The VA process is meant to provide disabled veterans with the financial stability they need, but unfortunately, nearly one-third of all VA disability claims are denied for one reason or another. For those who are in real need, it’s difficult when they’re left asking, “Why was my VA disability claim denied?” Thankfully, there are many options available for veterans in this situation.

Let’s break down the main reasons for VA disability claim denial and what you can do to appeal them.

Lack of Diagnosis

Proving an actual disability can be difficult on an application or other supplemental claims. Most commonly, veterans cite their exposure in their applications, when instead they should have included the health condition the exposure resulted in. For instance, according to veterans law, for those exposed to Agent Orange, it is not enough to simply put Agent Orange on your application. Instead, you should show how that exposure resulted in your cancer diagnosis or other issue. If you’re not aware of this distinction before applying, it’s likely you’ll have your claim for VA denied and be asking, “Why was my VA disability claim denied?”

VA Claim Denied Not Service-Connected

While many people have health issues after their active duty service, those eligible for VA benefits must be disabled because of their time in service, as other disabilities are covered by Social Security. All disabilities you claim must have their grounds in your service record. For instance, if you suffered the loss of a limb in a car accident after your time of service, you cannot claim that the disability was suffered as a result of your time in active duty. However, if you were put into traumatic situations while in the military and developed PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) in the decades following your service, you may be eligible for VA disability benefits.

Failure to Prove a Nexus

The term “nexus” refers to the link between your diagnosis and the service-related inciting incident. In order to avoid claims denials, you need to show sufficient proof that the disability and your service are related. This can be done by getting and submitting a proper examination and diagnosis from a doctor, especially the C&P exam, where the doctor will provide the VA with a disability rating. Submitting other medical records may help as well. You should also take care to submit the proper documentation to show where you and your doctor believe your disability originated during your active duty. Then, through the other documentation of the application, you should make this connection explicitly clear.

Still Asking, “Why Was My VA Disability Claim Denied?”

If you feel your application was wrongfully denied or you worry you may be using the wrong forms, contact our law firm at Wettermark Keith. We have worked with many VA clients in the past to effectively go through the appeals process, resulting in securing VA benefits for them. Get started today by filling out the free consultation form below.