Hypertension Secondary to PTSD: VA Claims Guide
Many veterans living with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) also develop high blood pressure, and the connection between the two conditions is well-documented in medical literature. If your PTSD is already service-connected, you may be able to file a VA secondary claim for hypertension, receiving disability compensation for both conditions. The short answer: yes, hypertension can […]
Migraines Secondary to PTSD: How VA Claims Work
If you have service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and have since developed migraines, you may be able to file migraines as a secondary condition on your VA disability claim. This matters because a secondary condition is rated and compensated on its own, but it needs its own supporting evidence. Under 38 CFR 3.310, a secondary […]
GERD Secondary to PTSD: How VA Claims Work
If you have service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and have since developed gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), you may be able to file GERD as a secondary condition on your VA disability claim. This matters because secondary conditions are rated and compensated separately, but they require their own evidence, not just a mention in your PTSD […]
C&P Exam for PTSD: What Veterans Should Know
If you’re filing a VA disability claim for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a mental health condition that can develop after a life-threatening or deeply distressing event, you’ll likely be scheduled for a Compensation and Pension exam (C&P exam), the evaluation the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) uses to assess your condition. For many veterans, […]
What Is a C&P Exam? What to Expect at Your VA Exam
If you’ve filed a disability claim with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), you’ve probably heard the term “C&P exam” and wondered what it actually involves. A Compensation and Pension exam (C&P exam) is a medical evaluation the VA uses to assess the nature and severity of a condition connected to your military service, and […]
What Are VA Secondary Conditions? A Veteran’s Guide
If you’re already receiving VA disability compensation for one condition and a second health problem has developed because of it, you may be dealing with a secondary condition. It’s more common than most veterans realize. Understanding how secondary conditions work can mean the difference between an incomplete claim and one that reflects the full scope […]
PTSD DBQ: What Veterans Need to Know
A PTSD DBQ is the Disability Benefits Questionnaire that documents post-traumatic stress disorder for a VA disability claim. Here’s the part most veterans don’t find out until late in the process: there are two versions, and only one of them is available to the public. The Initial PTSD questionnaire is restricted, which means a private […]
VA DBQ: What It Is and How to Use One
A VA DBQ, or Disability Benefits Questionnaire, is a standardized medical form that records how severe a specific condition is, using the same criteria VA raters use to assign a disability rating. If you’re filing a disability claim or asking for a rating increase, you’ve probably seen the term and wondered whether you need one. […]
Can Any Doctor Write a Nexus Letter?
Mostly yes, with one important qualification. The VA doesn’t maintain a list of approved nexus letter doctors, and there’s no special credential a provider needs to earn. What the regulation requires is that the opinion come from someone qualified to give it for your specific condition. Whether the letter then carries weight is a separate […]
Can I Write My Own Nexus Letter?
No. A nexus letter is a medical opinion, and the VA only treats it as one when it comes from a provider qualified to give medical opinions. What you write yourself is lay evidence, which is a different category with different rules and a different job in your claim. That distinction is worth understanding, because your […]