What happens at a Higher-Level Review (HLR) informal conference and how should I prepare?

A Higher-Level Review, requested on VA Form 20-0996, allows a senior claims adjudicator to take a fresh look at a prior decision using the evidence already in the file at the time of that decision. No new evidence can be submitted with an HLR (that is the purpose of a Supplemental Claim instead), but you can request an informal conference with the reviewer to point out where you believe the VA made a factual or legal error, misapplied 38 CFR rating criteria, or overlooked evidence that was already of record.

Processing timelines vary case by case and change over time based on regional workload, so there is no fixed number of months you should expect; some reviews move faster or slower than others. When your turn comes, you will typically be notified by phone, text, mail, or through your VA.gov claim status page to schedule the informal conference, and you will later receive dial-in instructions, sometimes by text and sometimes by email, so it is important to monitor both your phone and email in the days before the scheduled time. Confirm the time zone listed for your appointment, since HLR review teams are often centralized and may operate in a specific zone different from your own.

To prepare, request copies of any Disability Benefit Questionnaires (DBQs) and your claims file (through a Freedom of Information Act request or by asking your VSO) so you can compare what the examiner documented against your service treatment records and the rating decision itself. Read your decision letter carefully and identify exactly which evidence the VA cited, and whether anything you submitted seems to have been missed or misread. During the conference, stay factual and specific: cite dates, exhibits, and the exact regulation or rating criteria you believe was misapplied, rather than describing your symptoms or frustration. Reviewers are trained to evaluate legal and factual accuracy, not to reassess your medical condition directly.

An HLR is most effective when you can point to a duty-to-assist error, a clear factual mistake, or a misapplication of the rating schedule; using it simply to get a different reviewer without new argument is unlikely to change the outcome, and in that situation a Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence, or an appeal to the Board of Veterans Appeals, may be more appropriate.

As a next step, obtain your complete claims file and decision letter now so you can build a clear, evidence-based argument before requesting or attending your Higher-Level Review conference.