VA has two appeals systems, and which one applies to you depends on when your decision was issued. The Appeals Modernization Act (AMA) system applies to decisions issued on or after February 19, 2019. The legacy system applies to decisions issued before that date, though veterans in the legacy system can opt into AMA. Under the AMA system, you have three options when you disagree with a decision. The Supplemental Claim lane allows you to submit new and relevant evidence for VA to reconsider your claim. The Higher-Level Review lane has a more senior reviewer look at the same evidence for errors. The Board of Veterans Appeals lane sends your case to a veterans law judge for a new decision. Each lane has different timelines and procedures. Under the legacy system, you file a Notice of Disagreement, receive a Statement of the Case, and then file a formal appeal to the Board. The legacy system had significant backlogs which led to the creation of the AMA system. If you are still in the legacy system, you may benefit from opting into AMA, but this decision should be made carefully because it can affect your effective date. Understanding which system applies to your case and which review lane best serves your interests is important. A veterans service organization or attorney can help you choose the most strategic path forward.
Note: This article references sections of the VA's M21-1 Adjudication Procedures Manual. The VA periodically reorganizes the M21-1 and section numbers may have changed since this article was written. For the most current section references, visit the VA's public M21-1 Web Automated Reference Material System (WARMS).