Important: We updated this article in November 2025 after reviewing current data from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). If you served your country honorably and developed health issues after your military discharge, you’re not alone. In 2024, nearly 6 million vets received at least $152 billion in monthly VA disability compensation. Yet that number represents just 41% of all U.S. veterans, meaning many who applied then received a VA disability claim denial. Learn the most common reasons for a denied VA claim below. Then, let us connect you with the right help for turning your denial into a VA benefits win when you appeal.
Understanding the Reason for Your VA Claim Denial: Key Takeaways
- The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) pays monthly disability benefits to honorably discharged vets with eligible medical conditions.
- Public records show the VA made errors during nearly 1 in 5 claim reviews (18%) involving a rating decision in the past year.
- Veterans can appeal a claim denial within 12 months and potentially still receive disability benefits. However, the three different paths to appeal are confusing, which may cause mistakes or delays during the appeals process.
- Attorneys consistently achieve the highest win rate for veterans who appeal after their claim was denied (43% succeed with legal help vs. 30% with no representation).
- A free consultation with a VA-accredited lawyer can help clarify whether appealing a denied VA claim is worth the effort.
Top 5 Reasons Why You May Have Your Veterans’ Disability Claim Denied by the VA
Below are some common reasons for claim denials, plus suggested fixes in case you want to appeal.
1. No valid current diagnosis of any medical condition eligible for VA benefits.
You may feel anxious or depressed, but if a doctor hasn’t formally diagnosed you, then it’s not “real” to the VA. This applies to any invisible health issue many veterans face; simply put, your symptoms alone are not a diagnosis. That remains true even if your doctor prescribes medication to treat your symptoms, like insomnia or panic attacks.
The same applies to veterans living with chronic pain. Your back may hurt, but without a name for the reason (like arthritis), it’s not a service-connected disability. Ask your doctor for documentation of a formal medical diagnosis that currently affects you on a regular basis.
2. No service connection linking your current health problems to prior military history.
VA disability claim approval requires showing how your military service either triggered or worsened your condition(s). And the link between the two must be direct, which the VA calls a “service connection.” In certain circumstances, the VA may insist that yours isn’t service-connected because you had it before enlisting (i.e., pre-existing conditions). In plain English, the VA wants to see proof that military service is the only reason you have this health problem today.
Pro Tip: A doctor can provide a medical nexus statement that may help you reverse a previously denied VA claim when you appeal.
3. Not enough evidence to support your VA disability claim.
If you mostly see private physicians instead of relying on the VA for healthcare, you may run into this problem. It’s easy for the agency to pull your medical records from their own clinics, hospitals, and doctors. But medical records from private sector providers aren’t free, and the VA won’t pay any fees to acquire them on your behalf.
So, it’s important to gather as much relevant medical evidence as you can before you apply for VA disability benefits. Updated medical records on how much your current disability worsened since your VA claim’s denial are the next-best thing.
4. You skipped (or failed) your required compensation & pension exam.
The easiest way to confirm you have a service-connected disability is to attend a C&P exam. This medical exam takes about 10 minutes for physical conditions, or a bit longer for mental health issues. But if you forget or miss your appointment, the VA will automatically deny you benefits.
The doctor may also determine your issues don’t meet the minimum requirements for a VA disability rating. Or, that your symptoms didn’t progress enough to warrant a higher VA rating (and more pay). If that applies to you, we have no advice on how to reverse that decision. But if you do appeal, be sure to show up for all scheduled medical exams with the VA.
5. Paperwork errors (i.e., missed a filing deadline, submitted the wrong form, etc.).
Common errors (like leaving a required field blank) could result in a denied VA claim for technical reasons. This is why it’s critical to have someone you trust review your paperwork before you file it with the VA. You can always request a free claim evaluation with a veterans’ disability attorney in our network to correct any mistakes. Our advice is to find these errors, correct them, and get professional help handling your VA claim appeal.
When Should You Appeal a Denied VA Claim?
An initial claim denial doesn’t mean you’re out of options or that monthly VA benefits are off the table. Consider filing an appeal if any of the following applies to your situation:
- Recent changes to federal law or agency policy would change your original claim’s outcome. An example of when this might apply would be presumptive disabilities now covered under the 2023 Pact Act.
