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Your VA Higher-Level Review (Form 20-0996), Explained
Also called: VA Form 20-0996, Decision Review Request: Higher-Level Review, HLR
Last reviewed 2026-07-08
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What this notice usually means
Form 20-0996 asks a senior VA reviewer to look again. It uses only the evidence already in your file, with no new proof added. A different reviewer decides if the earlier decision had an error.
What to do now
- 1
Read your decision letter for possible errors
Look for a mistake in how the VA weighed or applied the evidence already in your file.
- 2
Decide if you want an informal conference
Form 20-0996 lets you ask for a phone call with the reviewer. Use it to point out a specific error.
- 3
File Form 20-0996 within the review deadline
Submit the form online, by mail, or in person. Follow the deadline on your decision letter.
- 4
Call the VA or a veterans service officer
Call the VA at 1-800-827-1000, or ask a local veterans service officer for free help.
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“You can't submit new evidence with a Higher-Level Review.”
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Sources
- VA.gov (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs)Retrieved 2026-07-07
Last reviewed 2026-07-08
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