Understanding Your VA Decision Letter

Updated 2026-11-05 · Educational reference

When the VA finishes reviewing a claim, it mails a rating decision — often just called a decision letter. It is the official record of what the VA decided and why. Learning to read it tells you exactly where your claim stands, what evidence the VA relied on, and which dates and deadlines now apply to you.

What the letter contains

A rating decision is usually organized into a few predictable parts:

• Decision / summary — each claimed condition listed as granted, denied, or deferred, with its assigned percentage.
• Evidence — the records the VA considered (service treatment records, exam results, private records, your own statements).
• Reasons and bases — the plain-language explanation of why each condition was granted or denied, tied to the rating criteria.
• Effective date — the date benefits begin for each granted condition, which drives any back pay.

Diagnostic codes and percentages

Each rated condition carries a diagnostic code (a four-digit number from the VA's rating schedule) and a percentage in 10-point steps. The percentage reflects how the VA measured the condition against the criteria for that code — not simply how severe it feels. When you have several conditions, the VA combines them with its own table (they do not add up straight), which is why two 50% ratings are not 100%.

Granted, denied, or deferred

• Granted — service connection was established and a percentage assigned.
• Denied — the VA did not grant it; the reasons-and-bases section explains what was missing (often a current diagnosis, an in-service event, or the link between them).
• Deferred — the VA needs more before deciding (frequently another exam); it is not a denial, and a later decision will follow.

Dates and deadlines to note

Two dates matter most: the effective date of each grant, and the date of the decision itself — because the window to request a review or appeal is measured from it (generally one year). If anything in the decision looks wrong, the time to act is limited, so read it promptly and mark the deadline.

Where to go next

The decision letter, your Claims file, and your service and medical records together are the full picture of your claim. Keeping them organized in one place makes the letter much easier to understand and to act on before a deadline. For the official process, your decision, and all forms, use VA.gov.

This guide is educational and is not legal advice. You file your claim with the VA; an accredited representative can advise you on your specific decision. My Vet Copilot helps you gather and understand your own records — it does not file claims or guarantee any outcome.