Evidence Recognized by the Department of Veterans Affairs
- Military Entrance Medical Exam: The VA will utilize your entrance medical exam as a starting point to decide the type and severity of your disability claimed. Also, this exam will help to determine whether your disability began prior to, or during, service.
- Military Medical Records: Although the VA will request a copy of your medical and service records from the military, there have been instances where these records have been lost. I highly recommend obtaining a copy of ALL military medical and service records. The VA will utilize these to determine the acceptance or denial of your claim submitted. If they can not obtain them for review, the claim will automatically be denied until located.
- Civilian Medical Records: Whether you were seen during or after your time in the military, all medical care received for your disability is important and needs to be submitted as evidence to support your claim.
- Lay Evidence: Lay evidence is any statement from a family member, friend, employer, etc., to help support your claim of disability. Their statements can help to verify, by observance, how your medical condition affects you.
- Medical Opinion Letter: This letter must be written by a physician to substantiate your claim of disability. Be very careful—the VA wants to see specific words within this letter. It must read: In my medical opinion……Otherwise, they will not accept it with the validity it deserves. Although it is extremely difficult to get a doctor to comply, it is not impossible. Don’t give up! Go to as many physicians as necessary to receive your request. This evidence is a golden egg toward winning your claim.
- Statement from the Veteran: Any and all statements you can submit to the VA to validate how the disability personally affects you will help them gain a perspective of your true condition.
- C&P Exam: Although you do not personally submit this piece of evidence, it is one of the most important factors in determining the disability rating you will receive. This medical exam will be scheduled by the VA, if determined necessary.
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