diff --git a/docs-internal/ADR-003-pipeline-simplification.md b/docs-internal/ADR-003-pipeline-simplification.md
index ddc31f609..917927eea 100644
--- a/docs-internal/ADR-003-pipeline-simplification.md
+++ b/docs-internal/ADR-003-pipeline-simplification.md
@@ -217,18 +217,18 @@ For the same 4-slice, 3-task milestone:
 
 #### 5. Replace validate-milestone with mechanical verification
 
-**Current:** An LLM session re-reads the ROADMAP and all slice summaries, checks success criteria against delivery evidence, and writes a VALIDATION.md with a verdict. It also inlines UAT-RESULT artifacts from slices with `uat_dispatch` enabled.
+**Current:** An LLM session re-reads the ROADMAP and all slice summaries, checks success criteria against delivery evidence, and writes a VALIDATION.md with a verdict. It also inlines UAT artifacts from slices with `uat_dispatch` enabled.
 
 **New:** The system mechanically aggregates verification results from all tasks and slices. The canonical verification data sources are:
 
 1. **`T##-VERIFY.json`** files (written by `writeVerificationJSON()` in `verification-evidence.ts`) — machine-readable per-task verification results with command, exit code, verdict, duration, and blocking status.
-2. **`S##-UAT-RESULT.md`** files (when `uat_dispatch` is enabled) — human or artifact-driven UAT outcomes.
+2. **`S##-UAT.md`** files (when `uat_dispatch` is enabled) — human or artifact-driven UAT outcomes.
 3. **Task summary frontmatter** `verification_result` field — a human-readable pass/fail string (not structured, used as a secondary signal).
 
-The aggregator reads `T##-VERIFY.json` as the primary source of truth, supplements with UAT-RESULT artifacts, and produces a deterministic VALIDATION.md.
+The aggregator reads `T##-VERIFY.json` as the primary source of truth, supplements with UAT artifacts, and produces a deterministic VALIDATION.md.
 
 **What changes:**
-- A new `aggregateMilestoneVerification()` function collects `T##-VERIFY.json` files and `S##-UAT-RESULT.md` files across all slices.
+- A new `aggregateMilestoneVerification()` function collects `T##-VERIFY.json` files and `S##-UAT.md` files across all slices.
 - The function produces a VALIDATION.md with per-task and per-slice pass/fail status, UAT evidence, and an overall verdict.
 - The LLM-driven validate-milestone session is removed from the default pipeline.
 - The validate-milestone template is retained for explicit dispatch (users who want LLM-driven validation can run `/gsd dispatch validate`).
@@ -254,8 +254,8 @@ async function aggregateMilestoneVerification(base: string, mid: string): Promis
       }
     }
 
-    // Secondary source: S##-UAT-RESULT.md (when uat_dispatch enabled)
-    const uatResultFile = resolveSliceFile(base, mid, slice.id, "UAT-RESULT");
+    // Secondary source: S##-UAT.md (when uat_dispatch enabled)
+    const uatResultFile = resolveSliceFile(base, mid, slice.id, "UAT");
     if (uatResultFile) {
       const uatContent = await loadFile(uatResultFile);
       if (uatContent) uatResults.push({ sliceId: slice.id, content: uatContent });
@@ -476,7 +476,7 @@ async function mechanicalSliceCompletion(base: string, mid: string, sid: string)
 
 #### Mechanical milestone validation
 
-See `aggregateMilestoneVerification()` above (Section 5). Reads `T##-VERIFY.json` and `S##-UAT-RESULT.md` as canonical sources.
+See `aggregateMilestoneVerification()` above (Section 5). Reads `T##-VERIFY.json` and `S##-UAT.md` as canonical sources.
 
 #### Mechanical milestone summary
 
@@ -547,7 +547,7 @@ At current Opus pricing ($15/MTok input, $75/MTok output — as of March 2026),
 | `auto-prompts.ts` — plan-milestone exploration | ~30 | Research instructions merged in |
 | `auto-prompts.ts` — plan-slice reassessment + exploration | ~25 | Reassessment + exploration preamble |
 | `auto-post-unit.ts` — `mechanicalSliceCompletion()` | ~80 | Structured frontmatter aggregation, UAT generation, artifact writes |
-| `auto-verification.ts` — `aggregateMilestoneVerification()` | ~60 | T##-VERIFY.json + UAT-RESULT aggregation |
+| `auto-verification.ts` — `aggregateMilestoneVerification()` | ~60 | T##-VERIFY.json + UAT aggregation |
 | `auto-unit-closeout.ts` — `generateMilestoneSummary()` | ~60 | Mechanical summary generation |
 | **Total added** | **~255** | |
 
