VA Form 20-0996
Decision Review Request: Higher-Level Review
Asks a more senior reviewer to take a fresh look at the same evidence, no new evidence allowed.
Opens the official VA.gov page, always the authority on the current version and instructions.
A Higher-Level Review is for when you believe the decision itself was wrong on the record the VA already had. A senior reviewer re-examines everything with fresh eyes.
You cannot add evidence in this lane. You can request an informal conference, a phone call where you or your representative point out the error you see.
Worth knowing
- Must be filed within one year of the decision date.
- The informal conference is requested on the form itself.
- If the reviewer finds an error the record cannot resolve, the claim can be returned for correction.
On this site
Keep your copy where you can find it
Every form you send becomes part of your story. MusterVault keeps your completed copies, decision letters, and records organized and encrypted on your own computer, so the next deadline finds you ready. No cloud, no account.
Informational only: what this form is and where it lives, not advice about whether or when to file it. A free accredited VSO can advise on your situation. MusterVault organizes records, never gives claims advice, and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.