How to Read Your VA Rating Decision Letter

A plain-language guide to understanding one of the most confusing documents you'll ever receive

What Is a Rating Decision Letter?

After you file a VA disability claim, the VA's Regional Office sends you a rating decision letter (sometimes called a "decision letter" or "notification letter"). This is the official document that tells you what the VA decided about your claim. It includes which conditions were granted or denied, the disability rating for each, the combined rating, your effective date, and your monthly compensation amount.

These letters are notoriously difficult to understand. They're written in bureaucratic language, packed with legal references, and often run 10–20+ pages. This guide will walk you through every section so you know exactly what to look for.

Major Sections of a Rating Decision Letter

A typical rating decision letter contains the following sections, roughly in this order:

  1. Cover Letter — Summary of the decision and monthly payment amount
  2. Decision Section — What was granted, denied, deferred, or continued
  3. Reasons for Decision — The VA's explanation for each decision
  4. Evidence List — All evidence the VA considered
  5. Rating Summary / Code Sheet — Technical breakdown of ratings and diagnostic codes
  6. Your Rights — Information about how to appeal or file a supplemental claim

Section 1: The Cover Letter

The first page or two of the letter is a summary. Here's what you'll find:

What to Look For

  • Combined Rating: Your overall combined disability rating (e.g., "We have assigned a combined evaluation of 70%"). This is not a simple addition of individual ratings — see the combined rating section below.
  • Monthly Payment Amount: The dollar amount you'll receive each month based on your combined rating and dependents.
  • Effective Date: When the VA considers your disability to have started for payment purposes. Payments are retroactive to this date.
  • Payment Start Date: When you can expect to start receiving monthly payments.
  • Dependent Information: Whether your dependents were added to your award (affects payment amount at 30%+ combined).
Common Mistake: Many veterans only read the cover letter and miss important details in the later sections. Always read the entire letter, especially the "Reasons for Decision" section.

Section 2: The Decision Section

This section lists every condition you claimed and what the VA decided for each one. Each condition will be listed with one of these outcomes:

Decision What It Means What to Do
Service Connection Granted The VA agrees your condition is connected to your military service and has assigned a rating. Check the rating percentage — is it appropriate? Review the rating criteria for your condition.
Service Connection Denied The VA determined your condition is not connected to your service, or there was insufficient evidence. Read the "Reasons for Decision" carefully. Consider a supplemental claim with new evidence, a Higher-Level Review, or a Board Appeal.
Rating Increased Your existing rating for a condition was increased (if you filed for an increase). Check the new rating and effective date. Is the increase enough?
Rating Continued / Confirmed Your existing rating was reviewed and kept at the same level. This means the VA reviewed your condition but found no change. You can appeal if you disagree.
Deferred The VA hasn't made a decision yet on this condition. It needs more development (exams, records, etc.). Wait for additional requests from the VA. Check your VA.gov account for pending actions.
Rating Reduced / Proposed Reduction The VA is reducing or proposing to reduce your rating for a condition. You have rights to contest reductions. A proposed reduction gives you 60 days to submit evidence and 30 days to request a hearing.

What to Look For in This Section

  • The diagnostic code next to each condition (e.g., "Diagnostic Code 5237" for lumbosacral strain). This tells you which criteria the VA used to rate your condition.
  • The rating percentage for each individual condition
  • Whether each condition was rated separately or combined with another condition (some conditions are rated together under one code)
  • Whether any conditions were deferred — if so, the claim is not fully complete

Section 3: Reasons for Decision

This is the most important section of the entire letter. For each claimed condition, the VA explains why they made their decision. This section tells you:

  • What evidence they used: Which medical records, exam results, and statements they considered
  • What the C&P examiner found: A summary of the Compensation & Pension exam findings
  • Why they assigned a specific rating: Which symptoms and limitations correspond to the rating percentage
  • Why a claim was denied: Specifically what element was missing (nexus, in-service event, current diagnosis, etc.)
  • The legal standard applied: References to 38 CFR and the rating schedule criteria

How to Read Denial Language

If a condition was denied, the VA will typically cite one or more of these reasons:

"No current diagnosis"

The VA says you don't have the condition now, even if you had it in service. You need a current diagnosis from a medical provider to establish service connection.

