What is the VA combined rating formula?

The VA uses a 'whole person' formula where each rating is applied to your remaining efficiency, not added directly. For example, 50% + 30% = 65%, not 80%.

What are secondary service-connected conditions?

Secondary conditions are disabilities caused or aggravated by your already service-connected conditions. For example, sleep apnea secondary to PTSD, or radiculopathy secondary to a back condition.

What is a nexus letter?

A nexus letter is a medical opinion stating that your condition is 'at least as likely as not' connected to your military service or another service-connected condition.

VA Disability Evidence Checklist: Organizing Your Supporting Documents

Gathering the right paperwork is often one of the most confusing parts of filing or appealing a VA disability claim. This page outlines the general categories of evidence the VA looks for and explains how VeteranClaimAid can help veterans organize their own records before they submit a claim or decision review.

What Evidence Generally Supports a VA Disability Claim

For an original disability claim, documentation generally needs to show three things: a current diagnosed condition, an event, injury, or illness connected to active service, and some link between the two [4]. Supporting documents commonly include separation papers such as a DD214, service treatment records, and medical records such as provider reports, imaging, or lab results [3][4]. Veterans can also submit lay evidence, which is a written statement from the veteran or someone familiar with their condition, such as a buddy statement or a statement in support of claim [4].

For claims involving an increase in an existing rating, current medical evidence showing the condition has worsened is typically requested, and either a medical record or a lay statement may satisfy this requirement [4]. Secondary claims, where a new condition is linked to an already service-connected disability, generally call for evidence showing both the new condition and its relationship to the earlier one [4]. Some presumptive conditions, including certain illnesses tied to specific exposures or service periods, may not require proof of a direct service connection because the law already presumes it [4].

How VeteranClaimAid Can Help Organize This Process

VeteranClaimAid offers a symptom matcher that helps veterans review how their reported symptoms relate to any of the 97 covered conditions in the platform, so they can think through what documentation might be relevant to gather. The claims and appeals writer helps veterans draft and organize written statements, keeping details structured before submission. The platform also includes a searchable VHA Facility Locator so veterans can find nearby VA health facilities, along with educational material explaining general VA procedures in plain language.

Nexus Letter Notes vs. a Medical Opinion

The nexus letter drafting tool within VeteranClaimAid can help a veteran organize personal notes and background information about their condition and service history into an outline. This organizational draft is not a medical opinion and does not establish a link between a condition and military service on its own. Medical records or a formal medical opinion from a qualified health care provider are generally what VA looks for to support this connection [4]. Veterans considering a nexus-related submission may want to discuss their documentation with a licensed medical professional or an accredited VA representative, such as an attorney, claims agent, or Veterans Service Organization representative, who can help review the specifics of a case [2][3].

Appeals and Decision Reviews

If a veteran disagrees with a VA decision, options generally include a Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence, a Higher-Level Review, or a Board Appeal before a Veterans Law Judge [1][2]. Each Board Appeal type—Direct Review, Evidence Submission, or Hearing—has different rules about submitting new evidence and different expected processing goals [2].

FAQ

Does an organized evidence checklist guarantee a claim will be approved?
No. Organizing documentation can make a claim easier to review, but outcomes depend on VA's evaluation of the full record [4].

Can VeteranClaimAid write my nexus letter for me?
The platform can help structure notes and drafts, but a licensed medical professional generally provides the clinical opinion, and an accredited representative can offer additional guidance [2][3].

Where can I find a VA facility near me?
VeteranClaimAid's VHA Facility Locator allows veterans to search for nearby VA health facilities.

Not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Not legal advice.

Sources: [1] Official reference 1; [2] Official reference 2; [3] Official reference 3; [4] Official reference 4