The Role of Nexus Letters in Proving VA Disability Claims

Getting your VA disability claim approved will require you to present substantial evidence to establish the existence of a disabling medical condition and prove a connection between your condition and your military service. One of the key pieces of evidence veterans rely on to establish a service connection for their medical condition includes nexus letters. 

What Is a Nexus Letter?

In a VA disability claim, a nexus letter is a written document authored by a qualified healthcare professional that offers the professional’s opinion on the connection between a veteran’s current medical condition and injuries, illnesses, or other events that occurred during a veteran’s military duties. A nexus letter can help veterans establish one of the eligibility criteria for VA disability benefits – proving they have a service-connected health condition. Although the VA does not require veterans to submit nexus letters with their disability benefits applications, including one with a VA disability claim can significantly bolster the strength of the claim by proving a medical expert’s opinion about the connection between the veteran’s condition and their military service. A veteran can obtain a nexus letter from a private physician who has treated or evaluated the veteran or from a medical specialist, if the veteran has a rare or complex medical condition. 

The Importance of Nexus Letters

A veteran must meet several eligibility criteria to qualify for VA disability benefits: a current diagnosis of a medical condition that affects the veteran’s mind or body, an in-service injury, illness, or event, and a medical nexus (connection) between the condition and military service. The VA frequently denies VA disability claims due to the lack of evidence in a veteran’s application establishing a connection between their current condition and military service. As a result, a compelling nexus letter may mean the difference between approval and denial for a VA disability claim. Nexus letters can prove especially important in disability claims involving complex or secondary conditions without a clear connection to military service, such as Gulf War syndrome, post-traumatic stress disorder, or complications from medications administered during military service. 

What Should a Nexus Letter Include?

An effective nexus letter for a VA disability claim should include several elements, such as:

• A description of the author’s professional credentials and experience, and the author’s connection to the veteran (e.g., past or current treating provider or an independent medical evaluator)
• A statement identifying which medical and service records the author reviewed
• Identification of the veteran’s diagnosis or diagnoses
• Explanation of the connection between the veteran’s medical condition and their military service, using medical rationale and references to the veteran’s records and clinical findings
• Language identifying the degree of medical certainty under which the author offers their opinion (e.g., “more likely than not” or “at least as likely as not”)

Tips for Obtaining Nexus Letters

Critical tips for veterans seeking persuasive nexus letters from medical professionals include:

• Ensure the author of your nexus letter thoroughly understands VA disability standards.
• Provide the author with all relevant medical and service records.
• Give the author an honest assessment of your current symptoms.
• Work with an accredited VA disability attorney for help incorporating an effective nexus letter into your disability benefits application.

Contact a VA Disability Lawyer Today

When you need evidence proving that you have a service-connected medical condition, a nexus letter can serve as a key document in establishing your eligibility for VA disability benefits. Contact Veterans Benefits Law Group today for a free consultation with a VA disability attorney to discuss the benefits of a nexus letter if the VA says you do not have a service-connected condition.