VA Supplemental Claims (VA Form 20-0995)

If the VA has denied your claim or undervalued your condition, submitting a Supplemental Claim allows you to reopen that decision with new and relevant evidence. A Supplemental Claim is often the best next step when you now have more medical records, expert opinions, or documentation that wasn’t included originally.

This path to a decision review focuses on strengthening your existing claim, giving the VA new material to reevaluate your condition in light of updated evidence. Success here can result in a higher disability rating or an award that was previously overlooked.

When to Consider a Supplemental Claim

  • You have additional medical evidence
  • Evidence was not previously submitted or considered
  • Conditions have worsened and now documented medically

What Counts as New and Relevant Evidence?

For a Supplemental Claim to be successful, the VA requires evidence that is both new and relevant. New evidence means information that was not previously part of the claim file, while relevant evidence directly addresses the reason the VA denied or undervalued the claim.

Examples of new and relevant evidence may include updated medical records, new diagnoses, expert medical opinions, service records that were not previously submitted, or nexus letters connecting a condition to military service. Even evidence that seems minor can make a meaningful difference when it directly responds to the VA’s stated reasons for denial.

How Vet Defender Helps

We evaluate prior decisions, identify gaps in evidence, help you collect critical documentation, and prepare VA Form 20-0995 with precision. The right approach can make the difference between another denial and a successful outcome.
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