision reviews process. It takes about 3 minutes to answer the questions. Please review your VA.gov profile to make sure we have your most recent email address.
What if I need help?
A Veterans Service Organization or VA-accredited attorney or agent can help with any questions you have about decision reviews.
Can I choose a different review option after I’ve submitted a form?
You may be able to switch your request to a different option.
Note: If we already completed a Higher-Level Review for your case, you can’t request another Higher-Level Review. And if we already completed a Board Appeal for your case, you can’t request another Board Appeal.
If you’ve already submitted a Supplemental Claim or Higher-Level Review
If we haven’t decided your Supplemental Claim or Higher-Level Review, you can switch to a new review option.
The deadline depends on which option you’re switching to:
- You can switch to a Higher-Level Review or Board Appeal if you’re still within 1 year from the date on your decision letter.
- You can switch to a Supplemental Claim at any time. But we recommend switching within 1 year from the date on your decision letter.
To switch to a different review option, send us a signed letter that says you want to withdraw your original decision review request. Submit a new request for the review option you want.
Learn more about decision review options
To switch after you’ve already submitted a Board Appeal
You can switch if both of these are true:
- You haven’t submitted new evidence or had a hearing, and
- The Board hasn’t decided your case
The deadline depends on which option you’re switching to:
- You can switch to a Higher-Level Review or Board Appeal if you’re still within 1 year from the date on your decision letter.
- You can switch to a Supplemental Claim at any time. But we recommend switching within 1 year from the date on your decision letter.
To switch to a different review option, submit a new decision review request for the review option you want. Include a signed letter that says you want to withdraw your original Board Appeal request.
To switch to a different type of Board Appeal
You can switch if all of these are true:
- You haven’t submitted new evidence or had a hearing, and
- The Board hasn’t decided your case, and
- You’re still within 1 year from the date on your original VA decision letter or 60 days from your original Board Appeal request, whichever is later
To switch to a different type of Board Appeal, submit a new Board Appeal request and select the type you want. You don’t need to withdraw your original request.
What if I have more questions?
Get answers to frequently asked questions about decision reviews.