VA Claim Glossary: Terms, Acronyms and Forms in Plain English

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VA has its own vocabulary. This glossary explains the terms you are most likely to meet in letters, exam reports, and decisions, and lists the forms used at each step.

Forms by stage

Glossary of terms

A to C

Accredited representative. A VSO representative, claims agent, or attorney approved by VA to prepare and present claims. See who can help.

Aid and Attendance (A&A). An added payment for veterans or surviving spouses who need another person’s help with daily activities.

Aggravation. A condition that existed before service and was made permanently worse by service.

AMA. The Appeals Modernization Act, the 2019 law that created the current three review options.

At least as likely as not. A 50% or greater probability. The standard a medical opinion must meet. See nexus letters.

BDD. Benefits Delivery at Discharge. A claim filed 180 to 90 days before separation. See BDD claims.

Benefit of the doubt. When the evidence for and against is roughly equal, VA must decide in the veteran’s favor.

Bilateral factor. An extra 10% applied when both arms or both legs have rated disabilities. See VA math.

BVA or the Board. The Board of Veterans’ Appeals. See Board Appeals.

C&P exam. Compensation and Pension exam. The medical exam VA orders for a claim. See the C&P exam guide.

C-file. Your claims file. See getting your C-file.

CAVC. The U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, the federal court that reviews Board decisions.

CFR. Code of Federal Regulations. Title 38 contains VA’s rules. Part 3 covers how claims are decided. Part 4 is the rating schedule.

CHAMPVA. Health coverage for dependents and survivors of certain veterans.

Combined rating. Your overall percentage after individual ratings are combined. It is not the sum.

CUE. Clear and unmistakable error. A way to challenge a final decision that contained an undebatable error.

D to H

DBQ. Disability Benefits Questionnaire. See DBQs.

DC. Diagnostic code. The four-digit number identifying the rating criteria for a condition.

DIC. Dependency and Indemnity Compensation. See survivor benefits.

Duty to assist. VA’s legal obligation to help you obtain evidence and to provide an exam when needed.

Effective date. The date from which benefits are payable. See back pay.

Extraschedular. A rating or TDIU granted outside the normal schedule criteria because of exceptional circumstances.

Favorable finding. A finding in a decision that supports your claim. Binding on later reviewers.

FDC. Fully Developed Claim. You submit all evidence up front for faster processing.

HLR. Higher-Level Review. See review options.

I to P

ITF. Intent to File. See Intent to File.

Lay evidence. Statements from people who are not medical professionals about what they observed.

MOS. Military occupational specialty. Your job in service. Used to assess things like noise exposure.

MST. Military sexual trauma. See MST claims.

Nexus. The link between a condition and service.

NOD. Notice of Disagreement. Today this means the form used to appeal to the Board.

P&T. Permanent and Total. See P&T.

Presumptive. A condition VA assumes is service connected based on when and where you served.

Prostrating. Used in migraine ratings. An attack that incapacitates you. See migraines.

Pyramiding. Rating the same symptom twice under different codes. Not allowed.

R to Z

Rater or RVSR. Rating Veterans Service Representative. The VA employee who decides ratings.

Remand. When the Board sends a case back to the regional office for more work.

RO or VARO. VA regional office.

Schedular rating. A rating assigned under the standard criteria in the rating schedule.

Secondary condition. A condition caused or worsened by a service-connected one. See secondary conditions.

Service connection. VA’s finding that a condition is related to military service.

SMC. Special Monthly Compensation. See SMC.

STRs. Service treatment records. Your medical records from service.

Supplemental Claim. A request for a new decision based on new and relevant evidence.

TDIU or IU. Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability. See TDIU.

VBA. Veterans Benefits Administration. The part of VA that handles compensation.

VHA. Veterans Health Administration. The part of VA that provides health care.

VLJ. Veterans Law Judge, at the Board.

VSO. Veterans Service Organization or Veterans Service Officer.

VASRD. VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities. The rating schedule in 38 CFR Part 4.

Last reviewed October 2026. This guide is general educational information, not legal or medical advice, and this site is not affiliated with the Department of Veterans Affairs. Rules and rates change. Confirm details on VA.gov or with an accredited representative. See our disclaimer and editorial policy.