#Evidence
20 articles tagged Evidence.
10 Proven Ways to Increase Your VA Disability Rating
Stuck at a lower VA disability rating than your symptoms warrant? Here are 10 legitimate ways to increase your rating — from re-evaluations to secondary conditions to TDIU.
VA Claim Evidence Checklist: What to Submit Up Front
The complete, practical checklist for every VA disability claim — medical evidence, nexus opinions, lay statements, condition-specific documentation, and the dependent paperwork most veterans forget.
DBQ Explained: What's on the Form and Why It Matters
The DBQ is the form that actually drives your VA rating — not the examiner's narrative notes. Here's what's on it, how it maps directly to 38 CFR rating criteria, and what to look for before you walk into your exam.
Independent Medical Opinions (IMOs): When You Need One
Independent Medical Opinions can overturn a bad C&P exam and rescue a claim the VA's own examiner got wrong. Here's exactly when to invest in one, what to look for in a provider, and how to weigh the cost against the potential payoff.
How to Write a VA Nexus Letter (Doctor's Guide)
A nexus letter is the medical opinion that ties everything together. Here's what providers must include — and what kills a nexus letter on review.
VA Buddy Letter Examples (With Templates That Actually Work)
Real-world VA buddy letter examples for PTSD, MST, back injuries, and noise exposure. Includes a fillable structure that meets VA standards.
Why Was My VA Claim Denied? The 7 Most Common Reasons
Most VA claim denials trace back to a small number of fixable issues. Here are the 7 most common reasons and how to address each.
VA Evidence Gathering Stage: What's Happening and How Long It Takes
The Evidence Gathering phase is where most of your VA claim's wait time happens. Here's exactly what the VA is doing and how to speed it up.
VA Knee Pain Claim Guide
How the VA rates knee conditions — limitation of motion, instability, and arthritis can all apply at once, and stacking them correctly is where most of the missed rating value is.
VA Radiculopathy Claim Guide
How to claim radiculopathy as secondary to a service-connected back condition, how the VA rates nerve involvement by severity, and the evidence that documents it clearly.
VA Back Pain Claim Guide
How the VA rates back conditions under the General Rating Formula for the Spine, exactly how range of motion measurement affects your rating, and why radiculopathy is the most commonly missed secondary claim.
VA Hearing Loss Claim Guide
How VA hearing loss claims work, what the audiogram thresholds actually require for service connection, and why so many approved claims still come in at 0%.
VA GERD Claim Guide
How the VA rates GERD, the common secondary claim linking GERD to PTSD medications, and the evidence that separates a 10% rating from a much higher one.
VA Sleep Apnea Claim Guide
How to file a VA sleep apnea claim, the full rating ladder from 0% to 100%, why a CPAP prescription alone generally secures 50%, and the secondary conditions worth claiming alongside it.
VA Migraine Claim Guide
How the VA rates migraines based on prostrating attack frequency, the specific evidence that separates a 10% from a 50% rating, and the common links to PTSD and tinnitus as secondaries.
VA Tinnitus Claim Guide
Step-by-step guide to filing a VA tinnitus claim — the evidence that works, what happens at the C&P exam, why the rating caps at 10%, and the secondary conditions worth pursuing alongside it.
Why VA Claims Get Denied
The most common reasons VA disability claims get denied, why each happens, and the specific appeal path that actually fixes it.
VA Secondary Conditions Explained
What secondary service-connected conditions actually are, how the VA evaluates them, the evidence that wins them, and the most common claims veterans miss entirely.
What Is a Nexus Letter? Plain-English Guide
What a VA nexus letter actually is, exactly when you need one, what separates a strong letter from a weak one, and how the VA weighs it against the C&P exam's own opinion.
VA C&P Exam Tips: How to Prepare and What to Say
Practical, specific tips for preparing for a VA C&P exam, exactly what examiners are evaluating behind the scenes, and the common mistakes that quietly undermine an otherwise strong claim.