U.S. Code » Title 38 » Part PART IV— GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS › Chapter CHAPTER 51— CLAIMS, EFFECTIVE DATES, AND PAYMENTS › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER I— CLAIMS

38 U.S.C. § 5104C

Options following decision by agency of original jurisdiction

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(a)Within One Year of Decision.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), in any case in which the Secretary renders a decision on a claim, the claimant may take any of the following actions on or before the date that is one year after the date on which the agency of original jurisdiction issues a decision with respect to that claim:(A) File a request for higher-level review under section 5104B of this title.(B) File a supplemental claim under section 5108 of this title.(C) File a notice of disagreement under section 7105 of this title.(2)(A) Once a claimant takes an action set forth in paragraph (1), the claimant may not take another action set forth in that paragraph with respect to the same claim or same issue contained within the claim until—(i) the higher-level review, supplemental claim, or notice of disagreement is adjudicated; or(ii) the request for higher-level review, supplemental claim, or notice of disagreement is withdrawn.(B) Nothing in this subsection shall prohibit a claimant from taking any of the actions set forth in paragraph (1) in succession with respect to a claim or an issue contained within the claim.(C) Nothing in this subsection shall prohibit a claimant from taking different actions set forth in paragraph (1) with respect to different claims or different issues contained within a claim.(D) The Secretary may, as the Secretary considers appropriate, develop and implement a policy for claimants who—(i) take an action under paragraph (1);(ii) wish to withdraw the action before the higher-level review, supplemental claim, or notice of disagreement is adjudicated; and(iii) in lieu of such action take a different action under paragraph (1).(b)More Than One Year After Decision.—In any case in which the Secretary renders a decision on a claim and more than one year has passed since the date on which the agency of original jurisdiction issues a decision with respect to that claim, the claimant may file a supplemental claim under section 5108 of this title.(Added Pub. L. 115–55, § 2(h)(1), Aug. 23, 2017, 131 Stat. 1108.)Statutory Notes and Related SubsidiariesEffective Date

Section applicable to all claims for which the Secretary of Veterans Affairs provides notice of a decision under section 5104 of this title on or after the later of 540 days after Aug. 23, 2017, or 30 days after the date on which the Secretary submits to Congress a certification of certain capabilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs to carry out the new appeals system established by Pub. L. 115–55 and to address appeals of decisions on legacy claims, with provision for early applicability of the new appeals system to certain claims, see section 2(x) of Pub. L. 115–55, set out as an Effective Date of 2017 Amendment note under section 101 of this title, and bracketed note thereunder.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 26 cases (22 in the last 5 years), 2020–2026 · leading case: Monk v. Wilkie, 978 F.3d 1273 (Fed. Cir. 2020).
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Monk v. Wilkie, 978 F.3d 1273 (Fed. Cir. 2020). “See 38 U.S.C. §§ 5104C(a)(1), 7105(b)(3). Gov’t Supp.”
Marvin L. Loyd v. Douglas A. Collins, No. 22-5998 (Vet. App. May 8, 2025). · cites it 15× “" 47 And we have held that "subsection (a)(2)(A) [of 38 U.S.C. § 5104C] prohibits concurrent use of the options that subsection (a)(1) provides.”
William E. Terry v. Denis McDonough, No. 20-7251 (Vet. App. Oct. 19, 2023). · cites it 14× “" 38 U.S.C. § 5104C (a)(2)(B) (emphasis added).”
Alexandra M. Jackson v. Denis McDonough, No. 22-3528, 2024 WL 3108354 (Vet. App. June 25, 2024). · cites it 6× “58 38 U.S.C. § 5104C. 59 38 U.S.C. § 5108 (2016); see also MVA, 7 F.”
Jackson v. Collins, No. 24-2135 (Fed. Cir. June 26, 2026). · cites it 6× “See 38 U.S.C. § 5104C (2018). If it is within one year after the issuance of the unfavorable initial decision, § 5104C(a) provides three procedural options for a claim- ant: (1) to file a supplemental claim based on additional ev- idence; (2) to request a higher-level review…”
Wayne Calhoun v. Denis McDonough, No. 21-6125 (Vet. App. Jan. 9, 2024). · cites it 4× “2021) (citing 38 U.S.C. § 5104C(a)(1)). Within one year after the AOJ issues a decision, claimants may file one of the following: (1) a request for higher-level review of that decision; (2) a supplemental claim; or (3) an NOD to directly appeal to the Board.”
Eric D. Bilharz & Anthony J. Pinto, Jr. v. Douglas A. Collins, No. 22-6158 (Vet. App. Aug. 14, 2025). · cites it 4× “2021) (citing 38 U.S.C. § 5104C(a)(1)). 25 See 38 U.S.C.”
Everett W. Cook v. Denis McDonough, No. 20-6853 (Vet. App. May 17, 2023). · cites it 3× “at 1119 (citing 38 U.S.C. § 5104C(a)(1)). One such lane is the filing of an NOD to appeal to the Board.”
