The VA.gov claim status tool displays claims moving through five general phases: (1) Claim received, (2) Initial review, (3) Evidence gathering, review, and decision, (4) Preparation for notification, and (5) Claim complete. A label such as 'Claim For Authorization Review' simply describes the type or internal routing of the claim as it moves through these phases, not a separate or negative designation. It does not mean your claim has been denied, flagged for a problem, or singled out for extra scrutiny. Many claims, including Benefits Delivery at Discharge (BDD) claims like fully developed or standard claims, pass through an authorization or quality review step before the decision is finalized and before the official decision letter is generated and mailed.
Step 3, 'Evidence gathering, review, and decision,' is often the longest phase because the VA is confirming that all service treatment records, exam results, and any outstanding development actions are complete. It is common for a claim to show as being in 'Preparation for notification' and then move briefly back to step 3 if a rating specialist or reviewer determines additional documentation, a corrected exam, or a second set of eyes is needed before the decision is finalized. This back-and-forth movement is a normal part of quality assurance and does not indicate a reduction, denial, or problem with the rating that was proposed.
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 |
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Analyze my claim free →For BDD claims specifically, it is also normal to see a preliminary or proposed rating decision appear in the online portal before the formal decision letter is generated, because the award often cannot be finalized and paid until after the service member's actual separation date is confirmed. Seeing the same rating (in this case 100 percent permanent and total) in the online decision letter as what was anticipated is a good sign that the rating is being finalized consistently, not changed.
If the claim remains in this status for what feels like an unusually long time, or the status reverts between steps 3 and 4 more than once, it is reasonable to contact the VA through the 1-800-827-1000 number or a Veterans Service Organization representative to ask whether any additional evidence is being requested, since sometimes a request for records or an exam clarification can sit unseen in a veteran's portal.
As a next step, the veteran should check the VA.gov 'Files' and 'Details' tabs for that specific claim to see if any evidence requests are listed, and contact a VSO or the VA directly if the status does not progress within a few weeks.
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