Appeals · 1-year deadline tracker
How long do I have to appeal?
The clock starts on the date printed on the VA decision letter, not the day you read it. Miss the 1-year window and you lose effective-date preservation — your only remaining lanes become CUE (high bar) or a fresh Supplemental Claim that resets the effective date.
What if you’re past the 1-year window?
You can still file a Supplemental Claim (20-0995) at any time — you just lose effective-date preservation, which can cost months or years of back-pay. The other lane is a CUE (Clear and Unmistakable Error) motion: high bar, but the effective date can reach back to the original decision. A VA-accredited rep should review CUE candidates before filing.