VA claims processors do have the ability to manually override system-generated recommendations during the rating process, and oversight reviews have periodically found cases where those overrides were not clearly documented or justified. This does not mean every decision involves an override, and it does not mean a documented override is automatically wrong — raters are allowed to apply judgment based on medical evidence, service records, and the rating schedule in 38 CFR Part 4. The concern is less about overrides existing and more about whether veterans can tell when one happened and whether it was reasoned correctly.
As a veteran, you do have ways to look behind the final decision letter. Your rating decision document (the "codesheet") lists the evidence considered, the diagnostic codes used, and the reasons for the assigned percentage. If that explanation seems inconsistent with your medical records or the criteria in 38 CFR Part 4, that is a signal worth investigating further. You can also request your complete claims file (sometimes called the C-file) through VA.gov, by asking your VSO, or by submitting a request under 38 CFR 1.577. The C-file often contains internal rating narratives, exam summaries, and sometimes notes explaining why a particular rating was chosen, which can reveal more detail than the decision letter alone.
Official 2026 VA monthly compensation, including the 2.8% COLA increase.
Dependent add-ons start at a 30% rating. Child-only and dependent-parent rates: see the full 2026 pay chart.
| Rating | Monthly (2026, incl. 2.8% COLA) |
|---|---|
| 10% | $180.42 |
| 20% | $356.66 |
| 30% | $552.47 |
| 40% | $795.84 |
| 50% | $1,132.90 |
| 60% | $1,435.02 |
| 70% | $1,808.45 |
| 80% | $2,102.15 |
| 90% | $2,362.30 |
| 100% | $3,938.58 |
Does your rating decision hold up under a real audit?
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Analyze my claim free →If after reviewing your file you believe the rating does not match the evidence, you have formal options. A Higher-Level Review (VA Form 20-0996) asks a senior reviewer to re-examine the same evidence for legal or factual error, without submitting new evidence. A Supplemental Claim (VA Form 20-0995) allows you to submit new and relevant evidence for reconsideration. If you've already gone through one of those and disagree with the outcome, you can appeal to the Board of Veterans' Appeals using VA Form 10182. Each of these has specific time limits, generally one year from the decision you are challenging, so acting promptly matters.
Working with an accredited Veterans Service Officer or VA-accredited attorney can help you interpret the codesheet and C-file contents, since spotting whether an override was appropriate often requires comparing the rating language against the specific diagnostic code criteria. If something in your decision doesn't add up, the concrete next step is to request your full claims file and have an accredited representative review the rating narrative alongside your medical evidence before deciding whether to file a Higher-Level Review or Supplemental Claim.
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