Part V, Subpart i, Chapter 1, Section AGeneral Information on the Rating Activity

Revised August 8, 2024

V.i.1.A.1.a#Definition: Rating Activity

The rating activity is a group of qualified employees vested with the authority to make formal decisions, called rating decisions , and take other actions on claims that require a rating decision. Important: Fiduciary hub personnel vested with expanded authority may also complete certain incompetency rating decisions. References: For more information on

• categories of claims that require a rating decision, see M21-1, Part V, Subpart i, 1.A.1.b
• the rating decision, see M21-1, Part V, Subpart iv, 1.A, and
• jurisdiction for competency determinations, see M21-1, Part X, Subpart ii, 6.A.1.a.

V.i.1.A.1.b#Specific Issues Requiring a Rating Decision

The rating activity is responsible for decisions on the following major issues relating to entitlement:

• service connection of diseases and injuries
• evaluation of disabilities
• relationship of service-connected (SC) diseases or injuries to causes of death, including suicide
• competency or incompetency
• whether or not a Veteran was insane at the time of the commission of offenses that would otherwise constitute a bar to benefits for character of discharge purposes
• whether a potential beneficiary was insane at the time of a murder, in cases involving a homicide
• permanent incapacity of a child for self-support
• incurrence of additional disability or death under 38 U.S.C. 1151 due to
  • hospital, medical or surgical treatment, or
  • vocational rehabilitation or examination
• if required by the need for retroactive determination for a period prior to July 1, 1973, whether or not a disability incurred or aggravated in peacetime was a direct result of the Veteran being engaged in
  • armed conflict, or
  • extra-hazardous service
• if the Veteran served fewer than 90 days, whether release was due to an SC disability or if, at the time of discharge, the Veteran had an SC disability which would have justified discharge for disability under 38 CFR 3.3
• permanent and total disability in claims for pension, as well as entitlement to housebound or aid and attendance (A&A) benefits under 38 CFR 3.3 and 38 CFR 3.351, and
• entitlement to allowance for
  • A&A if claimed by a surviving spouse or surviving parent, and
  • housebound for surviving spouses in receipt of Dependency and Indemnity Compensation or Survivors Pension in accordance with M21-1, Part XII, Subpart i, 2.B.2.b.

References: For more information on

• a Veteran who was insane at the time of commission of an offense, see M21-1, Part X, Subpart iv, 2.A, and
• the authorization activity’s ability to
  • grant A&A based solely on the claimant being a patient in a nursing home, see M21-1, Part IX, Subpart ii, 1.B.2.a
  • deny a claim if the claimant does not meet one or more of the eligibility factors for a benefit, see
    • M21-1, Part III, Subpart i, 1.A.1.f, and
    • M21-1, Part III, Subpart i, 1.B.3.d, and
  • deny death benefits without a rating decision, see M21-1, Part XI, Subpart ii, 1.1.b.

V.i.1.A.1.c#Rating Activity Leadership

The rating activity operates under the direction of

• a division manager such as a Veterans Service Center Manager, Pension Management Center Manager, or Fiduciary Hub Manager, or
• another designated individual.

V.i.1.A.1.d#Responsibilities of Rating Activity Leadership

Rating activity leadership

• determines which employees will serve as part of the rating activity (to include on temporary detail) to the extent consistent with personnel requirements
• monitors the quality of rating decisions
• determines which members of the rating activity are eligible or ineligible for single-signature authority
• determines which rating issues require a second signature by reason of being special or complex
• establishes suitable controls to ensure that the rating workload is distributed efficiently and equitably, and
• delegates or performs approval/concurrence tasks and case referrals as appropriate.

References: For more information on

• rating decision signature requirements, see M21-1, Part V, Subpart iv, 1.B.7, and
• the quality of rating decisions, see M21-4, Chapter 3, 6, 7, and 8.