My DVA Claim Was Rejected – What Do I Do Now?

Getting a DVA claim rejection letter can feel devastating. After months of waiting and hoping, seeing “claim not accepted” feels like the system has failed you. But a rejection isn’t the end of your story—it’s often just the beginning of getting the outcome you deserve.

Here’s what you need to know about turning a DVA rejection into eventual success.

Why DVA Claims Get Rejected

The most common reasons include:

• Insufficient medical evidence linking your condition to service
• Missing service records or incomplete documentation
• Wrong legislation applied to your claim
• Inadequate medical reports that don’t meet DVA standards
• Service connection not established clearly enough

Understanding why your claim failed is the first step to fixing it.

Your Rights After Rejection

You have several options:

• Request internal review (within 3 months)
• Apply to Veterans’ Review Board (within 12 months)
• Lodge with Administrative Appeals Tribunal (final appeal level)
• Submit fresh evidence and reapply

Important: Time limits are strict. Don’t delay seeking help.

What Professional Help Brings to Appeals

An experienced advocate can:

• Analyze exactly why your claim failed
• Identify missing evidence or documentation gaps
• Arrange additional medical assessments
• Prepare stronger service connection evidence
• Represent you at review hearings

The DrAdvocate.ai advantage: As both doctor and advocate, we can provide the missing medical evidence that often causes rejections, while professionally presenting your case.

Success Stories from Rejections

Many of our most successful outcomes started with rejected claims:

• PTSD claim rejected twice, approved after proper psychiatric assessment
• Back injury claim failed initially, succeeded with biomechanical analysis
• Hearing loss rejected for “insufficient evidence,” approved with comprehensive audiological testing

Your rejection doesn’t define your entitlement—inadequate presentation does.

Next Steps After Rejection

1. Get professional review of your rejection letter
2. Gather additional medical evidence
3. Consider fresh medical assessments
4. Lodge appropriate appeal within time limits
5. Don’t give up—persistence often wins