I got a 0% rating on my VA disability claim—should I file a supplemental claim or appeal?

A 0% rating means the VA has acknowledged that a condition is service-connected, but has determined that it does not meet the criteria for a compensable (10% or higher) rating under the relevant diagnostic code in 38 CFR Part 4. This is different from a denial, because service connection has already been established. That distinction matters a great deal for what you do next, because you are not starting from zero — you are trying to show that the condition is more severe than currently rated, or that it should have been rated higher based on evidence that existed at the time of the decision.

There are three main paths available within one year of the decision date, and choosing correctly affects whether you keep your original effective date. A Supplemental Claim (VA Form 20-0995) allows you to submit new and relevant evidence — new medical records, a nexus letter, updated exam findings — that the VA has not previously considered. This is the right choice if there is new evidence to add. A Higher-Level Review (VA Form 20-0996) asks a senior VA reviewer to take a second look at the same evidence already in the file, without adding anything new, to check for errors in how the rating was applied. This is appropriate if you believe the rating criteria were misapplied to existing evidence. A Board Appeal (VA Form 10182) sends the case to a Veterans Law Judge and can include a hearing; this is generally used for more complex or contested cases, often after the other options have been tried.

If more than a year has passed since the 0% decision, a Supplemental Claim can still be filed, but the effective date will typically run from the new filing date rather than the original claim date, unless the increase in severity can be shown to date back further with supporting evidence.

Because the difference between an Intent to File, an original claim, and a decision already rendered can be confusing to sort out from outside the file, requesting a copy of the full claims file (C-file) through a VA Form 20-10206 or via the eBenefits/VA.gov records request is a useful first step to understand exactly what was filed, what evidence was considered, and what decision was issued.

The most concrete next step is to bring the actual rating decision letter and claims file to an accredited Veterans Service Officer (VSO) or Veterans Benefits Counselor, who can review the specific diagnostic codes used and determine whether a Supplemental Claim, Higher-Level Review, or Board Appeal is the correct path before the one-year window closes.