@@ -694,7 +694,7 @@ The mechanical summary quality might be insufficient for complex slices.
 13. Implement `mechanicalRequirementsUpdate()` and `appendNewDecisions()`
 
 ### Phase 3: Mechanical milestone validation + completion
-14. Implement `aggregateMilestoneVerification()` reading `T##-VERIFY.json` and `S##-UAT-RESULT.md`
+14. Implement `aggregateMilestoneVerification()` reading `T##-VERIFY.json` and `S##-UAT.md`
 15. Implement `generateMilestoneSummary()` from slice summary aggregation
 16. Wire into post-unit processing: after last slice completion, run mechanical validation + summary
 17. Make reassess-roadmap opt-in via `reassess_after_slice` preference (default: false)
@@ -723,14 +723,14 @@ The mechanical summary quality might be insufficient for complex slices.
 3. ✅ Token savings double-counting (eliminated sessions + re-ingestion) — **fixed**: removed overlap, noted savings are not additive
 4. ✅ Context inlining change (file paths vs inline) underanalyzed — **fixed**: expanded to dedicated risk section with enforcement strategy, phased rollout, and interaction with budget engine
 5. ✅ Budget engine interaction not discussed — **fixed**: addressed in context inlining section
-6. ✅ `aggregateMilestoneVerification()` reads wrong data source — **fixed**: now reads `T##-VERIFY.json` as primary source, supplemented by `S##-UAT-RESULT.md`
+6. ✅ `aggregateMilestoneVerification()` reads wrong data source — **fixed**: now reads `T##-VERIFY.json` as primary source, supplemented by `S##-UAT.md`
 7. ✅ Phase ordering creates heavy intermediate state (Phase 1 without Phase 4) — **fixed**: Phase 1 now includes targeted inlining reduction for planning sessions
 8. ✅ ADR number conflict — **fixed**: confirmed no ADR-003 exists in `docs/` (the referenced file doesn't exist in current git)
 
 **OpenAI Codex** identified 6 issues:
 1. ✅ HIGH: Folding completion into execute-task breaks verification-retry model — **fixed**: moved completion to post-gate mechanical processing instead of executor prompt. Added Alternative D explaining why.
 2. ✅ HIGH: Mechanical validation reads nonexistent `verification_evidence` frontmatter — **fixed**: now reads `T##-VERIFY.json` (canonical machine-readable source from `verification-evidence.ts`)
-3. ✅ HIGH: Replacement validation drops UAT evidence — **fixed**: aggregator now reads both `T##-VERIFY.json` and `S##-UAT-RESULT.md`
+3. ✅ HIGH: Replacement validation drops UAT evidence — **fixed**: aggregator now reads both `T##-VERIFY.json` and `S##-UAT.md`
 4. ✅ HIGH: "State derivation stays unchanged" is false — **fixed**: explicitly documented that `deriveState()` phases are preserved, mechanical processing resolves them synchronously, fallback dispatch rules handle failures
 5. ✅ MEDIUM: Folded completion omits REQUIREMENTS.md and KNOWLEDGE.md updates — **fixed**: mechanical completion handles REQUIREMENTS.md and DECISIONS.md; KNOWLEDGE.md addressed in Risk 5
 6. ✅ MEDIUM: Session and token math inconsistent — **fixed**: complete rederivation with per-slice breakdown, corrected to 30 baseline sessions, noted profile variations
diff --git a/src/resources/extensions/gsd/auto-artifact-paths.ts b/src/resources/extensions/gsd/auto-artifact-paths.ts
index c296ad94a..41b72fe6e 100644
--- a/src/resources/extensions/gsd/auto-artifact-paths.ts
+++ b/src/resources/extensions/gsd/auto-artifact-paths.ts
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ export function resolveExpectedArtifactPath(
     }
     case "run-uat": {
       const dir = resolveSlicePath(base, mid, sid!);
-      return dir ? join(dir, buildSliceFileName(sid!, "UAT-RESULT")) : null;
+      return dir ? join(dir, buildSliceFileName(sid!, "UAT")) : null;
     }
     case "execute-task": {
       const tid = parts[2];
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ export function diagnoseExpectedArtifact(
     case "reassess-roadmap":
       return `${relSliceFile(base, mid!, sid!, "ASSESSMENT")} (roadmap reassessment)`;
     case "run-uat":
-      return `${relSliceFile(base, mid!, sid!, "UAT-RESULT")} (UAT result)`;
+      return `${relSliceFile(base, mid!, sid!, "UAT")} (UAT result)`;
     case "validate-milestone":
       return `${relMilestoneFile(base, mid!, "VALIDATION")} (milestone validation report)`;
     case "complete-milestone":
diff --git a/src/resources/extensions/gsd/auto-dispatch.ts b/src/resources/extensions/gsd/auto-dispatch.ts
index a84739d70..db88b5e7f 100644
--- a/src/resources/extensions/gsd/auto-dispatch.ts
+++ b/src/resources/extensions/gsd/auto-dispatch.ts
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ export const DISPATCH_RULES: DispatchRule[] = [
       }
 