"No in-service event"

The VA couldn't find evidence of an injury, illness, or event during your service. You need buddy statements, service records, or other evidence of the in-service occurrence.

"No nexus"

There's no medical opinion linking your current condition to your service. This is the most common denial reason. You need a medical nexus letter or Independent Medical Opinion (IMO).

"Less likely than not"

The C&P examiner provided a negative nexus opinion. You may need to challenge this with an independent medical opinion from your own doctor or a private specialist.

Section 4: Evidence List

The letter includes a list of all evidence the VA reviewed when making their decision. This is critical for two reasons:

  1. Verify they reviewed everything: Check that all records you submitted are listed. If you sent medical records, buddy statements, or a nexus letter and they're not on the list, the VA may not have considered them. This is a clear error you can cite in an appeal.
  2. Identify what evidence was missing: If you were denied, look at what evidence the VA had. Did they have your complete service treatment records? Private medical records? Your personal statement?

Evidence Types You Might See Listed

  • Service Treatment Records (STRs)
  • VA medical center treatment records (with date ranges)
  • Private medical records
  • C&P examination report(s)
  • Disability Benefits Questionnaire(s) (DBQs)
  • Buddy/lay statements
  • Personnel records (DD-214, service records)
  • Nexus letters or Independent Medical Opinions
Red Flag: If the evidence list says "Service Treatment Records - Not Available" or "Unable to Obtain," the VA may have been unable to get your military medical records. The VA has a heightened duty to assist you in this situation. Contact the National Personnel Records Center to request your records directly.

Understanding Effective Dates

The effective date determines when your compensation starts (and how much back pay you receive). This is one of the most commonly misunderstood — and most commonly wrong — parts of a rating decision.

How Effective Dates Are Determined

Claim Type Effective Date Rule
Original claim filed within 1 year of discharge Day after discharge from active duty
Original claim filed more than 1 year after discharge Date the VA received the claim
Claim for increase Date the VA received the claim, OR up to 1 year earlier if evidence shows the increase occurred within the prior year
Supplemental claim with new and relevant evidence Date of the original claim (if continuously pursued)
Reopened claim (after final denial) Date the VA received the new claim
Clear and Unmistakable Error (CUE) Date of the original decision that contained the error
Liberalizing law change Effective date of the new law (e.g., PACT Act conditions)

Common Effective Date Errors

  • The VA used the C&P exam date instead of the claim date
  • An Intent to File (ITF) was on record but not honored
  • The veteran filed within 1 year of discharge but the effective date wasn't set to the day after separation
  • A previously denied claim was continuously pursued but the VA didn't apply the original effective date
Tip: Always check if you had an Intent to File on record before your formal claim was submitted. An ITF holds your effective date for up to one year. Check your claim status at VA.gov.

How Combined Ratings Work

The VA does not simply add your individual ratings together. Instead, they use "VA Math" — a combined rating formula that accounts for the whole person's remaining functional ability.

The VA Math Formula

Think of it this way: you start at 100% healthy. Each disability takes away a percentage of your remaining health, not a percentage of the total.

Example: 50% + 30% + 20%

  1. Start at 100 (healthy)
  2. 50% disability: 100 × 0.50 = 50 → remaining health = 50
  3. 30% disability: 50 × 0.30 = 15 → remaining health = 35
  4. 20% disability: 35 × 0.20 = 7 → remaining health = 28
  5. Total disability = 100 - 28 = 72
  6. Rounded to nearest 10: 70% combined rating

Simple addition would give 100%, but VA Math gives 70%. This is why veterans are often surprised by their combined rating.

Rounding Rules

  • The combined value is rounded to the nearest 10%
  • Values ending in .5 or higher round up (e.g., 75% rounds to 80%)
  • Values ending below .5 round down (e.g., 74% rounds to 70%)

Bilateral Factor

If you have disabilities affecting both arms, both legs, or paired organs (eyes, ears, kidneys), the VA adds a 10% bonus to the combined value of those paired conditions before combining with other disabilities. This is called the bilateral factor. Check your rating decision to see if it was applied when it should have been.

