VA BENEFITS REFERENCE
VA Rating Decision Explained
The rating decision explains what VA decided about each issue and why; its narrative and coded information serve different purposes.
The rating decision explains what VA decided about each issue and why; its narrative and coded information serve different purposes.
What This Document Explains
The narrative gives the reader-facing explanation of the decision. Under 38 CFR 3.103, written notice and its enclosures must identify the issues, summarize evidence and applicable law, identify favorable findings, and explain missing requirements for denied claims. They also address applicable review options and access to the evidence. These elements may be distributed across the packet rather than appearing under identical headings in every letter.
Read It Issue By Issue
Read one issue at a time. Identify the disposition, any evaluation and effective date, the relevant evidence, and the reasons. A service-connection grant can still leave a disagreement about the percentage or date. A partial rating can also leave a different issue deferred while development continues.
Keep The Packet Together
The codesheet summarizes coded rating details and helps cross-check the narrative. It does not replace the reasons explaining how VA reached the result. Keep the rating decision together with the notification letter and any later correction or review decision. A historical rating decision in a claims file may no longer describe the current benefit, so compare dates and subsequent actions.
Explore The Fictional Sample
- Notice Date And Document Type
- Issues Decided And Issues Deferred
- Reasons For Decision
- Review Options And Next Steps
Read Decision Terms · Annotated Sample Letter
Official Sources
Last verified 2026-10-25. Source publication or legal effective dates are shown separately where available.
- www.ecfr.gov/current/title-38/section-3.103
- www.knowva.ebenefits.va.gov/system/templates/selfservice/va_ssnew/help/customer/locale/en-us/portal/554400000001018/content/554400000180487/M21-1-Part-V-Subpart-ii-Chapter-3-Section-B-Making-Partial-Rating-Decisions
- www.knowva.ebenefits.va.gov/system/templates/selfservice/va_ssnew/help/customer/locale/en-US/portal/554400000001018/content/554400000180524/M21-1,-Part-V,-Subpart-iv,-Chapter-1,-Section-B---Codesheet-Section
- www.uscourts.cavc.gov/documents/RosinskiDJ_17-1117.pdf
Check The Source. Get Accredited Help.
Use this resource to understand published information. VA and the official decision control individual benefits.