Your status tells you where your claim is in the decision review or appeal process. Find your type of decision review or appeal below to learn what your status means.
StatusWhat it meansA reviewer is examining your new evidence We received your Supplemental Claim and assigned it to a reviewer. They will determine if we need any more information from you. We made a decision We sent you our decision on your Supplemental Claim. Your Supplemental Claim was closed We closed your Supplemental Claim. This may be because you didn’t take an action VA requested.
Higher-Level Review status
StatusWhat it meansA higher-level reviewer is reviewing your case We received your request for a Higher-Level Review and assigned it to a higher-level reviewer. They will determine if we need any more information from you. We are correcting an error The higher-level reviewer found an error that must be corrected before they decide your case. We’ll contact you if we need more information. We made a decision We sent you our decision on your Higher-Level Review. Your Higher-Level Review was closed We closed your Higher-Level Review. This may be because you didn’t take an action VA requested.
Board Appeal status
StatusWhat it meansYou’re waiting for your hearing to be scheduled We received your request for a hearing but haven’t scheduled it yet. Your hearing has been scheduled We’ve scheduled your hearing. You’ll receive the hearing information by mail. You can also find information about your hearing in the claim status tool. Check your VA claim statusYour appeal is waiting to be sent to a judge Your appeal is at the Board of Veterans’ Appeals. We haven't assigned it to a Veterans Law Judge yet. Your appeal is with your Veterans Service Organization Your Veterans Service Organization (VSO) is reviewing your appeal to prepare additional arguments to support your case. A judge is reviewing your appeal A Veterans Law Judge at the Board of Veterans’ Appeals is reviewing your appeal. The judge is seeking more information before making a decision The judge is getting more evidence or an outside opinion from a legal, medical, or other professional. This additional information will help them make a decision about your appeal. The Board is waiting until a higher court makes a decision A higher court is reviewing a group of appeals. The Board of Veterans’ Appeals is waiting for their decision because it may affect your appeal. The Board made a decision on your appeal The Board of Veterans’ Appeals sent you a decision letter about your appeal. Your appeal was merged The Board of Veterans’ Appeals merged your appeal with one of your older appeals that was closer to receiving a Board decision. The Board merges appeals so that you can receive a single decision on as many appeals as possible. Your appeals file is open for new evidence The Board of Veterans’ Appeals is holding your case open for new evidence for 90 days. We corrected an error A judge at the Board of Veterans’ Appeals either:
Found an error and had it corrected, or
Made a decision that changes your disability rating or eligibility for benefits
We sent you a corrected decision. The Board made a decision on your appeal The Board of Veterans’ Appeals sent you a decision letter about your appeal. We granted your appeal We decided to overturn the original decision. You withdrew your appeal You told us not to continue your appeal. Your Motion for Reconsideration was denied The Board of Veterans’ Appeals decided not to reopen your appeal. The appeal was closed VA records show that the Veteran filing the appeal is deceased, so we closed this appeal. Your appeal was closed We dismissed or closed your appeal. Please contact your Veterans Service Organization (VSO) or representative for more information.