       for (const sliceId of completedSliceIds) {
-        const resultFile = resolveSliceFile(basePath, mid, sliceId, "UAT-RESULT");
+        const resultFile = resolveSliceFile(basePath, mid, sliceId, "UAT");
         if (!resultFile) continue;
         const content = await loadFile(resultFile);
         if (!content) continue;
@@ -196,15 +196,9 @@ export const DISPATCH_RULES: DispatchRule[] = [
         // produce PARTIAL when all automatable checks pass but human-only
         // checks remain — this should not block progression.
         const acceptableVerdicts: string[] = ["pass", "passed"];
-        const uatFile = resolveSliceFile(basePath, mid, sliceId, "UAT");
-        if (uatFile) {
-          const uatContent = await loadFile(uatFile);
-          if (uatContent) {
-            const uatType = extractUatType(uatContent);
-            if (uatType === "mixed" || uatType === "human-experience" || uatType === "live-runtime") {
-              acceptableVerdicts.push("partial");
-            }
-          }
+        const uatType = extractUatType(content);
+        if (uatType === "mixed" || uatType === "human-experience" || uatType === "live-runtime") {
+          acceptableVerdicts.push("partial");
         }
 
         if (verdict && !acceptableVerdicts.includes(verdict)) {
diff --git a/src/resources/extensions/gsd/auto-prompts.ts b/src/resources/extensions/gsd/auto-prompts.ts
index d683102dc..b710154f0 100644
--- a/src/resources/extensions/gsd/auto-prompts.ts
+++ b/src/resources/extensions/gsd/auto-prompts.ts
@@ -772,11 +772,8 @@ export async function checkNeedsRunUat(
         if (!uatFile) return null;
         const uatContent = await loadFile(uatFile);
         if (!uatContent) return null;
-        const uatResultFile = resolveSliceFile(base, mid, sid, "UAT-RESULT");
-        if (uatResultFile) {
-          const hasResult = !!(await loadFile(uatResultFile));
-          if (hasResult) return null;
-        }
+        // If the UAT file already contains a verdict, UAT has been run — skip
+        if (/verdict:\s*[\w-]+/i.test(uatContent)) return null;
         const uatType = extractUatType(uatContent) ?? "artifact-driven";
         return { sliceId: sid, uatType };
       }
@@ -799,11 +796,8 @@ export async function checkNeedsRunUat(
   if (!uatFileFb) return null;
   const uatContentFb = await loadFile(uatFileFb);
   if (!uatContentFb) return null;
-  const uatResultFb = resolveSliceFile(base, mid, uatSid, "UAT-RESULT");
-  if (uatResultFb) {
-    const hasResultFb = !!(await loadFile(uatResultFb));
-    if (hasResultFb) return null;
-  }
+  // If the UAT file already contains a verdict, UAT has been run — skip
+  if (/verdict:\s*[\w-]+/i.test(uatContentFb)) return null;
   const uatTypeFb = extractUatType(uatContentFb) ?? "artifact-driven";
   return { sliceId: uatSid, uatType: uatTypeFb };
 }
@@ -1349,8 +1343,8 @@ export async function buildValidateMilestonePrompt(
     const summaryRel = relSliceFile(base, mid, sid, "SUMMARY");
     inlined.push(await inlineFile(summaryPath, summaryRel, `${sid} Summary`));
 
-    const uatPath = resolveSliceFile(base, mid, sid, "UAT-RESULT");
-    const uatRel = relSliceFile(base, mid, sid, "UAT-RESULT");
+    const uatPath = resolveSliceFile(base, mid, sid, "UAT");
+    const uatRel = relSliceFile(base, mid, sid, "UAT");
     const uatInline = await inlineFileOptional(uatPath, uatRel, `${sid} UAT Result`);
     if (uatInline) inlined.push(uatInline);
   }
@@ -1501,7 +1495,7 @@ export async function buildRunUatPrompt(
 
   const inlinedContext = capPreamble(`## Inlined Context (preloaded — do not re-read these files)\n\n${inlined.join("\n\n---\n\n")}`);
 
