01 · What is service connection?
Service connection is the VA's way of saying: this condition is linked to your military service, so we'll compensate you for it. Without service connection, there's no monthly check — even with a serious condition.
Three things must be true: (1) a current diagnosis, (2) an in-service event, injury, illness, or exposure, and (3) a medical nexus — a link between #1 and #2. Miss any leg of the stool and the claim falls over.
02 · Primary vs secondary claims
A primary claim says: this condition started in service. A secondary claim says: this condition is caused (or made worse) by a condition that is already service-connected.
Secondary claims are huge — and frequently missed. PTSD causes sleep apnea. Back conditions cause altered gait that wrecks knees and hips. PTSD meds cause GERD and erectile dysfunction. Diabetes causes peripheral neuropathy. If you already have one rating, ask yourself what else it caused.
03 · The evidence VA looks for
Claims are won and lost on the strength of evidence. Gather your service treatment records, DD-214, post-service medical records, prescription history, and lay statements from people who witnessed your service or your symptoms.
Don't just dump documents — organize. Group them by claim. Highlight the relevant passages. A reviewer who has to hunt for your evidence is a reviewer who doesn't find it.
04 · What is a nexus?
A nexus is the medical opinion that links your current condition to your service. It's usually a Nexus Letter from a qualified medical professional.
Magic language: "It is at least as likely as not (50% or greater probability) that the veteran's [condition] is related to / caused by / aggravated by [in-service event or service-connected condition]." The letter needs a clear rationale — the doctor must explain WHY the link exists, citing the records and the medical reasoning.
A strong nexus letter is often the single highest-leverage piece of evidence you can submit.
05 · What is a DBQ?
A DBQ — Disability Benefits Questionnaire — is the form the VA examiner fills out at your C&P exam. It captures the exact data points the rater uses to assign your percentage.
DBQs are public. You can download them from VA.gov, see exactly what the examiner is looking for, and have your own doctor fill one out as private medical evidence. Many successful claims use a private DBQ + nexus letter as a one-two punch.
06 · What happens after you file
Once you submit your claim, VA acknowledges it, gathers records, and schedules any needed C&P (Compensation & Pension) exams. The examiner is not your advocate — be honest, be specific, describe your worst day, not your average day.
Bring a printed list of your symptoms and how they affect work and daily life. Don't minimize. Don't exaggerate. Document. Then wait — average claim processing runs 3–6 months but varies widely.
07 · What to do after a denial (or low rating)
Under the AMA (Appeals Modernization Act), you have three lanes:
Supplemental Claim — you have new and relevant evidence. Higher-Level Review — same evidence, senior reviewer takes a fresh look. Board Appeal — a Veterans Law Judge decides.
You have one year from the decision date to act and keep your effective date. Don't wait — but don't refile blind either. Read the decision carefully, identify what the VA actually said (and didn't say), and pick the right lane.