Why a rating looks different from the outside: what's actually in a claims file
· Claim Situation
The situation
Critics judge a Veteran from a photo or a gym clip. A rating decision is built from years of records the public never sees.
What a claims file contains
- Service treatment and personnel records.
- VA and private medical records.
- C&P exam reports and medical opinions.
- Lay and buddy statements.
- The decision and its reasons.
Ratings measure function, not looks
The rating schedule estimates average loss of earning capacity (38 CFR 4.1). Someone can lift weights and still have rated hearing loss, sleep apnea, or PTSD.
Your own file is yours
You can request your claims file (C-file) with a records request or ask a VSO. Reviewing it before an appeal shows what the rater relied on.
Keep your story consistent
- Medical records, statements and exam answers should match.
- Update your doctor about symptoms so the record reflects reality.
Related
Get free help
You never have to pay to file an initial VA claim. Free help: a VSO such as DAV, VFW or the American Legion, or a VA-accredited representative.
Educational only, not legal or medical advice. We are not VA-accredited. No one can promise an outcome; VA decides each claim on its own evidence. Rules and rates change; check the linked VA and eCFR sources.