Navigating the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) claims process is challenging even under the best circumstances, but recent trends show an increase in poor-quality decisions from VA Regional Offices (VARO). Veterans seeking service connection or increased ratings often find themselves frustrated by denials, lengthy delays, and repeated requests for evidence. Understanding the most common issues can empower veterans and their advocates to respond strategically—and improve the odds of obtaining deserved benefits.
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1. Disregard for Independent Medical Nexus Opinions
A strong, well-supported independent medical opinion (often called a “nexus letter”) can make or break a VA claim. VA regulations stipulate that when positive and negative medical evidence about a claim are of equal weight, veterans must be given the benefit of the doubt. However, Regional Offices increasingly ignore credible independent nexus opinions, refusing to acknowledge them when favorable to the veteran.