Understand a rating decision letter

Paste the letter into the interpreter, see what each section means, and read how VA arrived at the rating.

Your decision

Work through your decision

Read what the VA decided, record the reasons and evidence listed, and keep your questions with your preparation.

Open a decision reading sheet Use the Letter Interpreter

Read the Rating Decision guide Find reference cases

  1. Letter Interpreter Paste a VA letter and see plain-English breakdown.
  2. Filing terms glossary Plain-English definitions of common VA letter terms.
  3. How VA decides How VA weighs evidence and applies the rating schedule.
  4. Calculate your combined rating See how multiple ratings combine into one VA percentage.
  5. Effective dates How VA sets the effective date of a rating.
  6. Find a VSO rep Search accredited representatives by state or near you.

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