Denied! Your VA Disability Claim

Why Veterans Get Denied and How to Fight Back

by Rob Hudson

Many veterans assume their service records and medical history will be enough. Then come the delays, low ratings or an outright denial. Denied! walks through the 20 most common reasons VA disability claims fail, and what you can do about each one. It's free to read.

The key idea

In most cases, the VA doesn't award a rating simply because something is "broken." It rates how that condition affects your ability to work and live your life. Understanding that one idea changes how you prepare your claim, talk to examiners and gather evidence.

The 20 reasons claims get denied

• Incomplete, missing, incorrect or outdated forms
• Not enough medical evidence, or no nexus letter
• Missing supporting "buddy" statements and lay evidence
• Not establishing a clear service connection
• Pre-existing conditions misinterpreted, or aggravation not proven
• Misreading VA diagnostic codes or filing for the wrong rating
• Conflicting information and miscommunication with the VA
• Not keeping copies, missing appeal steps, and not filing for secondary conditions
• Going it alone without representation, and missing changes in VA law

Bonus tips

The book closes with two practical tips: how to really answer when an examiner asks "How are you?", and how to make handwritten cursive service records usable for claims staff.

Who it's for

Veterans filing a first claim, appealing a denial, or seeking an increase, and the family members and advocates helping them.

This guide shares one veteran advocate's experience and is not legal advice. For help with your claim, consider an accredited Veterans Service Officer (VSO), which is free.