In this high-value article, VA disability claim expert Brian Reese will reveal and explain his Top 5 Tips for VA Claim Success.
Here’s the deal fellow veterans: don’t attempt to navigate the VA disability process by yourself.
In my experience, you’re better off having an expert in your corner who can help lead you to VA claim victory.
There’s also some specific action steps you can take to help improve the chances of a VA claim approval.
Okay, let’s deep-dive my top tips and strategies for VA disability claim success!
Table of Contents
Top 5 Tips for VA Claim Success
#1. Don’t Do It Alone
The VA claim process can be confusing and frustrating – don’t try to do it all yourself without expert guidance.
It’s important to have someone you can call and lean on for VA claim advice, especially when times get tough.
There will be plenty of moments throughout the journey where you might want to rip your hair out.
It’s calming and comforting to have an expert in your corner who can help you from beginning to end.
Someone in the trenches who is: encouraging, educating, and fighting for you!
#2. Educate Yourself
You need to educate yourself on the VA disability system and process so you can fight a fair fight against the VA.
I think you should have a basic understanding of The Caluza Triangle, the 5 Types of VA Service Connection, the High Value VA Claims List, and 38 CFR Part 4 the Schedule for Rating Disabilities.
Here’s the 4 essential elements of a successful VA claim from the VA Claims Insider Golden Circle:
- #1. Diagnosis of a current disability in a medical record. If yes, go to #2.
- #2. Evidence of an in-service event, injury, disease, or aggravation. If yes, go to #3.
- #3. “Nexus” meaning link or connection between #1 and #2 above via competent medical evidence. If yes, go to #4.
- #4. Severity of symptoms in terms of Frequency (how often), Severity (how bad), and Duration (how long) to include negative impacts to your work/life. This is the final step in The Caluza Triangle and it’s what determines your final VA rating percentage for the disability.
#3. VA Claim Strategy
If you don’t nail your VA claim strategy, the tactics don’t matter and you’re setting yourself up for failure.
Having the right strategy with expert guidance can be the difference between winning and losing your VA disability claim.
For example:
- Did you know it’s better to file a Fully Developed Claim (FDC) online with all the right evidence?
- Do you have any high value VA claims you qualify for? If yes, what are they and what’s the best way to service connect them?
- If you’re trying to increase an existing VA rating, do you have medical evidence to support that your symptoms have worsened and meet the higher rating criteria?
- Do you have potential secondary VA claims for secondary service connection? If yes, do you have a strong Nexus Letter from a private healthcare provider to help prove the link or connection?
#4. Medical Evidence
Medical evidence wins VA claims!
Either you have enough, or you don’t.
Okay Brian, but what medical evidence do I need to support my VA claim?
Here’s some general guidelines to consider:
- 1. If your condition is diagnosed in your Service Treatment Records (STRs), and you’ve continued care and treatment with the VA after leaving the military, you should already have enough medical evidence to file a successful VA claim. Why? Because you have evidence that your condition existed during service and has continued into the present day.
- 2. If your condition was not diagnosed during the military or if you don’t have evidence of symptoms in your STRs, you should get your butt to the doctor and begin building your evidence. You should also consider getting DBQs and/or Nexus Letters from private healthcare providers, especially if you’ve been out of the military for more than one year.
- 3. If you’re filing a simple increase claim, you might want to consider getting a DBQ from a private healthcare provider. DBQs are helpful for getting a VA claim for an increase approved. It’s possible your claim will be awarded in your favor without a C&P exam. Why? Because VA claims with a DBQ are considered “decision ready.” This isn’t always the case, and you still might have to attend a C&P exam.
- 4. If you’re filing a secondary claim, you’ll want to get a Nexus Letter from a private healthcare provider that explains the medical connection between the primary service-connected condition and the secondary non-service-connected condition. This is a mission critical piece of evidence to help you win a secondary VA claim.
- 5. If you’re filing a presumptive claim, such as a condition under the PACT Act, you’ll want to ensure you meet basic eligibility requirements. As long as you qualify for presumptive service connection, your condition is diagnosed in a medical record, it’s on the VA’s presumptive list, and your DD 214 can confirm you served at a qualifying location during the qualifying period, you’re good to go and don’t need additional medical evidence. You don’t need a Nexus Letter for a presumptive condition.
How to Increase Your VA Rating (Even If You Don’t Know Where to Start!)
Fellow Veterans: Want to know what makes my blood boil?
