New and Relevant Evidence is a key requirement when a veteran wants to reopen a perviously denied VA claim by filing a Supplemental Claim. To succeed, the evidence must meet two criteria:

1. New – This simply means evidence thats was not previously submitted to the VA. If the VA already has a copy of the document or information, it's not considered new.

2. Relevant – This means evidence that has a tendency to prove or disprove a key element of the claim. It could be related to a denied condition, a new theory of entitlement, or a previously unaddressed issue.

Under the Appeals Modernization Act (AMA), this standard replaced the old “new and material evidence” rule. It is intended to be more flexible but still requires that the evidence has a direct connection to the issue under review.

• Medical Records: medical records from a private healthcare provider or VA medical center can provide new information about a condition or its connection to service

• Service Records: service records can show details of a veteran’s service, including any events that may have contributed to a disability

• Buddy Statements: statements from individuals who witnessed an injury or event while the veteran was in service can provide new information about the circumstances

• Nexus Letters: nexus letters from medical experts can establish a connection between a disability and military service

If your claim was denied and you want to refile through a Supplemental Claim, simply resubmitting the same evidence will not be enough. You must include something new and relevant—or the VA will reject the submission.

A VA-accredited representative can help you determine what qualifies, assist in gathering the right type of evidence, and make sure your submission directly addresses the reason for the previous denial. We have attorneys and representatives here at Greene & Marusak who can help you out with this.

Give us a call at (844) 483-8737