What Does “New and Relevant Evidence” Mean?
New evidence was not previously in the agency record; relevant evidence tends to prove or disprove a matter at issue in the claim.
About this guide
Educational information only. Semper Guide is self-directed software, not a VA-accredited representative, law firm, claims agent, VSO, or medical provider. It does not submit claims or guarantee outcomes.
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Quick answer
Both parts matter for a Supplemental Claim. A document can be new but irrelevant, or relevant in subject matter but not new because VA already had it. The best evidence addresses the specific reason the issue was denied or the fact now in dispute.
Examples that may be new and relevantDetails
- A first diagnosis when the prior decision found no current disability.
- A service record documenting the event VA previously could not verify.
- A reasoned medical opinion addressing the negative nexus finding.
- Recent testing showing worsened severity when a higher evaluation is at issue.
- A witness statement providing a previously absent firsthand account of a relevant event.
Examples that may not satisfy both partsDetails
- An exact duplicate of a record already considered.
- A new article about the condition that says nothing about the veteran’s facts.
- More proof of a diagnosis when the diagnosis was already favorably found and the missing issue is nexus.
- A statement repeating prior conclusions with no new facts.
- A record about another condition unrelated to the decided issue.
Use the denial reason as a filterDetails
- Write the missing element in one sentence.
- For each proposed item, ask what fact it tends to prove or disprove.
- Confirm whether it was already in the evidence list or claims record.
- Include enough context to make the item understandable.
- Do not mislabel altered or summarized evidence as a new original record.
Common questionsDetails
- Must the evidence guarantee a grant? — No. Relevant evidence need only tend to prove or disprove a matter; VA then evaluates the full merits.
- Can VA-generated records be new? — They can be, depending on when and whether they entered the record.
- Can lay evidence qualify? — Yes, when it supplies competent new facts relevant to an issue.
- Is this the same as “new and material”? — No. The modern Supplemental Claim standard is new and relevant.
Keep timing in viewDetails
Submitting the right evidence through the wrong lane or after a deadline can affect procedure and effective date. Verify current instructions.