Step 1: What is a NEXUS Letter?
– The NEXUS letter is a crucial component of a veteran’s disability claim, establishing the link (nexus) between their current disability and an in-service event.
– It is a document prepared by a licensed medical professional, explaining the service connection of the disability.
– Veterans should overcome fears of seeking medical help, ensuring all details of their condition are communicated for an accurate diagnosis and subsequent nexus letter.
– The medical professional conducts an exam, diagnoses the condition, identifies the initial event causing it, and explains why the veteran may not have sought VA medical attention.
Step 2: How to Get Your NEXUS
– If already being treated by a doctor, obtaining a medical nexus from them is easier as they are familiar with the veteran’s files and history.
– The doctor needs to use VA terminology, different from the concept of “medical certainty” often used, and should be informed about VA terminology to meet the required standards.
– Consider seeing a VA doctor who is accustomed to VA terminology and requirements for nexus letters.
– Veteran Disability Claims Bootcamp program offers assistance from an independent medical team to review documents and create a nexus letter based on the veteran’s conditions.
Step 3: When and What to Submit
– Submit the Nexus letter early in the claims process for better outcomes.
– The purpose is to provide evidence to the government, not to “get around the VA.”
– The doctor’s opinion in the letter should use specific terms for the VA, such as “not likely,” “at least as likely as not,” “more than likely,” or “highly likely.”
– If the doctor is at least 50% certain the condition is service-related, they can use “more than likely.”
– Focus on facts in the letter, ensuring it is brief but complete, with the doctor certified in the relevant health area.
– The letter should express whether the nexus of the condition is “at least as likely as not.”
– Reference recent examinations for added value.
– When confident in the nexus letter, veterans can submit it for review.
Seeking help from VA experts at Veteran Disability Claims Bootcamp is also recommended for additional assistance in forming and reviewing the nexus letter.
This guide aims to assist veterans in navigating the process of obtaining a NEXUS letter, a critical step in their disability compensation claim with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