Legacy appeal status
StatusWhat it meansA Decision Review Officer is reviewing your appeal We received your Notice of Disagreement and assigned your appeal to a Decision Review Officer. They will determine if we need any more information from you. Please review your Statement of the Case We sent you a Statement of the Case (SOC) that explains why we can’t grant your appeal. To continue your appeal, you have 60 days to take one of these actions:
Submit VA Form 9 to the Board of Veterans’ Appeals, or
Opt in to the decision review process
Get VA Form 9 to downloadThe Decision Review Officer is finishing their review of your appeal We received your VA Form 9. The Decision Review Officer is reviewing all the evidence in your appeal. Please review your Supplemental Statement of the Case We sent you a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC) because:
New evidence was added to your case, or
We’re requesting more evidence, or
We can’t grant your full appeal
You’re waiting for your hearing to be scheduled We received your request for a hearing but haven’t scheduled it yet. Your hearing has been scheduled We’ve scheduled your hearing. You’ll receive the hearing information by mail. You can also find information about your hearing in the claim status tool. Check your VA claim statusYour appeal is waiting to be sent to a judge Your appeal is at the Board of Veterans’ Appeals. We haven't assigned it to a Veterans Law Judge yet. Your appeal is with your Veterans Service Organization Your Veterans Service Organization (VSO) is reviewing your appeal to prepare additional arguments to support your case. A judge is reviewing your appeal A Veterans Law Judge at the Board of Veterans’ Appeals is reviewing your appeal. The judge is seeking more information before making a decision The judge is getting more evidence or an outside opinion from a legal, medical, or other professional. This additional information will help them make a decision about your appeal. The Board is waiting until a higher court makes a decision A higher court is reviewing a group of appeals. The Board of Veterans’ Appeals is waiting for their decision because it may affect your appeal. The Board made a decision on your appeal The Board of Veterans’ Appeals sent you a decision letter about your appeal. Your appeal was merged The Board of Veterans’ Appeals merged your appeal with one of your older appeals that was closer to receiving a Board decision. The Board merges appeals so that you can receive a single decision on as many appeals as possible. You requested a decision review under the Appeals Modernization Act You asked to continue your appeal through the decision review process. Your appeals file is open for new evidence The Board of Veterans’ Appeals is holding your case open for new evidence for 90 days. We corrected an error A judge at the Board of Veterans’ Appeals either:
Found an error and had it corrected, or
Made a decision that changes your disability rating or eligibility for benefits
We sent you a corrected decision. The Board made a decision on your appeal The Board of Veterans’ Appeals sent you a decision letter about your appeal. We granted your appeal We decided to overturn the original decision. You withdrew your appeal You told us not to continue your appeal. Your Motion for Reconsideration was denied The Board of Veterans’ Appeals decided not to reopen your appeal. The appeal was closed VA records show that the Veteran filing the appeal is deceased, so we closed this appeal. Your appeal was closed We dismissed or closed your appeal. Please contact your Veterans Service Organization (VSO) or representative for more information.
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VA benefits
Decision reviews and appeals
If you disagree with a VA claim decision, you can request a decision review. Decision review replaces the old (“legacy”) VA appeals process.
The Veterans Benefits Administration usually takes 12 to 18 months to review appeals and decide whether to grant some or all of the appeal. When you request a review from a Veterans Law Judge at the Board of Veterans' Appeals, it could take 5 to 7 years for you to get a decision.
You can check the status of your VA claim, decision review, or appeal online right now. You'll need to sign in first with Login.gov, ID.me, DS Logon, or My HealtheVet. If you don't have any of these accounts, you can create a free Login.gov or ID.me account now.
On average, the success rate for VA disability appeals ranges from 34% to 38%. This rate increases slightly for veterans who hire an attorney to assist with their appeal.
How long does it take the VA to make a decision? On average, it takes about 11.5 months (341 days) to finalize disability-related claims. This can be longer or shorter depending on the complexity of your case.
If you disagree with a VA decision, you or your representative can request a new review of your case by a higher-level reviewer. The reviewer will determine whether an error or a difference of opinion changes the decision. You can't submit new evidence with a Higher-Level Review.
Your claim is considered “decision-ready” if you provide all relevant medical records and supporting evidence when you submit your claim, including federal records and VA claim exam results provided on Disability Benefits Questionnaires (DBQs).
Once the Board grants service connection, it sends the case back to the Regional Office for the VA to issue an implementing rating decision where it assigns a rating and an effective date. When this happens the veteran will receive another rating decision with a letter explaining what his benefits will be.
After gathering additional evidence and putting together an argument, the average wait time for the VA to issue a decision on an appeal to the Board of Veterans' Appeals is 12 to 18 months.
The problem with trying to close out disability claims quickly is that more mistakes are made on the initial Rating Decisions, and thus more veterans will want or need to file an appeal. Thus, the backlog of cases simply shifts from the initial claim level to the appellate level.
A “Decision Granted” by the BVA means that the board has fully or partially approved the appeal you made regarding your disability claim. This decision is pivotal as it determines the benefits you'll receive going forward.
The VA 70/40 rule for TDIU requires veterans to have a combined disability rating of 70% or higher and at least one service-related disability rated at 40% or higher to be eligible for Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) benefits.
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