Paul Cardoza v. Denis McDonough, No. 20-6380 (Vet. App. July 10, 2024). · cites it 3× “1 See Appellant's 1 The appellant also argues that this matter is controlled by 38 U.S.C. § 5104C, permitting him to seek different lanes of review for different issues within a single claim for benefits.”
200123-58725, No. 200123-58725 (Board of Vet. App. June 30, 2021). · cites it 2× “See 38 U.S.C. § 5104C(a) (permitting a claimant to pursue review options in succession with respect to a specific claim or issue but prohibiting concurrent election of multiple review options); 38 C.”
Military-Vets. Advocacy v. Sec'y of Vets. Affairs, No. 19-1600 (Fed. Cir. July 30, 2021). · cites it 2× “” 10 10 38 U.S.C. § 5104C recites, in relevant part: (a) Within one year of decision.”
Onofre v. Hunter, No. 24-2288 (Fed. Cir. Jan. 22, 2025). · cites it 2× “Onofre was notified of this decision via letter on March 26, 2024 and informed that he could pursue one of the administrative review op- tions provided in 38 U.S.C. § 5104C within one year of the date of the letter.”
Show all 26 citing cases →
38 U.S.C. § 5104C(1): 2 cases
Wendell Andrews v. Denis McDonough, No. 19-3227 (Vet. App. May 28, 2021).
Louis R. Frantzis v. Denis McDonough, No. 20-5236 (Vet. App. June 21, 2022).
38 U.S.C. § 5104C(2)(D): 1 case
William E. Terry v. Denis McDonough, No. 20-7251 (Vet. App. Oct. 19, 2023). “" 38 U.S.C. § 5104C (a)(2)(B) (emphasis added).”
38 U.S.C. § 5104C(a): 4 cases
William E. Terry v. Denis McDonough, No. 20-7251 (Vet. App. Oct. 19, 2023). “" 38 U.S.C. § 5104C (a)(2)(B) (emphasis added).”
200123-58725, No. 200123-58725 (Board of Vet. App. June 30, 2021). “See 38 U.S.C. § 5104C(a) (permitting a claimant to pursue review options in succession with respect to a specific claim or issue but prohibiting concurrent election of multiple review options); 38 C.”
Marvin L. Loyd v. Douglas A. Collins, No. 22-5998 (Vet. App. May 8, 2025). “" 47 And we have held that "subsection (a)(2)(A) [of 38 U.S.C. § 5104C] prohibits concurrent use of the options that subsection (a)(1) provides.”
Cash v. Collins, No. 24-1811 (Fed. Cir. Feb. 5, 2026).
38 U.S.C. § 5104C(a)(1): 9 cases
Monk v. Wilkie, 978 F.3d 1273 (Fed. Cir. 2020). “See 38 U.S.C. §§ 5104C(a)(1), 7105(b)(3). Gov’t Supp.”
William E. Terry v. Denis McDonough, No. 20-7251 (Vet. App. Oct. 19, 2023). “" 38 U.S.C. § 5104C (a)(2)(B) (emphasis added).”
Eric D. Bilharz & Anthony J. Pinto, Jr. v. Douglas A. Collins, No. 22-6158 (Vet. App. Aug. 14, 2025). “2021) (citing 38 U.S.C. § 5104C(a)(1)). 25 See 38 U.S.C.”
Military-Vets. Advocacy v. Sec'y of Vets. Affairs, No. 19-1600 (Fed. Cir. July 30, 2021). “” 10 10 38 U.S.C. § 5104C recites, in relevant part: (a) Within one year of decision.”
Everett W. Cook v. Denis McDonough, No. 20-6853 (Vet. App. May 17, 2023). “at 1119 (citing 38 U.S.C. § 5104C(a)(1)). One such lane is the filing of an NOD to appeal to the Board.”
38 U.S.C. § 5104C(a)(1)(A): 4 cases
Marvin L. Loyd v. Douglas A. Collins, No. 22-5998 (Vet. App. May 8, 2025). “" 47 And we have held that "subsection (a)(2)(A) [of 38 U.S.C. § 5104C] prohibits concurrent use of the options that subsection (a)(1) provides.”
Eric D. Bilharz & Anthony J. Pinto, Jr. v. Douglas A. Collins, No. 22-6158 (Vet. App. Aug. 14, 2025). “2021) (citing 38 U.S.C. § 5104C(a)(1)). 25 See 38 U.S.C.”
William E. Terry v. Denis McDonough, No. 20-7251 (Vet. App. Oct. 19, 2023). “" 38 U.S.C. § 5104C (a)(2)(B) (emphasis added).”
Wayne Calhoun v. Denis McDonough, No. 21-6125 (Vet. App. Jan. 9, 2024). “2021) (citing 38 U.S.C. § 5104C(a)(1)). Within one year after the AOJ issues a decision, claimants may file one of the following: (1) a request for higher-level review of that decision; (2) a supplemental claim; or (3) an NOD to directly appeal to the Board.”
