Northville, Michigan – With 2026 underway, Legal Help for Veterans, PLLC advises veterans to review any VA disability decision letters from 2025 and verify that the important appeal deadlines under the Appeals Modernization Act remain open. Early in the year, many veterans finally catch up on paperwork that sat untouched over the holidays, and the firm cautions that letting those dates pass can shut down appeal options and the chance to recover back pay.

Under the AMA system, most veterans have 1 year from the date of a VA decision letter to choose a review option, such as filing a supplemental claim, requesting a higher-level review, or appealing directly to the Board of Veterans’ Appeals. This means that a VA rating issued in mid-2025 may be just months away from expiring in early 2026.

Attorney James Fausone said the new year is the ideal time for veterans to review their files and confirm their current status. “A lot of veterans receive decisions during the year and put them aside while dealing with work, family, and medical issues,” he said. “When the new year comes around, they suddenly realize the one-year clock has been running the entire time. This is the moment to take stock and make sure no deadline is about to slip by.”

Legal Help for Veterans suggests that veterans use the start of the year to get organized in a practical way. A few key steps include:

• Gathering all VA decision letters from 2025 and keeping them in one place;
• Checking for any approaching one-year appeal deadlines; 
• Reviewing new medical records and recording symptom changes;
• Talking with an attorney sooner rather than later, instead of scrambling in the final days before a deadline.

Taking these steps as early as possible in the new year can make it much easier to protect your rights and avoid losing benefits simply because the time has run out.

“The new year is a clean slate,” Fausone said. “It is the best time for veterans to get organized, review their decision letters, and make sure they do not lose the chance to correct errors or secure higher ratings. A brief review now can save months, or years, of lost benefits later.”