Informal Conference

VA Terminology Definition

Plain English Definition

A phone call with a senior VA reviewer during a Higher-Level Review where you can explain errors in your claim.

Why This Matters

You can request an informal conference when filing a Higher-Level Review. It's your chance to point out specific errors - ignored evidence, wrong rating criteria, calculation mistakes.

Example

During your informal conference, you tell the reviewer: 'The decision ignored the nexus letter on page 47 of my C-file from Dr. Smith dated March 2024.'