VA letters use abbreviations that can make a straightforward issue sound harder than it is. These definitions are a starting point, not a substitute for the regulation or the decision notice governing your case. Follow a term to the relevant Claims Guide chapter when you need the filing steps or evidence strategy.

Claim and evidence terms

  • AOJ: Agency of Original Jurisdiction, usually the VA regional office or other office that made the initial decision. An AOJ CUE revision is different from a Board CUE motion; see CUE.
  • BDD: Benefits Delivery at Discharge, a pre-discharge claim process for eligible service members. See Pre-Discharge and Guard/Reserve Claims.
  • C&P exam: Compensation and Pension examination. VA uses an examination or medical opinion to evaluate a claimed condition; attending is important, but an exam is not automatically evidence that the claim will be granted. See C&P exams.
  • C-file/eFolder: The VBA claims file and electronic record of applications, evidence, examinations, decisions, and correspondence. It is not necessarily every VHA clinical record. See Requesting your C-file.
  • DBQ: Disability Benefits Questionnaire, a standardized questionnaire used to collect clinical findings for a condition. A private DBQ still needs accurate findings and does not guarantee a particular percentage.
  • Favorable finding: A fact VA found in your favor, such as a diagnosis, in-service event, or conceded exposure. It helps define what remains disputed in a review.
  • ITF: Intent to File. It can preserve a potential effective date for a completed claim filed within the allowed period; it is not the completed claim. See Effective Dates.
  • Nexus: The medical or legal connection between a current disability and a qualifying service event, injury, disease, or service-connected condition. A nexus opinion should address the facts and reasoning, not just use a conclusion.
  • STR: Service Treatment Records, medical records created during military service. Personnel records and operational records are separate evidence sources.
  • TERA: Toxic Exposure Risk Activity, an activity or location that may trigger VA's exposure-development duties under the PACT Act. See TERA and toxic exposure.

Rating and review terms

  • AMA: Appeals Modernization Act. The modern review system uses Supplemental Claim, Higher-Level Review, and Board appeal lanes. See Appeal Options.
  • BVA/Board: Board of Veterans' Appeals, where Veterans Law Judges review eligible appeals. “BVA” is commonly used, but VA now often says “the Board.”
  • CUE: Clear and Unmistakable Error, a narrow motion to revise a final decision based on an undebatable, outcome-changing error in the record and law then in effect. New evidence and disagreement over weighing generally do not satisfy CUE.
  • Diagnostic code: The number in the rating schedule used to evaluate a disability. The code is not itself a medical diagnosis; compare it with the applicable criteria in Rating System.
  • Effective date: The date from which an award or change applies. It controls the period considered for payment and can depend on the claim, review, service separation, or evidence history.
  • HLR: Higher-Level Review. A senior reviewer considers the existing record; new evidence is not added to the HLR lane.
  • Supplemental Claim: A review option requiring new and relevant evidence. It is not a generic re-filing of the same packet.
  • TDIU: Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability. It can pay at the 100-percent rate when service-connected disabilities prevent substantially gainful employment, subject to the governing rules. See TDIU.
  • P&T: Permanent and Total. A VA designation that generally means the total level is considered permanent; it does not make every award absolutely immune from future review or reduction.

People, programs, and family benefits

  • MST: Military sexual trauma, a term VA uses for sexual assault or harassment experienced during military service. See MST and mental-health claims.
  • SMC: Special Monthly Compensation, a special compensation rate or add-on for specific severe disabilities, losses, or aid-and-attendance/housebound circumstances. See SMC.
  • VBA: Veterans Benefits Administration, the VA administration handling disability compensation and many other benefits claims.
  • VHA: Veterans Health Administration, the VA health-care system that maintains clinical records and provides treatment. VHA records and the VBA C-file may need separate requests.
  • VSO: Veterans Service Organization. Recognized VSOs generally provide claims help without charging the veteran a fee. See Who Can Help You.
  • DIC: Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, a survivor benefit that may be available to an eligible spouse, child, or parent when a veteran's death meets statutory requirements. See Survivor Benefits.
  • DEA/Chapter 35: Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance for eligible dependents or survivors. Eligibility is separate from adding a dependent for compensation.
  • CHAMPVA: Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs, health coverage for certain eligible dependents and survivors. It is not the same as adding a dependent to a compensation award.

Official sources