VA Benefits
Your VA decision letter tells you what was granted, your combined rating, your effective date, and your deadline to appeal.
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Your VA rating decision letter (the decision notice) tells you which conditions the VA granted or denied, your rating for each, your combined rating, the effective date your benefits start, and your deadline to appeal. You can view and download it on VA.gov. Read it slowly, because the combined rating and the effective date drive your monthly payment and any back pay.
Source: VA.gov
It is the decision notice that confirms the VA's ruling on your disability claim. It lists each condition you claimed, whether the VA granted or denied it, and the rating assigned. You can view your rating and download the letter on VA.gov once the decision is complete. Keep a copy, because you may need it to appeal or to apply for other benefits.
Source: VA.gov
Your combined rating is the single percentage that sets your monthly compensation. The VA does not simply add your individual ratings together. It uses combined-ratings math, so two 50 percent conditions do not equal 100 percent. That is why your combined number can be lower than you expect. Our guide on how VA math works breaks down the calculation.
Source: VA.gov
The effective date is the day your benefits can start, and it drives your back pay. If the VA received your claim within one year of the day you left active service, the effective date can be as early as the day after separation. Otherwise it is generally the date the VA received your claim. Check this date closely, because it can be worth months of back pay.
Source: VA.gov
Each condition you claimed is listed as granted or denied, usually with a percentage and a short explanation. Read the reasons for the decision. A denial often turns on a missing piece, like no current diagnosis or no link to service, and the letter tells you what the VA found. That tells you what evidence a Supplemental Claim would need.
Source: VA.gov
The VA says that if your decision notice shows at least a 10 percent rating, your first payment generally arrives within 15 days, by direct deposit or check. If it does not, the VA asks you to call its help line. Payments go to the direct deposit information on file, so confirm your banking details are current.
Source: VA.gov
If you disagree with the decision, you generally have one year from the date on your decision notice to request a review. That date starts the clock. You can choose a Supplemental Claim, a Higher-Level Review, or a Board Appeal. If a decision lands while you are deployed or moving, the clock still runs, so do not sit on it.
Source: VA.gov
Where do I find my decision letter?
On VA.gov, under your claim status or the download VA letters tool.
Why is my combined rating lower than my ratings added up?
Because the VA uses combined-ratings math, not simple addition.
What is an effective date worth?
It sets when your benefits start and how much back pay you receive.
What if a condition was denied?
Read the reason, then consider a Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence, a Higher-Level Review, or a Board Appeal within one year.
How fast is the first payment?
The VA says generally within 15 days for a rating of at least 10 percent.
Can I get help understanding the letter?
Yes. A VA-accredited VSO can read it with you at no cost.
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