Download your VA Decision Letters from va.gov (sort of)

[Vync]

You can now download your VA decision letters from va.gov, but there's more to know before getting too excited about it:

I followed the instructions in the video and was able to download my decision letters, even some which went back to the mid-1990s. 

Here are some important things to consider (based on my personal observations and opinions):

1. I recommend disregarding the narrator's advice to no longer need to keep a paper copy of the records. You should always keeping a copy of anything related to a VA claim.
2. The VA did not make it easy to download the decision letters. You must go into any close claim and click a link to take you to the download page. A list of up to 10 decision letters per page will be displayed. Yes, you must click each link individually to download just one decision letter. The VA could have placed the download link in a more convenient location and also provided an option to download all decision letters at once either as a single PDF file or a zip file containing multiple PDF files.
3. The download links contain more than just letters related to claims. I found non-claim related documents such as annual increase letters, direct deposit changes, retroactive payment details, dependency awards, "we are currently working on your claim blah, blah, blah...", 
4. Some decision letters are duplicate copies or other decision letters .
5. Some decision letters did not include your appellate rights documents. Some included the name of the form under "enclosures". Some actually did include the appellate rights documents.
6. The decision letters are incomplete. Most of mine only contained the quick overview page. Most did not include the actual rating decision, evidence, and reasons for decision pages. I can imagine calling Peggy 1-800-827-1000 and trying to talk with the agent for them only to find that most of what you need to know is not in the download.
7. Given the circumstances, if you want a copy of the decision letter which is due to arrive in the mail very soon, get a POA with a VA-certified VSO and ask them to download and print the decision letter. Keep in mind that not all VSO's will do that...

I guess this is a step in the right direction, but the VA still has a lot of improvements to make. I guess something is better than nothing.