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A VA decision letter can run to twenty pages, and the part that matters is usually a few paragraphs in the middle. This decision letter decoder finds those paragraphs for you. Add your letter and it lists what VA granted, denied and left unchanged, explains the likely reason behind each denial in plain English, lays out your review options, and works out your deadline.
Your letter never leaves your device. It is read right here in your browser. Nothing is uploaded, sent to us, or saved, and it is gone when you close or refresh this page.
Or paste the text of the letter:
On this page
What the decision letter decoder shows you
- Every decision in the letter. Granted, increased, kept the same, denied, deferred or reduced, each with its rating and effective date where the letter gives one.
- The likely reason for each denial. For example no current diagnosis, nothing in your service records, no medical link, a missed exam, or a medical opinion VA gave little weight.
- Your next steps. A short numbered list at the top, one line per issue.
- Your options, fitted to the letter. Supplemental Claim, Higher-Level Review and Board Appeal side by side, with a note on how each fits what your letter says.
- What a new medical opinion should cover, based on the specific criticisms in your letter.
- What VA has already accepted. The “favorable findings” that stay in your favor in any later review.
- Your deadline. One year from the date on the letter, shown as a date and a number of days.
Your letter stays on your device
The decoder runs entirely in your browser. Your letter is not uploaded, not sent to this site or anyone else, and not saved. When you close or refresh the page it is gone. Page headers and anything shaped like a Social Security or file number are left out of what is shown on screen.
You can check this yourself: load the page, turn off your internet connection, and the decoder still works with a letter you paste in.
Which letters it can read
- Rating decisions and decision review letters downloaded from VA.gov, including Higher-Level Review decisions. These contain real text and read well.
- Scanned or photographed letters contain a picture of the text, not the text itself. The decoder will tell you so. Open the letter, copy the text, and paste it into the box.
To download your letter, sign in to VA.gov, open your claim, and look under your claim letters. See how to read your decision letter for where everything is.
What it cannot do
The decoder recognizes the standard wording VA uses. It can miss a decision or misread a reason when a letter is phrased in an unusual way, so read its output next to your letter, not in place of it.
It is general education. It does not review your claim, give legal advice, or tell you what to file. For help with your own case, an accredited Veterans Service Officer can go through the letter with you for free. See who can help with your claim.
Common questions
Is it free? Yes. There is no sign-up and no limit.
Does anyone at The VA Claim Playbook see my letter? No. Nothing leaves your device, so there is nothing for us to see.
It says no decisions were found. Make sure the text includes the section headed “DECISION”, where VA lists each condition. If your file is a scan, paste the text instead.
My deadline shows as passed. If you filed a review within the year, the clock restarted from that newer decision. If not, a Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence can still be filed at any time, though pay would normally start from the new filing date. See what to do after a denial.
Free printable checklist. Everything to gather before you file, what to bring to your C&P exam, and what to check in your decision, on two pages.
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.