To establish a claim for Soldier-Comp, you need to prove three things to be considered for Veteran Benefits:
1. a disability
2. you were in the military
3. a medica nexus (aka link) between your disability and military service.
There are three basic three pillars that need to be established for filing a job claim as a former-soldier.
A VA representative cannot grant your disability claim if all three of these pillars are not met according to Federal Law found in the Code of Federal Law (CFR) 38.
Here’s what ChatGPT said about it (it’s on point):
The 38 CFR (Code of Federal Regulations) ยง 3.303 outlines the general principles of service connection for veterans seeking disability benefits.
To establish service connection for a VA disability claim, a veteran must generally prove three elements:
1. A current diagnosed disability
*The veteran must have a medically diagnosed condition at the time of the claim or during the appeals process.
2. An in-service event, injury, or illness
*There must be evidence (medical records, lay statements, etc.) of something that happened during service that could have caused or contributed to the condition.
3. A nexus between the current disability and the in-service event
*This is typically established through a medical opinion that it is “at least as likely as not” that the current condition was caused by or aggravated by the in-service event.
When you submit your Veteran claim for disability benefits you should address all three facts on the 526EZ.
- You prove who you are and where you were at (typically a DD Form 214). A simple social security number will probably prove that you were in the military.
- Have a diagnosis, or even a self or buddy-diagnosis, of your current disability or situation.
- Prove that there is a link between your disability and being a soldier. If you can prove the first two elements with paperwork, the VA will find you a doctor to prove the 3rd element (nexus). If you find the right VA-savy doctor, they may just be able to diagnose and connect (nexus) your disability to the military.
It helps to have the right intel to win your Veteran disability claim. Lawyers and organizations that specialize in this knowledge will help you navigate both the medical and federal fields.
Unfortunately, we still need “guides” to navigate bureaucracy and health. Choose your guide wisely.
Here’s the long-form of it if you want to do it yourself. I recommend taking notes as you read:
