VA Claim Denied With Nexus Letter?
By Telemedica
12/5/2023
If you had a VA claim denied with nexus letter, you may wonder what went wrong.
While nexus letters aren’t required, they frequently help bridge the gap between an award and denial on your VA disability claim. However, they aren’t always the golden ticket to a winning claim.
Receiving a VA claim denial can be discouraging, but we’re here to help.
Today, we’re covering reasons why your VA claim was denied with a nexus letter and your next steps.
Why Was My VA Claim Denied With Nexus Letter?
A Nexus Letter is a powerful tool in supporting a VA disability claim; however, not all nexus letters are created equally, and having one doesn’t guarantee an approved claim.
If you received a VA claim denied with a nexus letter, you should review the decision and ensure your nexus letter is listed in the evidence section.
Next, review the “Reasons for Decision” section to determine the VA’s rationale and reason(s) for the denial.
In addition, certain disabilities are more challenging to service connect than others, regardless of the amount of medical evidence you provide.
For example, many veterans have difficulty service connecting sleep apnea because it’s not always easy to prove your military service caused the condition.
Let’s examine why your VA claim was denied despite providing a nexus letter.
VA Claim Denied With Nexus Letter: 6 Reasons Why
- Lack of credibility
- Conflicting evidence
- Service connection not specified
- Lack of specificity in nexus letter
- Lack of current diagnosis
- Human error on the VA’s side
Three Things Needed to Win a VA Claim
When reviewing your claim, the VA will look for the following three key aspects:
- A Current diagnosis
- Evidence of an in-service event, injury, illness, or aggravation
- A nexus, or link, between the first two via competent medical evidence
If one or more of these aspects are missing from your VA claim, you may end up with a denied claim, despite providing a nexus letter.
What You Can Do Next
You don’t have to think of a denied claim as a closed door, especially if you believe you are entitled to benefits and compensation.
The following are potential next steps to getting the benefits you deserve.
File an Appeal
You have three decision review options If you disagree with the VA and the decision was dated on or after February 19, 2019.
- File a Supplemental Claimif you have new and relevant information the VA didn’t consider before.
- Request a Higher-Level Review if you believe there’s an error with the VA’s decision on your claim.
- Request a Board Appeal if you want a Veterans Law Judge at the Board of Veterans’ Appeals to review your case.
Gather Additional Evidence
You may need additional evidence to back your claim and bolster your case. When filing a VA claim, it’s always best to provide medical evidence with high probative value.
According to M21-1, Adjudication Procedures Manual, evidence has a high probative value if it:
- Makes a matter material to the determination more or less likely, AND
- Has sufficient weight, either by itself or in combination with other evidence, to persuade the decision-maker about a fact.
It’s always best to find doctors who write nexus letters with a background in treating veterans and are familiar with the unique situations they bring.
VA Claim Denied with Nexus Letter?
Seek Additional Help
Our team at Telemedica can help provide you with a high-quality VA nexus letter in 48 hours or less. We offer Nexus Letters based on previous disability conditions related to:
- Direct Service Connections
- Secondary Service Connections
- Presumptive Service Connections
To help write you a winning nexus letter, we’ll need the following pieces of information:
- DD214
- Benefits Summary
- Current diagnosis of medical condition
We also recommend providing the following:
- Blue Button Report
- Personal Statements
- Buddy Letters
- Medical Records
To Wrap Up
While nexus letters can prove vital in winning a VA disability claim, they don’t always secure approval. If you feel stuck, we can help.
You can start the process of winning your VA claim by booking an appointment with one of the licensed providers at Telemedica. Contact us today!