Privacy policy

This privacy policy explains how Understand My Policy, Inc. ("we," "us," "our") collects, uses, and shares information when you use UnderstandMyRating at understandmyrating.com (the "service").

Your VA rating decision letter is a sensitive document. It can contain your Social Security number and detailed medical information, and we designed the service with that in mind.

The short version: we collect what we need to run the service, we use trusted providers to process it, we do not use your uploaded documents to train AI models, we do not sell your personal information, and you can ask us to delete your data at any time. You do not need an account to get your free decode.

1. Information we collect

Information you provide:

• Documents you upload: for example, your VA rating decision letter, which we process to explain it, decode the diagnostic codes, and walk through the combined-rating calculation. These may contain sensitive personal and medical information.
• Account information: if you choose to create an account to save or return to your documents, your email address and login credentials, managed through our authentication provider.
• Payment information: processed by our payment provider. We receive transaction details (such as what you purchased and when) but never store your full card number.
• Communications: messages you send us, such as support requests.

Information collected automatically:

• Usage and device information: pages viewed, actions taken in the service, referring pages, browser and device type, and approximate location derived from your IP address. We use an analytics provider to collect this.
• Cookies and similar technologies: used to keep you signed in, remember preferences, and measure usage. You can control cookies through your browser settings; disabling them may limit some features.

Public sources:

• The service is built on public federal data, including the rating schedule in 38 CFR Part 4, the combined-ratings rules in 38 CFR §4.25 and §4.26, VA compensation rates, and VA adjudication procedures. This is public-domain government data, not personal information about you.

2. How we handle your uploaded documents

This is the part that matters most, so we are specific:

• Deletion. Your uploaded document is deleted after processing, unless you choose to save it to an account. If you save it, it stays until you delete it or delete your account.
• Not used for AI training. Your uploaded documents are not used to train AI models.
• Optional redaction. Before you send your letter, you can use our optional redaction helper to black out your Social Security number.
• Encryption. Your documents are encrypted in transit and at rest.
• Processing by AI. To generate explanations, your document content is processed by an AI language model (Claude, provided by Anthropic) through its commercial API, solely to produce your decode, report, or packet.

3. How we use information

We use information to:

• Provide the service: read and explain your letter, decode diagnostic codes, walk through the combined-rating calculation, and produce your report or packet.
• Send transactional email: receipts and account messages.
• Process payments.
• Maintain your optional account and saved documents, if you create one.
• Understand and improve the service: analytics on how features are used and error diagnosis.
• Protect the service: prevent fraud, abuse, and security incidents, and enforce our terms.
• Comply with law.

We do not sell your personal information, we do not use your uploaded documents to train AI models, and we do not use your documents for advertising.

4. How information is shared

We share information only as follows:

• Service providers: companies that help us run the service, including hosting and database infrastructure, authentication, payment processing, transactional email, analytics, and AI document analysis. These providers process information on our behalf under their own contractual obligations.
• Legal reasons: if required by law, subpoena, or legal process, or to protect the rights, safety, or property of users, the public, or us.
• Business transfers: if we are involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, information may be transferred as part of that transaction, subject to this policy.

We do not otherwise share your uploaded documents.

5. Data retention

We retain account information for as long as your account is active. Uploaded documents are deleted after processing unless you save them to an account, in which case they are retained until you delete them or delete your account. When you delete your account, we delete or de-identify the personal information associated with it within a reasonable period, except where we must retain records for legal, tax, or accounting purposes.

6. Security

We use industry-standard measures to protect information, including encryption in transit and at rest, access controls, and reputable infrastructure providers. No system is perfectly secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute security. If we learn of a breach affecting your personal information, we will notify you as required by law.

7. Your choices and rights

• Use without an account: you can get your free decode, and complete a purchase, without creating an account.
• Redact before upload: you can use the optional redaction helper before sending your letter.
• Access and update: you can view and update account information in your account settings.
• Delete: you can delete a saved document, or your entire account, at any time from your account settings, or by emailing us.
• Cookies and analytics: you can limit cookies through your browser.

Depending on where you live, you may have additional rights under state privacy laws, such as the right to know what personal information we have about you, to request deletion, to correct inaccuracies, and to not be discriminated against for exercising these rights. To exercise any of these rights, contact us at the email below. We will verify your request and respond within the time required by applicable law. We do not sell or share personal information as those terms are defined under applicable state privacy laws.

8. Children

The service is intended for adults and is not directed to anyone under 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided us personal information, contact us and we will delete it.

9. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time. If we make material changes, we will post the updated policy with a new effective date and, where appropriate, notify account holders by email.

10. Contact

Understand My Policy, Inc.

support@understandmyrating.com