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 Symptom Checker: Organize Symptoms Before You File or Appeal

Veterans searching for a VA disability symptom checker are often trying to figure out which reported symptoms might relate to one of the conditions recognized in the VA disability compensation system, and how those symptoms could fit into a claim or appeal. VeteranClaimAid is a claims assistance platform built to help veterans organize that information. It is a planning and documentation tool, not a medical evaluation, and it does not diagnose conditions or predict outcomes.

How the Symptom Matcher Works

The symptom matcher inside VeteranClaimAid lets a veteran enter symptoms they are experiencing and compares them against a list of 97 covered conditions tracked within the platform. The goal is to help a veteran see which categories of conditions may be worth discussing with a medical provider or an accredited representative, so the veteran can decide what to research further or raise during a medical appointment. The tool organizes information a veteran already has; it does not replace a clinical exam or a professional diagnosis.

Turning Symptoms Into an Organized Claim or Appeal

Once a veteran has a sense of which conditions may apply, VeteranClaimAid's claims and appeals writer helps structure that information into draft language a veteran can review, edit, and bring into the official filing process. This drafting tool is meant to help organize notes and summarize details a veteran wants to include, not to submit anything on a veteran's behalf or act as legal representation.

Separately from what the app does, it helps to understand how VA itself structures decision reviews. If a veteran disagrees with a VA decision, VA offers several review paths, including a Supplemental Claim for new and relevant evidence, a Higher-Level Review where no new evidence is submitted, and a Board Appeal reviewed by a Veterans Law Judge [1]. Board Appeals have specific options such as Direct Review, Evidence Submission, and Hearing, each with different timeframes and evidence rules, and a Board Appeal generally must be requested within one year of the decision letter [2]. VA claims also generally require supporting records such as service treatment records, medical evidence, and sometimes lay or buddy statements describing how a condition happened or worsened [3][4].

Nexus Letter Drafting Support

A nexus letter is a document a licensed medical professional writes to describe a possible link between a current condition and an injury, disease, or event during military service. VA evidence guidance notes that original claims generally need medical or lay evidence showing a current condition, an in-service event, and a connection between the two, often supported by a medical opinion [4]. VeteranClaimAid's nexus letter drafting feature can help a veteran organize relevant dates, symptoms, and service history into notes that a veteran can bring to a licensed provider or an accredited VA representative. The app does not write a medical opinion itself and does not replace the licensed professional who signs the letter.

Searchable VHA Facility Locator

VeteranClaimAid also includes a searchable facility locator that veterans can use to look up VHA facility information by location, which can be useful when trying to find a provider to discuss symptoms or request medical records for a claim.

Educational Topics on VA Procedures

The platform includes general educational material explaining how VA claims and appeals processes are generally structured, written to help veterans become more familiar with terminology and typical steps before they begin gathering documents.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the symptom matcher diagnose a medical condition?
No. It organizes symptoms a veteran enters and compares them to listed conditions for informational purposes only; it does not provide a diagnosis.

Can VeteranClaimAid file my claim for me?
No. The platform helps organize drafts and notes; filing is done through official VA channels or with help from an accredited representative.

Who actually writes a nexus letter?
A licensed medical professional writes and signs a nexus letter. VeteranClaimAid can help organize information to bring to that provider or to an accredited representative.

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