C-File report versus Strategy Brief
A C-File analysis summarizes readable, successfully processed claims-file material. A Strategy Brief is a separate working PDF built from saved Pathfinder information and available workspace observations. Review the source and coverage notes for each.
Overview
The C-File analysis and Strategy Brief are separate Claim Raven outputs. They may appear in the same Pathfinder phase, but they use different available information and answer different questions. One does not contain, replace, or validate the other. Start with the source and coverage notes Before relying on either output, check what information was available, what finished processing, and what limitations are shown. Neither output is a VA decision, proof that a record collection is complete, or a filing recommendation.
What each output is for
C-File analysis and Strategy Brief have different sources and jobs Output Available sources Use it to review C-File analysis Readable content that successfully completed Claim Raven's C-File processing Summaries of located decisions, exams, and evidence, with page references when available and visible coverage limits Strategy Brief Saved Pathfinder profile, conversation and intake summaries, processing status, and available workspace observations A working overview, condition review, records coverage, action plan, exam-preparation notes, and stated sources and limits A brief can exist before a C-File read is ready Pathfinder can build a current Strategy Brief from the saved information that is available even when a C-File read is pending or unavailable. That makes the brief limited, not complete. Keep the displayed coverage limits with the brief.
Compare the outputs safely
Confirm which output you opened Look for the C-File analysis or Strategy Brief label before reviewing details. You know which source and coverage rules apply to the page or PDF in front of you. Read the coverage statement Note pending, unavailable, partial, unreadable, or missing material instead of assuming the output reviewed everything. Known limits remain visible during review. Trace important statements For a C-File analysis, use a page reference when one is available and compare it with the source record. For a Strategy Brief, compare the statement with the saved Pathfinder information and identified source. Important facts are checked against the material that produced them. Correct your own information Update inaccurate saved details or add bounded context in Pathfinder, then review the current brief again. Do not change an original source record to make it match a summary. Your working brief reflects corrections while original records remain intact.
What neither output proves
That VA has every record you intended to submit That Claim Raven processed every page or every condition in a C-File That a summarized statement is accurate without comparison to its source That an issue is eligible, sufficiently supported, or likely to receive a particular outcome That a package is ready to file or that a particular filing or review lane is right for you
If the C-File analysis and brief do not match
If the C-File analysis and brief do not match A detail appears in one output but not the other Confirm the output type and its generation time Review the displayed source and coverage notes Check whether C-File processing was pending, partial, or unavailable Compare the statement with the original record or saved Pathfinder answer Preserve the difference, correct unsupported saved information, and regenerate or download the current brief when the product offers that action. Do not treat the newer output as proof that the older source was wrong. If a product-generated statement still cannot be traced or corrected, contact support with a synthetic description of the screen and issue. Do not include records, account credentials, or unnecessary personal details.
Official source for requesting your VA claims file
Official source for requesting your VA claims file VA Form 20-10206: Freedom of Information Act or Privacy Act Request https://www.va.gov/forms/20-10206/
Related guidance
Related guidance C-File basics and VA Form 20-10206 /help-center/claims-and-appeals/static-c-file-basics-and-va-form-20-10206 Review and verify your Strategy Brief /help-center/claims-and-appeals/static-review-strategy-brief Use the Evidence Dashboard /help-center/claims-and-appeals/static-use-evidence-dashboard
More information
Return to your saved Pathfinder step Review the output available at your saved step and keep its source and coverage limits visible. Returning does not jump to a specific screen or mark work complete. Return to Pathfinder /guided-program