Last legally reviewed: October 5, 2026

When the envelope arrives, most veterans read two things: granted or denied, and the percentage. Then the letter goes in a drawer. That is a mistake, because a rating decision is not just a verdict. It is a map of exactly what the VA saw, what it credited, and what was missing, which makes it the single best planning document for whatever you do next.

Here is the anatomy of the letter and how to mine it.

The anatomy

  • The decisions section lists each condition with the outcome, the rating, and the effective date. Check every line against what you actually claimed; conditions occasionally get recharacterized or missed.

  • The evidence list shows everything the VA says it considered. If something you submitted is not on the list, that is important information.

  • The reasons for decision section is the heart of the letter. For each condition, it walks the elements and tells you which one failed. This is where you find the exact sentence that sank a denial: no current diagnosis, no in-service event, or, most commonly, no nexus.

  • Favorable findings are findings made in your favor, and they are generally binding going forward. If the VA conceded your in-service event and denied only on nexus, your next move targets nexus alone. That is strategy gold.

Reading a denial productively

Find the failed element. Everything else follows from it. A missing-diagnosis denial calls for current medical evidence. A missing-event denial calls for service records or lay statements. A missing-nexus denial calls for a medical opinion. The review lane you pick, which we cover across the next three weeks, should match the gap the letter identifies.

This guidance generalizes. Letters vary in format across time and offices, and some decisions involve issues beyond the three elements, such as effective dates or severity levels. Individual cases vary. Organize each condition against what the letter says.

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Frequently asked questions

What if the letter ignores evidence I sent? Check the evidence list carefully and keep your submission receipts. A duty-to-assist problem or overlooked evidence can shape which review lane fits.

What is a rating codesheet? An internal summary of your ratings and diagnostic codes. It comes with your claims file, which you can request with VA Form 20-10206.

How long do I have to act? Higher-Level Review and Board appeals generally must be requested within one year of the decision; a Supplemental Claim can come later but filing within the year protects your effective date.

Sources

VA Champion, LLC provides self-help software and general educational information. This article is educational only, not legal or medical advice, and not a substitute for an accredited representative. The VA decides all ratings, approvals, and timelines.