diff --git a/frontend/src/components/test-detail/TestDetailHeader.tsx b/frontend/src/components/test-detail/TestDetailHeader.tsx
index 26b58f7..fd3bfee 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/test-detail/TestDetailHeader.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/test-detail/TestDetailHeader.tsx
@@ -87,17 +87,21 @@ export default function TestDetailHeader({
   const role = user?.role ?? "";
   const currentIdx = STATE_INDEX[test.state];
   const [showDiscussModal, setShowDiscussModal] = useState(false);
+  const [discussionSent, setDiscussionSent] = useState(false);
   const [discussResult, setDiscussResult] = useState<{
     username: string; email: string | null; role: string;
   } | null>(null);
 
   const discussMutation = useMutation({
     mutationFn: () => requestDiscussion(test.id),
-    onSuccess: (data) => setDiscussResult({
-      username: data.rejector_username,
-      email: data.rejector_email,
-      role: data.rejector_role,
-    }),
+    onSuccess: (data) => {
+      setDiscussResult({
+        username: data.rejector_username,
+        email: data.rejector_email,
+        role: data.rejector_role,
+      });
+      setDiscussionSent(true);
+    },
   });
 
   const formatDate = (d: string | null) => {
@@ -234,37 +238,74 @@ export default function TestDetailHeader({
       );
     }
 
-    // Disputed: the lead who approved can change their vote to rejected
+    // Disputed state: symmetric actions for both leads
     if (test.state === "disputed") {
-      const canChangeVote =
+      const isApproving =
         (role === "red_lead" && test.red_validation_status === "approved") ||
         (role === "blue_lead" && test.blue_validation_status === "approved") ||
-        role === "admin";
+        (role === "admin" && test.red_validation_status === "approved");
 
-      if (canChangeVote) {
-        const side = role === "red_lead" ? "red" : role === "blue_lead" ? "blue" : null;
-        if (side || role === "admin") {
-          buttons.push(
-            <div key="disputed-actions" className="flex items-center gap-2">
-              {/* Confirm keeping approval → open discussion modal */}
+      const isRejecting =
+        (role === "red_lead" && test.red_validation_status === "rejected") ||
+        (role === "blue_lead" && test.blue_validation_status === "rejected") ||
+        (role === "admin" && test.blue_validation_status === "rejected");
+
+      const approvingSide: "red" | "blue" =
+        test.red_validation_status === "approved" ? "red" : "blue";
+      const rejectingSide: "red" | "blue" =
+        test.red_validation_status === "rejected" ? "red" : "blue";
+
+      if (isApproving || role === "admin") {
+        buttons.push(
+          <div key="disputed-approver" className="flex flex-col items-end gap-1.5">
+            <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
+              {/* Discussion request button — shows ✓ after sent */}
+              {discussionSent ? (
+                <span className="flex items-center gap-1.5 rounded-lg border border-gray-700 bg-gray-800 px-4 py-2 text-sm text-gray-500 cursor-not-allowed">
+                  <CheckCircle className="h-4 w-4 text-green-500" />
+                  Discussion Requested ✓
+                </span>
+              ) : (
+                <button
+                  onClick={() => { setShowDiscussModal(true); setDiscussResult(null); }}
+                  className="flex items-center gap-1.5 rounded-lg border border-amber-500/40 bg-amber-500/10 px-4 py-2 text-sm font-medium text-amber-400 hover:bg-amber-500/20 transition-colors"
+                >
+                  <MessageSquare className="h-4 w-4" />
+                  Request Discussion
+                </button>
+              )}
+              {/* Change approving vote to rejected */}
               <button
-                onClick={() => { setShowDiscussModal(true); setDiscussResult(null); }}
-                className="flex items-center gap-1.5 rounded-lg border border-amber-500/40 bg-amber-500/10 px-4 py-2 text-sm font-medium text-amber-400 hover:bg-amber-500/20 transition-colors"
-              >
-                <UserCheck className="h-4 w-4" />
-                Confirm My Validation
-              </button>
-              {/* Change vote to rejected */}
-              <button
-                onClick={() => onOpenValidateModal(side ?? (test.red_validation_status === "approved" ? "red" : "blue"))}
+                onClick={() => onOpenValidateModal(approvingSide)}
                 className="flex items-center gap-1.5 rounded-lg bg-red-700/80 px-4 py-2 text-sm font-medium text-white hover:bg-red-600 transition-colors"
               >
                 <XCircle className="h-4 w-4" />
                 Change to Rejected
               </button>
-            </div>,
-          );
-        }
+            </div>
+            <p className="text-[10px] text-gray-500">
+              You approved — change your vote or request a discussion
+            </p>
+          </div>,
+        );
+      }
+
+      if (isRejecting && !isApproving) {
+        buttons.push(
+          <div key="disputed-rejector" className="flex flex-col items-end gap-1.5">
+            {/* Change rejecting vote to approved */}
+            <button
+              onClick={() => onOpenValidateModal(rejectingSide)}
+              className="flex items-center gap-1.5 rounded-lg bg-green-700 px-4 py-2 text-sm font-medium text-white hover:bg-green-600 transition-colors"
+            >
+              <CheckCircle className="h-4 w-4" />
+              Change to Approved
+            </button>
+            <p className="text-[10px] text-gray-500">
+              You rejected — change your vote if you agree after discussion
+            </p>
+          </div>,
+        );
       }
     }