-  const uatResultPath = join(base, relSliceFile(base, mid, sliceId, "UAT-RESULT"));
+  const uatResultPath = join(base, relSliceFile(base, mid, sliceId, "UAT"));
   const uatType = extractUatType(uatContent) ?? "artifact-driven";
 
   return loadPrompt("run-uat", {
diff --git a/src/resources/extensions/gsd/auto-recovery.ts b/src/resources/extensions/gsd/auto-recovery.ts
index 740eea825..a03b5887a 100644
--- a/src/resources/extensions/gsd/auto-recovery.ts
+++ b/src/resources/extensions/gsd/auto-recovery.ts
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ export function resolveExpectedArtifactPath(
     }
     case "run-uat": {
       const dir = resolveSlicePath(base, mid, sid!);
-      return dir ? join(dir, buildSliceFileName(sid!, "UAT-RESULT")) : null;
+      return dir ? join(dir, buildSliceFileName(sid!, "UAT")) : null;
     }
     case "execute-task": {
       const tid = parts[2];
@@ -503,7 +503,7 @@ export function diagnoseExpectedArtifact(
     case "reassess-roadmap":
       return `${relSliceFile(base, mid!, sid!, "ASSESSMENT")} (roadmap reassessment)`;
     case "run-uat":
-      return `${relSliceFile(base, mid!, sid!, "UAT-RESULT")} (UAT result)`;
+      return `${relSliceFile(base, mid!, sid!, "UAT")} (UAT result)`;
     case "validate-milestone":
       return `${relMilestoneFile(base, mid!, "VALIDATION")} (milestone validation report)`;
     case "complete-milestone":
diff --git a/src/resources/extensions/gsd/prompts/forensics.md b/src/resources/extensions/gsd/prompts/forensics.md
index 6be348c6e..f576d17c4 100644
--- a/src/resources/extensions/gsd/prompts/forensics.md
+++ b/src/resources/extensions/gsd/prompts/forensics.md
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ GSD extension source code is at: `{{gsdSourceDir}}`
 ├── milestones/{ID}/             — milestone artifacts
 │   ├── {ID}-ROADMAP.md, {ID}-RESEARCH.md, {ID}-CONTEXT.md, {ID}-SUMMARY.md
 │   └── slices/{SID}/            — slice artifacts
-│       ├── {SID}-PLAN.md, {SID}-RESEARCH.md, {SID}-UAT-RESULT.md, {SID}-SUMMARY.md
+│       ├── {SID}-PLAN.md, {SID}-RESEARCH.md, {SID}-UAT.md, {SID}-SUMMARY.md
 │       └── tasks/{TID}-PLAN.md, {TID}-SUMMARY.md
 └── worktrees/{milestoneId}/     — per-milestone worktree with replicated .gsd/
 ```
diff --git a/src/resources/extensions/gsd/tests/auto-recovery.test.ts b/src/resources/extensions/gsd/tests/auto-recovery.test.ts
index 4dc67b702..b533eaca4 100644
--- a/src/resources/extensions/gsd/tests/auto-recovery.test.ts
+++ b/src/resources/extensions/gsd/tests/auto-recovery.test.ts
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ test("resolveExpectedArtifactPath returns correct path for all slice-level types
 
   const uatResult = resolveExpectedArtifactPath("run-uat", "M001/S01", base);
   assert.ok(uatResult);
-  assert.ok(uatResult!.includes("UAT-RESULT"));
+  assert.ok(uatResult!.includes("UAT"));
 });
 
 // ─── diagnoseExpectedArtifact ─────────────────────────────────────────────
diff --git a/src/resources/extensions/gsd/tests/run-uat.test.ts b/src/resources/extensions/gsd/tests/run-uat.test.ts
index cff22ff0e..a6c6be294 100644
--- a/src/resources/extensions/gsd/tests/run-uat.test.ts
+++ b/src/resources/extensions/gsd/tests/run-uat.test.ts
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ test('(k) run-uat prompt template', () => {
   const milestoneId = 'M001';
   const sliceId = 'S01';
   const uatPath = '.gsd/milestones/M001/slices/S01/S01-UAT.md';
-  const uatResultPath = '.gsd/milestones/M001/slices/S01/S01-UAT-RESULT.md';
+  const uatResultPath = '.gsd/milestones/M001/slices/S01/S01-UAT.md';
   const uatType = 'live-runtime';
   const inlinedContext = '<!-- no context -->';
   let promptResult: string | undefined;
