# Reading Your Rating Decision

Takes the text of your VA rating decision and explains it in plain language: what was decided, why, and what evidence the rater cited. Use it right after you receive a rating decision so you understand what happened before you call your accredited VSO.

## Prompt

## Context
You are helping [YOUR NAME], a veteran, understand a VA rating decision. The veteran wants a plain-language explanation of what the decision says, not legal advice or a medical opinion. Rating decision text or summary: [RATING DECISION TEXT, paste the relevant portions or describe the key findings. Do not include your Social Security number or VA file number.]. Conditions on the decision: [CONDITIONS LISTED, write each condition the decision addressed]. Service branch and approximate dates of service: [BRANCH AND SERVICE DATES].

## Task
Explain this rating decision in plain language across four sections:
1. What was decided: list each condition, the outcome (service-connected, not service-connected, deferred, or rating assigned), and the rating percentage if stated in the text I provided.
2. Why the rater decided that: summarize the reasoning the decision letter gives for each outcome, using the exact language from the letter where possible.
3. Evidence cited: list the evidence the rater mentioned by name or description.
4. What the decision says about next steps or appeal rights: summarize any deadline, review lane, or instructions the letter includes.

## Standards
- Explain only what is in the text I provided. Do not add reasoning, evidence, or conclusions the decision does not state.
- Do not predict what a rating should be or what a different rating would mean financially.
- Do not give legal advice or a medical opinion.
- Do not imply the AI represents the veteran.
- If the decision is complex, note which parts are unclear and recommend the veteran ask their accredited Veterans Service Officer (VSO) for clarification.
- VA claims and appeals are regulated under 38 CFR. An accredited VSO, claims agent, or VA-accredited attorney can help navigate a decision. Initial claims and appeals assistance from an accredited VSO is free.
- Remind the veteran to verify any deadline or appeal right stated in this explanation directly against the decision letter, because errors in summarizing can occur.
- If [RATING DECISION TEXT] is missing or too vague to explain, ask for it before proceeding.

## Variables

- YOUR NAME
- RATING DECISION TEXT
- CONDITIONS LISTED
- BRANCH AND SERVICE DATES

## Input checklist

- [ ] Have the physical decision letter or the PDF from VA.gov in front of you before running this prompt
- [ ] Paste or type the relevant sections of the decision: the ratings table, the reasons and bases section, and the appeal rights section
- [ ] Remove your Social Security number and VA file number before pasting anything into the prompt
- [ ] Write down each condition listed on the decision so you can compare the explanation to the original
- [ ] Note any deadlines printed on the letter: the explanation will highlight them, but you must verify them against the original document
- [ ] Plan to bring this explanation and the original letter to your accredited VSO before deciding on next steps

## Verification checklist

- [ ] Compare the explanation to the original letter line by line: did the AI add any reasoning that does not appear in the letter?
- [ ] Check that no rating percentage appears in the explanation that was not stated in the text you provided
- [ ] Confirm no financial prediction or guaranteed outcome appears anywhere in the explanation
- [ ] Verify that every piece of evidence listed in the explanation actually appears in the decision letter
- [ ] Check the appeal rights section: confirm the deadline matches what the letter says, not what the AI assumed
- [ ] Do not make any appeal decision based on this explanation alone. Review it with an accredited VSO who can read the full decision.

## Sample output

Sample output. Generated by AI from sample inputs:

Veteran: Marcus Hale. Army, 2010 to 2019. Decision received June 2026. Conditions: bilateral tinnitus, right knee strain.

What was decided:
- Bilateral tinnitus: Service-connected. Rating: 10 percent.
- Right knee strain: Not service-connected.

Why the rater decided that:
- Tinnitus: The decision states the rater found a nexus between the veteran's in-service noise exposure (noted in the service treatment records) and the current diagnosis of tinnitus confirmed by the VA examination. The 10 percent rating reflects the rating schedule entry for tinnitus as a single condition.
- Right knee strain: The decision states the rater found no evidence of a current diagnosis of right knee strain in the VA examination results and no in-service treatment record for the knee. The rater noted the veteran's lay statement described knee pain but that a lay statement alone, without a current diagnosis, was insufficient to establish entitlement.

Evidence cited:
- VA examination report dated (date in letter)
- Service treatment records
- Veteran's personal statement
- DD Form 214

Next steps and appeal rights (from the decision letter):
The decision states the veteran has one year from the date of the letter to file a supplemental claim, request a higher-level review, or file a Board of Veterans Appeals appeal. The letter lists the three review lanes under the Appeals Modernization Act. The specific deadline is printed on the letter: verify that date directly on the original document.

Note: This explanation covers only what appeared in the text provided. If any part of the actual letter is unclear, bring the original to an accredited VSO. This is not legal advice. Accredited VSO help is free.

## Customization notes

Run this prompt once per decision letter. If you have multiple decisions from different dates, run it separately for each one so the timelines and conditions stay organized. For decisions involving mental health conditions, toxic exposure presumptives, or military sexual trauma, bring the explanation and the original letter to your VSO before drawing any conclusions. If the decision is lengthy, paste the most important sections first: the ratings table and the reasons and bases section.

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From The VA & Benefits Navigator Library at vetslearn.com/libraries/va