38 U.S.C. § 5104C(a)(1)(B): 5 cases
Marvin L. Loyd v. Douglas A. Collins, No. 22-5998 (Vet. App. May 8, 2025). “" 47 And we have held that "subsection (a)(2)(A) [of 38 U.S.C. § 5104C] prohibits concurrent use of the options that subsection (a)(1) provides.”
190807-17504, No. 190807-17504 (Board of Vet. App. Mar. 31, 2020).
190409-12810, No. 190409-12810 (Board of Vet. App. June 16, 2020).
201208-138746, No. 201208-138746 (Board of Vet. App. Mar. 31, 2021).
Jackson v. Collins, No. 24-2135 (Fed. Cir. June 26, 2026). “See 38 U.S.C. § 5104C (2018). If it is within one year after the issuance of the unfavorable initial decision, § 5104C(a) provides three procedural options for a claim- ant: (1) to file a supplemental claim based on additional ev- idence; (2) to request a higher-level review…”
38 U.S.C. § 5104C(a)(1)(C): 2 cases
Everett W. Cook v. Denis McDonough, No. 20-6853 (Vet. App. May 17, 2023). “at 1119 (citing 38 U.S.C. § 5104C(a)(1)). One such lane is the filing of an NOD to appeal to the Board.”
Marvin L. Loyd v. Douglas A. Collins, No. 22-5998 (Vet. App. May 8, 2025). “" 47 And we have held that "subsection (a)(2)(A) [of 38 U.S.C. § 5104C] prohibits concurrent use of the options that subsection (a)(1) provides.”
38 U.S.C. § 5104C(a)(1)(b): 1 case
Alexandra M. Jackson v. Denis McDonough, No. 22-3528, 2024 WL 3108354 (Vet. App. June 25, 2024). “58 38 U.S.C. § 5104C. 59 38 U.S.C. § 5108 (2016); see also MVA, 7 F.”
38 U.S.C. § 5104C(a)(2)(A): 3 cases
William E. Terry v. Denis McDonough, No. 20-7251 (Vet. App. Oct. 19, 2023). “" 38 U.S.C. § 5104C (a)(2)(B) (emphasis added).”
Wayne Calhoun v. Denis McDonough, No. 21-6125 (Vet. App. Jan. 9, 2024). “2021) (citing 38 U.S.C. § 5104C(a)(1)). Within one year after the AOJ issues a decision, claimants may file one of the following: (1) a request for higher-level review of that decision; (2) a supplemental claim; or (3) an NOD to directly appeal to the Board.”
Marvin L. Loyd v. Douglas A. Collins, No. 22-5998 (Vet. App. May 8, 2025). “" 47 And we have held that "subsection (a)(2)(A) [of 38 U.S.C. § 5104C] prohibits concurrent use of the options that subsection (a)(1) provides.”
38 U.S.C. § 5104C(a)(2)(B): 3 cases
Marvin L. Loyd v. Douglas A. Collins, No. 22-5998 (Vet. App. May 8, 2025). “" 47 And we have held that "subsection (a)(2)(A) [of 38 U.S.C. § 5104C] prohibits concurrent use of the options that subsection (a)(1) provides.”
William E. Terry v. Denis McDonough, No. 20-7251 (Vet. App. Oct. 19, 2023). “" 38 U.S.C. § 5104C (a)(2)(B) (emphasis added).”
Wayne Calhoun v. Denis McDonough, No. 21-6125 (Vet. App. Jan. 9, 2024). “2021) (citing 38 U.S.C. § 5104C(a)(1)). Within one year after the AOJ issues a decision, claimants may file one of the following: (1) a request for higher-level review of that decision; (2) a supplemental claim; or (3) an NOD to directly appeal to the Board.”
38 U.S.C. § 5104C(b): 4 cases
Alexandra M. Jackson v. Denis McDonough, No. 22-3528, 2024 WL 3108354 (Vet. App. June 25, 2024). “58 38 U.S.C. § 5104C. 59 38 U.S.C. § 5108 (2016); see also MVA, 7 F.”
Jackson v. Collins, No. 24-2135 (Fed. Cir. June 26, 2026). “See 38 U.S.C. § 5104C (2018). If it is within one year after the issuance of the unfavorable initial decision, § 5104C(a) provides three procedural options for a claim- ant: (1) to file a supplemental claim based on additional ev- idence; (2) to request a higher-level review…”
William E. Terry v. Denis McDonough, No. 20-7251 (Vet. App. Oct. 19, 2023). “" 38 U.S.C. § 5104C (a)(2)(B) (emphasis added).”
Everett W. Cook v. Denis McDonough, No. 20-6853 (Vet. App. May 17, 2023). “at 1119 (citing 38 U.S.C. § 5104C(a)(1)). One such lane is the filing of an NOD to appeal to the Board.”
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