The process of submitting a VA compensation claim has led many Veterans to believe they need to pay thousands of dollars for their claim to be successful. However, filing a claim does not require costly fees. When the VA reviews your claim, the evidence of record must show your claimed disability is related to military service. For many Veterans, the medical evidence to make a favorable VA decision is not shown.
Simply claiming pain without a medical diagnosis is not enough to establish service connection. It is your responsibility to provide or direct the VA to the necessary medical evidence showing a diagnosed disabling condition. Additionally, you must clearly communicate how disabling your condition is during examinations.
Tips for Strengthening Your VA Claim
The following strategies, which I personally used to obtain my own medical evidence, may also help you:
- Collect Medical Evidence with Purpose
- Construct your medical records to clearly document your medical condition and its impact on your daily life. Think of it as putting together a puzzle that helps the VA see the full picture of your disability.
- Ensure your symptoms are documented and directly related to the disability you are claiming.
- In some cases, you may need to provide a nexus letter from a qualified medical professional linking your condition to service.
- Create a Medical History
- Establish a consistent medical history of your complaints and treatments.
- The VA needs to see a diagnosed disability and evidence showing your limitations.
- Attend medical appointments regularly (at least three or more visits, depending on the condition) to build a documented medical history.
- Communicate Your Medical Story
- Effectively communicate your medical symptoms to ensure they are accurately recorded.
- Be clear, concise, and consistent when discussing your symptoms with your healthcare provider.
- Cite your symptoms 2-3 times during each visit to reinforce your medical evidence and ensure your healthcare provider fully understands and records your limitations.
Filing a claim with the VA can appear complicated, but success depends on providing well-documented medical evidence that demonstrates your disabling condition is related to military service. You are the key to building a strong VA claim—without the need to pay thousands of dollars. Should you have questions, contact Zorina Pritchett, Disabled Army Veteran and NAAV Senior Advisor for VA Claims and Benefits nationwide, email: info@naavets.org, office: (202) 465-3296.