How Long Does a Higher-Level Review Take?
Higher-Level Reviews average 4 to 6 months from filing to decision. Here's exactly what slows them down, what speeds them up, and whether the informal conference is worth the extra time it can add.
A VA Higher-Level Review (Form 20-0996) takes an average of 4 to 6 months. The VA's official goal is 125 days, but complex multi-issue cases and requested informal conferences can extend the actual timeline beyond that target.
A Higher-Level Review is essentially a do-over conducted by a more senior reviewer, using exactly the same evidence already in the file. Because no new evidence is allowed to be added, it's usually faster than a Supplemental Claim — when it's actually the right tool for your specific situation.
Typical Timeline
The VA's officially stated goal for Higher-Level Reviews is 125 days. Real-world averages tend to run closer to 4 to 6 months in practice. Requesting an informal conference with the senior reviewer can add roughly 30 to 60 days to the process, but is often genuinely worth the extra wait for complex cases.
What an HLR Does (and Doesn't Do)
An HLR is a fresh review of the existing record by a more senior reviewer than the one who made the original decision. It's the right tool specifically when you believe the rater made a clear error in applying the law or interpreting the evidence already on file — not a path for adding new evidence you didn't have before.
Not sure yet whether HLR is even the right path for your specific denial?
See the Full Higher-Level Review GuideShould You Request an Informal Conference?
The informal conference lets you, or your representative, speak directly with the senior reviewer by phone to point out the specific error you're citing. It adds time to the process, but it consistently and dramatically improves outcomes for complex denials — there's essentially no downside to requesting it beyond the modest timeline extension.
What Drives a Longer-Than-Average Timeline
Multi-issue HLRs, where several separate contentions are all being reviewed for error at once, naturally take longer than a single clean issue. Current Regional Office workload also plays a role, similar to how it affects other claim types — some offices process HLRs faster than others purely based on caseload.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Submitting new evidence with an HLR — it will be ignored entirely and may add unnecessary delay to the file.
- Skipping the informal conference on complex issues where a direct conversation with the reviewer could meaningfully clarify the error.
Frequently asked questions
Conclusion
HLRs work best when you can point to a specific, articulable error in the existing record. Request the informal conference, name the error clearly, and let the senior reviewer do the rest.
Not sure yet whether HLR is even the right path for your specific denial?
See the Full Higher-Level Review Guide