Why VA Denied Your Disability Claim and What to Do Next
Welcome to the Worsham Veterans Law Resource Center. The articles published here are intended to provide general information about VA disability claims and appeals. Because every claim depends on its own facts and circumstances, these articles are provided for general informational purposes and should not be considered legal advice.
Receiving a VA disability claim denial can be frustrating, especially if you believe your condition is related to your military service. A denial, however, does not necessarily mean your claim lacks merit. In many cases, it means VA concluded that the evidence did not establish one or more of the legal requirements for the benefit sought.
Understanding why your claim was denied is the first step toward deciding what to do next.
Every denial has a reason
VA is required to explain the basis for its decision. Although every case is different, many denials fall into one or more of the following categories:
VA concluded there was no current disability.
To establish service connection, a Veteran generally must have evidence of a current disability. In some cases, VA determines that the evidence does not establish the existence of a current disability during the relevant period. In other cases, the record may not contain sufficient evidence for VA to make that determination, raising questions about whether additional development, including a Compensation and Pension (C&P) examination, may have been warranted.
VA concluded that the evidence did not establish a link between your current disability and military service.
Even when a Veteran has a current disability, VA must determine whether the evidence establishes a connection to military service. Sometimes this connection is shown through service treatment records. In other cases, medical opinions, lay statements, or other evidence may be necessary.
The evidence did not establish one or more elements of the claim.
VA decides claims based on the evidence in the record. In some cases, the evidence does not establish one or more elements of the claim. VA may rely on a Compensation and Pension (C&P) examination or other medical opinion that it finds persuasive. In other cases, the record may simply lack medical records, lay statements, private medical opinions, or other evidence needed to establish the claim. Whether additional development or additional evidence could affect the outcome depends on the specific facts of the case. Although a rating decision may emphasize one reason for denying a claim, a careful review of the record may reveal additional factual, evidentiary, or legal issues that should also be addressed.
In many cases, identifying the specific reason or reasons for the denial is the key to determining the most appropriate next step.
A denial is not always the end of the claim
The Appeals Modernization Act (AMA) provides several options after an unfavorable decision. Depending on your circumstances, you may be able to file a Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence, request Higher-Level Review, or appeal to the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (BVA). Each option has different rules, deadlines, and strategic considerations.
Choosing the appropriate path often depends on why VA denied the claim.
An experienced review can make a difference
If you have received a VA disability claim denial and are unsure what to do next, an experienced review of the rating decision and the evidence may help identify the issues that led to the denial and the most appropriate path forward.
About the Author
Eric Worsham is the founder of Worsham Veterans Law, PLLC. He began representing Veterans in VA disability claims and appeals in 2007. From 2019 to 2025, he served as an attorney with the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (BVA), where he reviewed claims files, analyzed the evidence and applicable law, and drafted decisions in Veterans’ appeals. He now represents Veterans nationwide in VA disability claims and appeals.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is provided for general informational purposes only. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every VA disability claim is unique, and the outcome of any claim depends on its specific facts and the applicable law.