Win VA Disability Claim

Obtaining the VA disability compensation you deserve is not an easy task. Even if you’re confident that your medical condition results from your military service, you may not get benefits unless compelling evidence supports the connection between the two. A nexus letter by a professional is one of the ideal means of displaying this connection.

What Is A Medical Nexus Letter?

A medical nexus letter defines the extent to which any veteran’s health condition is linked to their service in the military. It is written by a professional healthcare provider and evaluated along with other medical documentation to understand the VA benefits you’re eligible for.

Explaining The Basic Elements Of A Good Nexus

A powerful medical nexus letter is well-researched, compelling, and credible. Nexus letters must be written on the healthcare provider’s letterhead and signed by that doctor to increase credibility.

To boost the chances of a successful VA claim, a nexus letter must include the following:

• A statement ensuring the author has thoroughly reviewed the veteran’s past medical records – such as the veteran's military service treatment records, VA medical records, and DD214 forms.
• Other supporting evidence, including private medical records and testimony from the veteran or the “buddy letter” from someone giving additional information related to the veteran’s disability.
• References to medical research, such as relevant medical journal articles and scientific studies that back the author’s key points
• A powerful conclusion that states, at least, that the VA disability is “at least as likely as not” because of the veteran’s military service

In addition to these elements, your nexus letter needs to be concise. Most people think a longer nexus letter will boost the chances of approval of their benefits claim.

However, that is not the case. VA disability raters review hundreds of such nexus letters per month, so a brief, concise letter will help them make decisions promptly and confidently.

Importance of a Nexus Letter in winning your claim 

When a VA disability ratings specialist evaluates your claim for benefits, they look for irrefutable evidence that your medical condition meets specific criteria like levels, percentages, or similarities to other health conditions.

That criterion determines whether a veteran should receive VA disability compensation. If there's any ambiguity about the veteran’s disability, severity, or link to the service, their claim may be denied.

When you file a VA disability claim, your healthcare provider doesn’t have to submit a nexus letter.

However, it can make a huge difference in getting awarded disability compensation. Your doctor can send the nexus letter with your original application during your claims process or later. However, submitting the nexus letter as early as possible is always better.

Details Of A Medical Nexus Letter

A medical nexus letter can be a robust tool for supporting a veteran to obtain a favourable determination about their VA disability benefits claim.

Generally, the VA understands that the healthcare provider who wrote the nexus letter is a professional, better skilled, more experienced, and has spent enough time discussing your health condition and examining you thoroughly.

Expert opinion often becomes the determining factor when veterans win their claims. Here’s a quick look at a few of the critical points that must be made in a medical nexus letter:

• The nexus letter must be complete and detailed and state only the facts.
• Your healthcare provider must write the nexus letter on their own letterhead.
• The doctor who writes your nexus letter should be an expert and a board-certified medical professional with experience in the particular health problem cited in your claim.
• The doctor who signs your nexus letter should state that they have reviewed every available and relevant medical record. The nexus letter is not worth it if it cannot be perfectly verified.
• Your doctor doesn’t have to include conclusions in the nexus letter. They are not required to say that the veteran’s military event or incident mainly caused the medical condition. Instead, they must say that this event or incident “might have” caused their medical condition or is “likely” to have caused or aggravated it.

It’s essential to notice that additional weight is provided to the doctor who writes the veteran’s nexus letter if they have recently examined the veteran filing the claim.

The Key To Getting A Great Nexus Letter

Not every medical nexus letter is made equal. While some are comprehensive, well-written, and convincing, others are incomplete, disorganised, and weak.

The best way to confirm that your nexus letter is compelling and clear is to get help from a veterans disability case manager immediately. An experienced case manager will swiftly help you get a convincing medical nexus letter from a certified doctor.

Whether you’re struggling with VA disability benefits or want to maximize them, a skilled, qualified VA case manager will help you.