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How long do I have to file an appeal of a VA disability decision?

1 year
Governing law: 38 U.S.C. § 7105; 38 C.F.R. § 3.2500 (Appeals Modernization Act). Verified: 2026-06-22. This is federal law — the same deadline applies in every state.

What this means

After the VA issues a decision on a disability claim, you generally have 1 year from the date on the decision letter to keep the claim alive — by filing a Supplemental Claim (VA Form 20-0995), a Higher-Level Review (VA Form 20-0996), or a Notice of Disagreement to the Board (VA Form 10182). Let the year lapse and the decision becomes final; you would have to start over with a new claim and usually lose the earlier effective date (and back pay).

Important detail

Filing within 1 year preserves your original effective date for back pay. Separately, filing your INITIAL claim within 1 year of separation from service can set the effective date back to your discharge date. There is no deadline to file a first disability claim, but waiting costs back pay. Confirm dates on VA.gov or with an accredited VSO/attorney.

Don't risk your deadline

Missing the statute of limitations usually ends your case permanently. Talk to a va disability decision appeal attorney—most offer a free consultation.

Find a va disability decision appeal attorney →
Not legal advice. This page is informational only and is not a substitute for advice from a licensed attorney. Statutes of limitations are subject to many exceptions — tolling, the discovery rule, minority (under-18) and incapacity rules, government notice-of-claim deadlines (often far shorter), and statutes of repose — any of which can shorten or lengthen the deadline in your specific case. The governing statute citation and the date it was verified are shown above so you can confirm the current text yourself. Never rely on this page to decide whether you can or cannot sue. Consult a licensed attorney in your state before your deadline.