Deadlines, the calm way
Deadlines matter, but they don’t have to be stressful. Here are the key time windows after a VA decision, explained plainly — with no ticking clocks. Think of these as steady reminders, not alarms.
Draft content — under review by an accredited VA attorney. We’ve written this in plain language to help you understand your options. A VA-accredited attorney is still checking it for accuracy.
Always verify your deadlines on your VA decision letter. The dates that matter for your case are the ones printed on your own letter from the VA — not the examples here.
The windows that matter
Choosing an appeal option
1 year from the date printed on your VA decision notice.
You generally have 1 year to choose Higher-Level Review, a Supplemental Claim, or a Board Appeal. Filing within this year keeps your claim on one continuous track and protects your original effective date (your back-pay start date).
Keeping your effective date (continuous pursuit)
1 year from each decision, as long as you keep filing within a year of the last one.
If you file each next step within 1 year of the decision before it, the VA treats it as one continuous effort. That keeps your effective date — and the back pay measured from it — anchored to your original claim. Let a year lapse and you can usually still file, but the effective date may reset to the later filing.
Submitting evidence to the Board
90 days from filing your Board Appeal (Evidence Submission docket) or the date of your Board hearing.
On the Evidence Submission docket you have 90 days from filing to send new evidence. On the Hearing docket the record stays open for 90 days after the hearing. On the Direct Review docket no new evidence is accepted.
Appealing a Board decision to court
60 days from the date the Board of Veterans’ Appeals mails its decision.
If the Board decides against you, you have 60 days to appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC). This is a firm court deadline and shorter than the others, so it is worth acting on promptly.
Keeping your effective date (back pay)
Your effective date is the date the VA uses to decide how far back your benefits go — your back-pay start date. Filing each next step within 1 year of the decision before it keeps your claim on one continuous track. The VA treats it as one ongoing effort (“continuous pursuit”), which keeps your effective date tied to your original claim.
If a full year passes, you can usually still file — but your effective date may move to that later date, and some back pay can be lost. So the year is about protecting money you’ve already earned, not about rushing.
A worked example
Suppose a decision letter is dated March 15, 2025. Here’s how the main dates would fall. (This is just an example — use the date on your own letter.)
By March 15, 2026
Choose your appeal option (Higher-Level Review, Supplemental Claim, or Board Appeal) to keep your claim on one continuous track and protect your original effective date and back pay.
- If your case goes to the Board and you disagree with the result: you would then have 60 days from the date the Board mails its decision to appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC). That clock starts at the Board decision, not at this letter.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.