Denied or under-rated? Start here.
If the VA denied your claim or gave you a lower rating than you expected, you are not stuck and you are not alone. This is the short, plain-English path through what to do next — built on real Board of Veterans’ Appeals decisions, free to use, and independent of the VA and of any law firm.
1. A denial is a starting point, not the end
You usually have three ways to challenge a VA decision — a Higher-Level Review, a Supplemental Claim, or an appeal to the Board. Each fits a different situation. See which one matches yours in plain English.
A denial is a starting point, not the end →2. Protect your deadline first
Acting within one year of your decision generally protects your effective date — which can mean back pay. Check the clock that matters before anything else.
Protect your deadline first →3. See how appeals like yours actually turn out
Pick your condition and see real Board of Veterans’ Appeals outcomes — how often claims were granted or remanded, and what tended to win.
See how appeals like yours actually turn out →4. Know what your rating really adds up to
VA ratings don’t combine the way you’d expect (50% plus 30% is not 80%). Run your ratings through the real math, step by step.
Know what your rating really adds up to →5. Get free or accredited help
Veterans Service Officers help for free, and accredited attorneys and claims agents can take complex appeals. Search by state from the VA’s own accreditation list.
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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.