The fact that 87% of us are stuck, frustrated, and underrated by the VA…
That means 87/100 veterans do NOT currently have the VA disability benefits they’ve earned.
And I’m on a MISSION to change it so you and your family get the VA disability benefits you deserve for serving our country.
If you’re ready to increase your VA disability rating, regardless of past denials, watch my brand-new FREE video training:
“VA CLAIM SECRETS: Top 3 Strategies to WIN Your VA Claim, PROVE Service Connection, and INCREASE Your VA Rating in Less Time!”
[Former VA Raters] Reveal SECRET VA Claim Tips & Strategies for Veterans…
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#5. C&P Exam Importance
The Compensation and Pension (C&P) exam is the #1 most important day in the VA disability claims process.
Why?
Because the results of your C&P exam largely determine whether your VA claim will be approved, denied, or deferred.
There’s a tendency for VA claims adjudicators to weigh the medical opinion and merits of your contentions based upon the results of the exam and the opinions of the VA’s C&P examiner.
You must be educated and prepared to ace your C&P exam!
Here’s My Top 10 VA C&P Exam Tips
Tip #1: Read Through Your Military, VA, and Private Medical Records
Familiarize yourself with your entire medical history, including military, VA, and private records. Knowing these details will help you accurately discuss your conditions during the exam and ensure that no important information is overlooked.
Tip #2: Review CFR, Title 38, Part 4, “Schedule for Rating Disabilities”
Understanding the VA’s Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD) helps you know how your conditions are rated. This knowledge can guide you in discussing your symptoms and limitations in a way that aligns with the VA’s criteria for different disability percentages.
Tip #3: Do Not Describe Your Best Day
During your exam, focus on describing your worst days rather than your best. This ensures that the examiner gets a realistic understanding of how your disabilities affect your daily life. Stick to the facts of what a normal day is like for you.
Tip #4: Be “Uncomfortably Vulnerable”
Be honest and open about your symptoms, even if it’s difficult. This level of vulnerability is necessary for the examiner to fully understand the extent of your disabilities.
Tip #5: Explain How Your Disabilities Are Limiting Your Work, Life, and Social Functioning
Clearly articulate how your disabilities impact your ability to work, engage in social activities, and perform daily tasks. This helps the examiner grasp the full extent of your limitations. Remember, your final VA rating will depend on the severity of your symptoms in terms of frequency (how often), severity (how bad), and duration (how long).
Tip #6: Know Your True Story Completely, Plus Any In-Service Incidents or Stressor Events
Be prepared to discuss any incidents during your service that contributed to your current disabilities. Understanding and conveying your full story is crucial for establishing a service connection.
Tip #7: Give the C&P Examiner a Detailed Picture of Your Life Before, During, and After Service
Paint a comprehensive picture of how your life has changed due to your service-related disabilities. This context helps the examiner understand the impact of your conditions over time.
Tip #8: The C&P Examiner is NOT Your Friend; Your Exam Starts in the Parking Lot
Remember that the examiner’s role is to evaluate, not to advocate for you. You aren’t friends and neither of you are there for small talk. Maintain a professional attitude throughout the exam and be prepared from the moment you arrive.
Tip #9: Bring Hard-Copy Documents With You to the C&P Exam
Having physical copies of your medical records, notes, and any other relevant documents can help you reference important details during the exam and ensure nothing is missed.
Tip #10: After Your Exam, Ask Your Accredited VSO to Download Your C&P Exam Results from VBMS
Once your exam is complete, work with your VSO to obtain a copy of your C&P exam results from the Veteran Benefits Management System (VBMS). Reviewing these results can give you insight into how your claim may be rated.
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About the Author
Brian Reese
Brian Reese is a world-renowned VA disability benefits expert and the #1 bestselling author of VA Claim Secrets and You Deserve It. Motivated by his own frustration with the VA claim process, Brian founded VA Claims Insider to help disabled veterans secure their VA disability compensation faster, regardless of their past struggles with the VA. Since 2013, he has positively impacted the lives of over 10 million military, veterans, and their families.
A former active-duty Air Force officer, Brian has extensive experience leading diverse teams in challenging international environments, including a combat tour in Afghanistan in 2011 supporting Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.
Brian is a Distinguished Graduate of Management from the United States Air Force Academy and earned his MBA from Oklahoma State University’s Spears School of Business, where he was a National Honor Scholar, ranking in the top 1% of his class.
