The Process

Six Steps From
Service to Benefits.

Mission Rated guides you through every stage of the VA disability claims process — from documenting your first condition to appealing a denial.

01
Document

Log Your Conditions

Start by entering every condition you believe is connected to your military service. Mission Rated's guided intake walks you through each one — prompting you to describe symptoms, frequency, severity, and how each condition affects your daily life and ability to work.

Most veterans underreport their conditions because they don't know what qualifies. Mission Rated's Condition Library surfaces related and secondary conditions you may not have considered — like sleep apnea secondary to PTSD, or hip problems secondary to a service-connected knee injury.

  • Guided symptom intake for each condition
  • Secondary condition suggestions
  • In-service event documentation prompts
  • Severity and frequency tracking
Next: Research
01
Condition Intake
PTSDComplete
Lumbar StrainComplete
Sleep ApneaIn Progress
TinnitusNot Started
Suggested secondary condition
Hip Condition (secondary to Lumbar)
02
Research

Understand Your Rating Criteria

For each condition you've logged, Mission Rated pulls the exact VA rating criteria from CFR Title 38 — the federal regulation that governs disability ratings. You'll see precisely what percentage each symptom level is worth and what evidence the VA requires to assign it.

This is the step most veterans skip — and it's why claims get underrated. Knowing the criteria before your C&P exam means you can describe your symptoms in the language the VA uses, and ensure your medical records reflect the right diagnostic thresholds.

  • CFR 38 rating criteria per condition
  • Required evidence checklist
  • C&P exam preparation guide
  • Diagnostic code reference
Next: Calculate
02
Rating Criteria — PTSD (9411)
100%Total occupational and social impairment
70%Occupational and social impairment, deficiencies in most areas
50%Reduced reliability and productivity
30%Occasional decrease in work efficiency
03
Calculate

Run the VA Math

Input your individual ratings and Mission Rated calculates your combined disability percentage using the official VA "whole person" formula — the same math the VA uses. See your combined rating, your effective rating (rounded to the nearest 10%), and your estimated monthly compensation.

The calculator also runs "what if" scenarios: what would your combined rating be if you added a new condition at 10%, 20%, or 30%? This helps you prioritize which conditions to claim and understand the real financial impact of each one.

  • Accurate combined rating calculation
  • Monthly compensation estimate
  • "What if" scenario simulator
  • Dependency status adjustment
Next: Build
03
Combined Rating
70%
$1,663.06 / month
PTSD50%
Lumbar40%
Sleep Apnea30%
Tinnitus10%
Add Knee (20%) →
80% / $1,933.15
04
Build

Assemble Your Evidence

A claim is only as strong as its evidence. Mission Rated's Evidence Builder creates a personalized checklist of every document you need — service treatment records, private medical opinions, buddy statements, and DBQs — and guides you through obtaining each one.

For conditions not documented in your service records, Mission Rated provides nexus letter templates and guidance on working with private physicians to establish the service connection the VA requires. Every document is organized into a submission-ready package.

  • Personalized evidence checklist
  • Nexus letter guidance
  • Buddy statement templates
  • DBQ (Disability Benefits Questionnaire) guide
Next: File
04
Evidence Checklist
DD-214
Service Treatment Records
Private Medical Opinion (PTSD)
Nexus Letter — Lumbar
Buddy Statement (×2)
Sleep Study Results
05
File

Submit With Confidence

When your evidence package is complete, Mission Rated walks you through the submission process step by step — whether you're filing online through VA.gov, by mail, or in person at a regional office. Know exactly what to expect after you submit.

After filing, Mission Rated's Claim Tracker monitors your claim status and explains what each stage means. You'll get notified when your status changes and know exactly what action — if any — is required from you at each step.

  • Step-by-step submission walkthrough
  • Filing method comparison (online, mail, in-person)
  • Post-submission claim tracking
  • Stage-by-stage status explanations
Next: Appeal
05
Claim #2024-1142
Claim ReceivedJun 3
Under ReviewJun 10
Gathering EvidenceJun 24
Preparation for DecisionActive
Decision Ready
06
Appeal

Fight a Denial

A denial isn't the end. Mission Rated's Appeals Navigator walks you through all three appeal lanes under the Appeals Modernization Act — Supplemental Claim, Higher-Level Review, and Board of Veterans' Appeals — and helps you choose the right path based on your situation.

Most successful appeals come down to new evidence or identifying a clear VA error. Mission Rated helps you pinpoint exactly what went wrong with your initial decision and build the strongest possible case for reconsideration.

  • Three-lane appeal comparison
  • New evidence identification
  • Clear error documentation
  • Appeal deadline tracking
06
Appeal Lane Selector
Supplemental Claim4–5 mo
New evidence availableRecommended
Higher-Level Review4–5 mo
Clear VA error
Board of Veterans' Appeals12–24 mo
Complex legal issues

Ready to Start
Step One?

Download Mission Rated free and begin documenting your conditions today.