- You have new and relevant evidence that supports your disability claim. This can be new medical records, buddy statements from fellow service members, a layoff notice, etc.
- The VA made an obvious error and you can prove their mistake. An attorney can tell if the VA broke any procedural rules or applied the wrong laws when reviewing your claim.
How to Start the Appeals Process
If the VA denies your claim, you have a year to appeal the agency’s decision.
Step 1: Find the Reason for the VA’s Denial in Your Decision Letter
Before you do anything else, figure out the reason behind your VA denial is key. For example: If you applied for VA unemployability, did you include recent work history documentation? Were they missing private medical records from your own doctor that would otherwise support your VA claim?
In some cases, you may realize that there’s no point in trying to appeal (for example: You have a dishonorable discharge). But if you’re determined to appeal, first, you need to know what the VA thinks you got wrong on your claim.
Step 2: File a Decision Review Request (DRR) Form to Dispute the VA Decision on Your Claim
In your VA decision letter packet, you should get a blank copy of VA Form 20-0998, Decision Review Request. You have one year (12 months) from the date on the letter informing you about your denied VA claim to appeal. Fill this form out and submit it to the VA or your attorney once you decide which appeal path below best fits your needs.
Important: Do not file a new claim for benefits from the VA if you receive an initial denial. Appealing protects your claim’s effective date, which determines how much back pay you receive in a lump-sum settlement if you’re successful.
Step 3: Choose Which Appeal Path You Want to Take
Which option works best for you depends on whether you wish to submit additional evidence or not supporting your case.
Request a Higher-Level Review on Your Denied Claim
Want a senior VA official to take a second look at your denied claim without submitting any additional evidence? Then this is the way to go. To take this step, you or your attorney need to fill out and submit Form 20-0996, Higher-Level Review with the VA. This path works best if you’re confident the VA made a mistake.
Pro Tip: You cannot submit new evidence with a higher-level review request on your VA claim.
File a Supplemental Claim That Includes New and Relevant Evidence
If your original claim was denied because you didn’t submit medical records, now’s your chance to fix that. Or maybe you had a new diagnosis when you filed your application, but your symptoms are much worse now. Regardless, if you have new evidence but don’t want to appear in court, filing a supplemental claim is your best bet. Download your free copy of VA Form 20-0995, Supplemental Claim to fill out and submit it whenever you’re ready.
Contact the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (BVA) for a Formal Decision Review
This option works best for complex cases where you need more time to gather evidence supporting your claim. It’s also a good option for when you’ve already received multiple claim denials from the VA. Since you cannot appeal the same denied VA claim twice using this method, save this option for last.
At this level in the appeals process, you’re asking for the BVA to have a veterans’ law judge review your claim. You can choose to include additional evidence (or not) in your decision review request. In addition, you can request a hearing before the judge to personally plead your case, or have an attorney representing you do so on your behalf.
To request a BVA judge’s review of your case, fill out and submit VA Form 10182, Board Appeal (Notice of Disagreement).
Need VA Disability Benefits? Talk to an Attorney for Free About Appealing Your Denied VA Claim
Many veterans don’t realize that all attorneys in our nationwide network offer free, no-obligation consultations. These claim reviews give you an opportunity to ask questions and get confidential answers, free of charge.
Not sure whether you can afford legal representation for your case? If you don’t win benefits on appeal, then you pay $0 in legal fees to your attorney. And if you’re successful, then you only pay one small fee afterwards. (Those fees typically come out of your lump-sum back benefits dating back to your effective date, not your own pocket.)
Click the button below to see if you may qualify for a free, no-obligation consultation with a legal professional in your area:
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Lori Polemenakos is Director of Consumer Content and SEO strategist for LeadingResponse, a legal marketing company. An award-winning journalist, writer and editor based in Dallas, Texas, she's produced articles for major brands such as Match.com, Yahoo!, MSN, AOL, Xfinity, Mail.com, and edited several published books. Since 2016, she's published hundreds of articles about Social Security disability, workers' compensation, veterans' benefits, personal injury, mass tort, auto accident claims, bankruptcy, employment law and other related legal issues.
