Step 3: Gather the Evidence for Your Claim
Your Nexus Letter is an important piece of evidence, but it is usually not the only evidence involved in a disability claim.
Evidence that may be useful
Depending on your particular claim, useful evidence may include:
- Your Nexus Letter
- Relevant private medical records
- Relevant VA medical records
- Service treatment records
- Service personnel records
- Imaging, laboratory results, sleep studies, or other diagnostic testing
- A personal statement
- Statements from people who know about your condition or the circumstances surrounding it
- Evidence concerning an existing service-connected disability if you are filing a secondary claim
- Other records related to the event, injury, exposure, diagnosis, or disability you are claiming
The VA provides a detailed explanation of the evidence it may need for different types of disability claims: VA.gov: Evidence Needed for Your Disability Claim
What about the medical records Nexus Veterans reviewed?
Your Nexus Letter discusses the medical evidence reviewed by the provider, but the letter should not necessarily be treated as a replacement for the underlying medical records.
The VA may already have access to relevant VA medical records and certain federal records.
If important records are held by a private doctor, hospital, specialist, therapist, or other non-VA provider, you can upload the relevant records yourself or authorize the VA to request them.
Upload supporting evidence:
Authorize VA to obtain private medical records:
VA Form 21-4142, Authorization to Disclose Information to VA
The VA may also use VA Form 21-4142a to identify the private medical providers and treatment information involved.
Need help finding your records?