A VA nexus letter can make or break your disability claim. As a board-certified psychiatrist who’s written hundreds of these critical documents, I’ll show you exactly what makes a nexus letter compelling to VA raters.

What Is a VA Nexus Letter?

A nexus letter is a medical opinion that connects (creates a “nexus” between) your current disability and your military service. It’s written by a qualified medical professional and explains why your condition is “at least as likely as not” (50% or greater probability) related to your service.

Why Nexus Letters Are Critical

The VA requires three elements for a successful claim:

1. Current Diagnosis: Medical evidence of your condition
2. In-Service Event: Something that happened during service
3. Medical Nexus: The connection between #1 and #2

Without a strong nexus letter establishing element #3, even legitimate claims get denied.

What Makes a Strong Nexus Letter?

1. Proper Credentials

Your letter should come from a board-certified physician in the relevant specialty. For mental health claims, that means a psychiatrist or psychologist. The VA gives more weight to specialists than general practitioners.

2. Clear Medical Rationale

The letter must explain the medical reasoning behind the opinion. Generic statements don’t work. It needs specific medical literature, diagnostic criteria, and clinical reasoning.

3. Magic Words That Matter

The VA uses specific legal standards. Your nexus letter must include:

• “At least as likely as not” (50% or greater probability)
• “More likely than not” (greater than 50% probability)
• NOT “possible” or “could be related” (these mean less than 50%)

4. Review of Records

The physician must review your service records, medical records, and any other relevant documentation. The letter should reference specific evidence.

5. Address Negative Evidence

If there’s evidence against your claim, a strong nexus letter addresses it head-on and explains why the positive evidence outweighs it.

Common Nexus Letter Mistakes to Avoid

• Using non-specialists for complex conditions
• Vague language like “may be related”
• No review of service records
• Generic templates without personalization
• Missing the VA’s specific legal language

Types of Nexus Letters We Provide

Direct Service Connection

Links your condition directly to an event, injury, or illness during service.

Secondary Service Connection

Connects a new condition to an already service-connected disability (e.g., depression secondary to chronic pain).

Aggravation

Shows how military service worsened a pre-existing condition beyond natural progression.

The VetNexusMD Difference

Dr. Ronald Lee brings unique qualifications to nexus letter writing:

• Board-certified psychiatrist
• VA-trained physician
• Hundreds of successful nexus letters written
• Deep understanding of VA rating criteria
• Licensed in Massachusetts and Florida

Our Process

1. Free Consultation: We review your case basics
2. Records Review: Comprehensive analysis of your documentation
3. Medical Opinion: Dr. Lee crafts your personalized nexus letter
4. Delivery: You receive your letter within 14 days

Investment and Guarantee

Our nexus letters are $600 per condition, with a one-time $200 records review fee. While we can’t guarantee VA approval (no ethical provider can), we guarantee a thorough, professionally written letter that gives you the best chance of success.

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Important Notice: This content is for informational purposes only. VetNexusMD provides Independent Medical Opinions based on record review. No diagnosis, treatment, or physician-patient relationship is established. All services are provided via teleconsultation with no in-person examinations.