VA Form 21-0958, officially known as the Notice of Disagreement (NOD), is the document historically used to formally contest a rating decision within the VA’s Legacy Appeals system. This form allows veterans and their representatives to clearly identify specific areas of disagreement regarding a claim denial, disability percentage, or effective date. It serves as the vital first step in the traditional appellate process, signaling to the Department of Veterans Affairs that the claimant intends to dispute their findings.
When to Use This Form
- Contesting Legacy Decisions: Use this form specifically for appeals regarding rating decisions processed under the Legacy Appeals system (generally prior to February 19, 2019).
- Specifying Issues of Disagreement: This document is required to itemize exactly which determinations are being disputed, such as a denial of service connection or an unsatisfactory disability evaluation.
- Responding to a Statement of the Case (SOC): In legacy cases, this form may be referenced when perfecting an appeal after receiving a Statement of the Case.
- Important Regulatory Note: For the vast majority of rating decisions issued on or after February 19, 2019, this form has been replaced by the Appeals Modernization Act (AMA) forms. Representatives should verify if VA Forms 20-0995 (Supplemental Claim), 20-0996 (Higher-Level Review), or 10182 (Board Appeal) are required instead.
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