Quick Answer: Your VA rating decision letter has six key sections: the decision itself, the reasons and bases, your rating percentage for each condition, your effective date, your monthly payment amount, and your appeal rights. Read every section — errors are common and you have one year to act on them.

Section 1: The Decision Summary

The opening section lists every condition you claimed and tells you whether each was: service connected (approved), not service connected (denied), or deferred (the VA needs more information). Read this section first. Make sure every condition you claimed is listed. If any conditions are missing, that is grounds for a supplemental claim.

Section 2: Reasons and Bases

This section explains why the VA made its decision on each condition. It lists the evidence the VA considered and the legal rationale for service connection or denial. Read this carefully. The VA is required to consider all submitted evidence — if you submitted records that are not mentioned in this section, the VA may have failed to consider them, which is grounds for appeal.

Section 3: Your Rating Percentages

Each service-connected condition receives an individual rating percentage. The letter will then show your combined rating (calculated using the Whole Person method) and your final official disability percentage. Verify the math. Check whether the bilateral factor was applied if you have bilateral conditions. Check that the rating for each condition matches the Diagnostic Code criteria in 38 CFR Part 4.

Section 4: Your Effective Date

Your effective date is the date from which your benefits are calculated. It should equal the date the VA received your claim (or your discharge date, if you filed within one year of separation). If the effective date is wrong, that is grounds for a supplemental claim to correct the date and claim additional back pay.

Section 5: Your Monthly Payment Amount

This section tells you your new monthly compensation amount and what dependents, if any, are included. Verify that your dependent status is correctly reflected. If you have a spouse, dependent children, or dependent parents not listed, file to add them — adding dependents increases your monthly payment.

Section 6: Your Appeal Rights — One Year Clock Starts Now

From the date of the rating decision, you have one year to pursue any of the three appeal lanes under the Appeals Modernization Act:

• Supplemental Claim Lane: Submit new and relevant evidence not previously considered
• Higher-Level Review Lane: Request a senior claims adjudicator review for clear errors of fact or law (no new evidence)
• Board of Veterans Appeals (BVA) Direct Review: Appeal directly to the BVA without new evidence

Work with an accredited VSO to determine which lane is right for your situation. All three options are available free of charge through accredited VSOs under federal law and California SB 694.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if the VA denied a condition I know is service connected?

File a Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence — such as additional medical records, a nexus letter from a private doctor, or buddy statements. You have one year from the decision date without losing your effective date.

Can I appeal if I think my rating percentage is too low?

Yes. If your condition was service connected but you believe the rating percentage doesn’t reflect the actual severity, you can file a Higher-Level Review or a Supplemental Claim with additional medical evidence documenting greater impairment.