@@ -234,7 +234,7 @@ test('(k2) run-uat prompt references gsd_summary_save, not direct write', () =>
     milestoneId: 'M001',
     sliceId: 'S01',
     uatPath: '.gsd/milestones/M001/slices/S01/S01-UAT.md',
-    uatResultPath: '.gsd/milestones/M001/slices/S01/S01-UAT-RESULT.md',
+    uatResultPath: '.gsd/milestones/M001/slices/S01/S01-UAT.md',
     uatType: 'artifact-driven',
     inlinedContext: '<!-- no context -->',
   });
@@ -265,14 +265,13 @@ test('(l) dispatch preconditions via resolveSliceFile', () => {
         'resolveSliceFile(..., "UAT") returns non-null when UAT file exists (dispatch trigger state)',
       );
 
-      const uatResultFilePath = resolveSliceFile(base, 'M001', 'S01', 'UAT-RESULT');
-      assert.deepStrictEqual(
-        uatResultFilePath,
-        null,
-        'resolveSliceFile(..., "UAT-RESULT") returns null when result file missing (dispatch trigger state)',
+      // UAT spec without a verdict line means UAT has not been run yet
+      const rawContent = readFileSync(uatFilePath!, 'utf-8');
+      assert.ok(
+        !/verdict:\s*[\w-]+/i.test(rawContent),
+        'UAT file without verdict indicates UAT has not been run (dispatch trigger state)',
       );
 
-      const rawContent = readFileSync(uatFilePath!, 'utf-8');
       assert.deepStrictEqual(
         extractUatType(rawContent),
         'artifact-driven',
@@ -286,13 +285,18 @@ test('(l) dispatch preconditions via resolveSliceFile', () => {
 test('test block at line 307', () => {
     const base = createFixtureBase();
     try {
-      writeSliceFile(base, 'M001', 'S01', 'UAT', makeUatContent('artifact-driven'));
-      writeSliceFile(base, 'M001', 'S01', 'UAT-RESULT', '# UAT Result\n\nverdict: PASS\n');
+      // Write UAT file with a verdict — simulates completed UAT
+      writeSliceFile(base, 'M001', 'S01', 'UAT', '# UAT Result\n\nverdict: PASS\n');
 
-      const uatResultFilePath = resolveSliceFile(base, 'M001', 'S01', 'UAT-RESULT');
+      const uatFilePath = resolveSliceFile(base, 'M001', 'S01', 'UAT');
       assert.ok(
-        uatResultFilePath !== null,
-        'resolveSliceFile(..., "UAT-RESULT") returns non-null when result file exists (idempotent skip state)',
+        uatFilePath !== null,
+        'resolveSliceFile(..., "UAT") returns non-null when UAT file exists',
+      );
+      const content = readFileSync(uatFilePath!, 'utf-8');
+      assert.ok(
+        /verdict:\s*[\w-]+/i.test(content),
+        'UAT file with verdict indicates UAT has been completed (idempotent skip state)',
       );
     } finally {
       cleanup(base);
@@ -390,7 +394,7 @@ test('(p) run-uat prompt allows PASS when human-only checks remain as NEEDS-HUMA
       milestoneId: 'M001',
       sliceId: 'S01',
       uatPath: '.gsd/milestones/M001/slices/S01/S01-UAT.md',
-      uatResultPath: '.gsd/milestones/M001/slices/S01/S01-UAT-RESULT.md',
+      uatResultPath: '.gsd/milestones/M001/slices/S01/S01-UAT.md',
       uatType: 'mixed',
       inlinedContext: '<!-- no context -->',
     });
@@ -432,7 +436,7 @@ test('(n) stale replay guard', async () => {
       );
 
       writeSliceFile(base, 'M001', 'S01', 'UAT', makeUatContent('artifact-driven'));
-      writeSliceFile(base, 'M001', 'S01', 'UAT-RESULT', '---\nverdict: FAIL\n---\n');
+      writeSliceFile(base, 'M001', 'S01', 'UAT', '---\nverdict: FAIL\n---\n');
 
       const state = {
         activeMilestone: { id: 'M001', title: 'Test roadmap' },
@@ -449,7 +453,7 @@ test('(n) stale replay guard', async () => {
       assert.deepStrictEqual(
         result,
         null,
-        'existing UAT-RESULT with FAIL verdict does not re-dispatch; verdict gate owns blocking',
+        'existing UAT with FAIL verdict does not re-dispatch; verdict gate owns blocking',
       );
     } finally {
       cleanup(base);