What a VA decision letter contains

Most VA disability decision letters share the same skeleton, in roughly this order:

• Cover page.Date of the decision, the veteran’s file number, the regional office that issued it, and a short summary of the decision (for example, “We granted service connection for tinnitus”).
• Decisions section. Each issue is listed individually and labeled granted, denied, deferred, or continued at the prior rating. A claim with five conditions produces five separately labeled entries; one may be granted and four denied. Read each line.
• Evidence section.A list of every record VA relied on: service treatment records, private medical records, lay statements, C&P exam reports, DBQs. If something was submitted but is not on this list, that is worth noting.
• Reasons and bases. A narrative for each issue explaining why VA decided as it did. This is where the missing element of a denial is named (no current diagnosis, no in-service event, no nexus). Read this section closely before deciding what to do next.
• Codesheet. An attached page (sometimes several) that lists each granted condition with its diagnostic code, the percentage assigned, the effective date, and any modifiers (bilateral, smr-based, secondary). The codesheet is the operative record for what VA actually did.
• Notice of appeal rights. A standard insert describing the three decision-review lanes and the deadlines that apply.

Time-sensitive items

Some clauses in a decision letter run on a clock that starts the day the letter is dated. Missing those deadlines may cost a veteran the ability to challenge the decision in the way that best fits their facts.

• Proposed reductions: 60 days to respond. If the letter proposes to reduce a current rating, the veteran generally has 60 days to submit evidence and request a predetermination hearing before the reduction takes effect38 CFR § 3.105(e)^†. This window is short. Open the letter the day it arrives.
• Decision review (NOD/HLR/Supplemental): 1 year from notification. Under the Appeals Modernization Act framework at 38 CFR § 3.250038 CFR § 3.2500^†, the veteran has 1 year from the date of the decision letter to choose a review lane: a Higher-Level Review (§ 3.2601§ 3.2601^†), a Supplemental Claim (§ 3.2501§ 3.2501^†), or a Notice of Disagreement to the Board.
• Effective-date back pay window. Whatever effective date the codesheet shows, back pay flows from that date forward to the present. A late filing can move that date and shrink the back pay accordingly.

Reading the codesheet

The codesheet is the part of the decision the VA’s own systems treat as authoritative. It typically lists, for each service-connected condition:

• Diagnostic code (DC). A four-digit code from 38 CFR Part 438 CFR Part 4^† that identifies the rating criteria VA applied. A pyramiding issue or a hyphenated DC (e.g., 5099-5003) signals VA rated by analogy when no exact code matched.
• Percentage. The evaluation assigned at this decision. A condition rated at 10% under one DC and 30% under another reads as two separate lines on the codesheet.
• Effective date.The date from which back pay runs. Often the date of claim, sometimes earlier (date of an Intent to File, date of separation for a presumptive within the qualifying window) and sometimes later (date of a C&P exam that documented worsening).
• Service-connected vs. secondary. Some codesheets label whether a condition is direct service-connected, secondary to another service-connected condition under § 3.31038 CFR § 3.310^†, or presumptive.
• Deferred. A deferral means VA did not decide this issue at this decision, usually because evidence is still being developed. The deferral typically preserves the effective date if the issue is granted later.

Common confusing phrases

• “The evidence does not establish a chronic disability.” Often translates to: VA found a record of an in-service event but no current diagnosis or no continuity of symptoms in the file. The fix is usually new medical evidence of a current diagnosis with documented continuity from service.
• “No nexus.”The medical link between the in-service event and the current diagnosis is missing. A nexus letter from a treating physician, or a supplemental C&P opinion, may address this.
• “Evaluation is appropriate at the percent level shown.” VA found service connection but rated lower than the veteran expected. The path forward depends on whether new evidence exists (Supplemental Claim) or whether VA misapplied the rating criteria to the existing record (Higher-Level Review).
• “Deferred.” Not a denial. VA is still working the issue and will decide it in a later letter, typically with the effective date preserved.
• “Continued at the previously assigned evaluation.” An increase claim was filed, and VA decided no increase was warranted; the prior rating stands.

What to do with each outcome

• Granted at a lower percentage than expected. If the rating criteria fit a higher percentage on the evidence already in the file, a Higher-Level Review may be the right lane (no new evidence allowed; senior reviewer looks for clear-and-unmistakable error or difference-of-opinion). If new evidence (newer medical records, an updated DBQ) supports a higher rating, a Supplemental Claim with that new and relevant evidence is usually the better fit.
• Denied. Read the reasons-and-bases to identify the missing element: current diagnosis, in-service event, or nexus. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence addressing the named element is the most common path. A Higher-Level Review may help if the denial misread the evidence already in the file.
• Deferred.Wait. The deferral generally preserves the date. VA will decide the issue in a follow-up letter once development completes, often after a C&P exam or records request.
• Service connection denied.Focus on the missing element. If the denial says “no current diagnosis,” current medical records may help. If it says “no in-service event,” service-record corrections, buddy statements, or unit records may help. If it says “no nexus,” a nexus letter or independent medical opinion may help.
• Proposed reduction. Treat as urgent. The 60-day window under § 3.105(e)38 CFR § 3.105(e)^† starts the day the letter is dated. Submit current evidence of severity and request a predetermination hearing if the record warrants it.

What back pay the letter typically establishes

For each granted issue, the codesheet shows an effective date and a percentage. Back pay generally runs from the effective date forward at the monthly compensation rate that applied during each interval, adjusted for any rating changes along the way. Combined ratings for multiple service-connected conditions follow the math in 38 CFR § 4.25 (combined-ratings table) and the bilateral factor in § 4.26 where applicable; our combined rating estimator walks through that math, and our retroactive pay estimator applies the rate tables across the back-pay window.

Frequently asked questions

How long do I have to challenge a VA decision?

For most decisions, 1 year from the date on the letter to file a Higher-Level Review, Supplemental Claim, or Notice of Disagreement to the Board (38 CFR § 3.250038 CFR § 3.2500^†). For a proposed reduction, the predetermination response window is 60 days under § 3.105(e)§ 3.105(e)^†.

What is the difference between HLR and Supplemental Claim?

A Higher-Level Review is a fresh look at the same record by a senior reviewer; no new evidence is allowed. A Supplemental Claim is the right lane when there is new and relevant evidence that was not in the file at the original decision. Choosing the wrong lane may cost time. Our appeal path selector walks through the choice.

What does “deferred” mean on a codesheet?

VA did not decide that issue at this decision, usually because development is still in progress. The deferral typically preserves the effective date of the original claim, so a grant on the next decision can still reach back.

Can I just call VA and ask what the letter means?

Yes, and a CVSO or accredited representative can also read it with you at no cost. Calling the VA general line at 1-800-827-1000 reaches a customer-service agent who can confirm the dates and the issues but generally cannot give legal advice on which review lane to choose.