How to Identify Errors in Your Rating Decision

Rating decisions frequently contain errors. Here is a checklist of things to verify:

Error Checklist

  • All claimed conditions addressed: Did the VA issue a decision on every condition you claimed? If something is missing (and not listed as deferred), it may have been overlooked.
  • Correct diagnostic code: Was the right diagnostic code used? Using the wrong code can result in a lower rating. Look up your condition in the 38 CFR Part 4 Rating Schedule.
  • Rating matches symptoms: Compare the rating criteria for your diagnostic code with your actual symptoms documented in the C&P exam. The VA must rate based on the evidence.
  • All evidence considered: Is every piece of evidence you submitted listed? Were relevant medical records overlooked?
  • Effective date is correct: Does the effective date match the rules described above? Check for Intent to File dates.
  • Combined rating calculated correctly: Run the VA Math yourself using the formula above. Was the bilateral factor applied when it should have been?
  • C&P exam was adequate: Did the examiner actually examine you, review your records, and provide reasoned opinions? A cursory exam can be challenged.
  • Favorable evidence addressed: The VA must address favorable evidence in its reasoning. If they ignored a positive nexus letter or buddy statement, that's an error.
  • Benefit of the doubt: When the evidence is roughly equal for and against your claim, the VA must apply the benefit of the doubt in your favor (38 USC 5107(b)). Check if they did.
  • Dependents added: If you're rated 30% or higher and have dependents, they should be included in your award for additional monthly compensation.

What to Do If You Disagree

If you believe your rating decision contains errors or you disagree with the outcome, you have three options under the Appeals Modernization Act (AMA). You generally have one year from the date of the decision letter to file.

Supplemental Claim

Best when: You have new evidence that wasn't previously considered

  • Submit new and relevant evidence (medical records, nexus letter, buddy statements)
  • Filed on VA Form 20-0995
  • Goes back to the same Regional Office
  • Can preserve your original effective date
  • Most common and often most effective option

Learn more on VA.gov

Higher-Level Review

Best when: You believe the VA made an error with existing evidence

  • A more experienced reviewer (Decision Review Officer) re-examines the existing evidence
  • No new evidence can be submitted
  • Filed on VA Form 20-0996
  • Can request an informal conference (phone call) with the reviewer
  • Fastest appeal option (typically 4–5 months)

Learn more on VA.gov

Board Appeal (BVA)

Best when: You've been denied at the Regional Office level and want a Veterans Law Judge to decide

  • Filed on VA Form 10182
  • Three options: Direct Review, Evidence Submission, or Hearing
  • Can submit new evidence (if you choose Evidence or Hearing lanes)
  • Longest wait time (1–3+ years)
  • Decided by a Veterans Law Judge

Learn more on VA.gov

Critical Deadline: You have one year from the date of the decision letter to file an appeal and preserve your effective date. If you miss this deadline, you can still file a new claim, but you may lose retroactive back pay. Don't wait — even if you need more time to gather evidence, file an Intent to File at VA.gov.

Practical Next Steps After Receiving Your Decision

  1. Read the entire letter — not just the first page. The details in the Reasons for Decision and Evidence sections are critical.
  2. Request your C&P exam report — You can access it through your VA.gov account under "VA Medical Records" or by calling the VA at 1-800-827-1000. Compare it to what the rating decision says.
  3. Get your claims file (C-file) — Request a complete copy of your claims file for your records. This contains everything the VA has on you.
  4. Run the math — Verify the combined rating calculation yourself.
  5. Check effective dates — Make sure they align with when you filed (or when your Intent to File was recorded).
  6. Consider a VSO — If you don't have a Veterans Service Organization representative (DAV, VFW, American Legion), consider getting one. They can review your decision at no cost and advise on next steps.
  7. Document everything — Keep a copy of your rating decision, all correspondence, and any evidence you submitted.
  8. Act within one year — If you want to appeal, don't let the deadline pass.

Official Resources