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Evidence gap checker

The biggest complaint we hear: veterans file before the packet is ready. Check diagnosis, nexus, severity, treatment, lay evidence, and upload readiness for one condition — then fix the holes.

Check my evidenceDraft a statement

Evidence gap checker

Honest checklist for one condition — diagnosis, nexus, severity, treatment, lay evidence, and packet readiness. Educational only; not a VSO or lawyer.

Caused or aggravated by something already service-connected.

Current diagnosis

Do you have a current medical diagnosis for this condition (from VA, private doctor, or specialist)?

VA needs a present disability — symptoms alone rarely carry a rating.

In-service event or primary SC condition

Can you point to an in-service injury/illness/event (or a current service-connected primary condition for a secondary claim)?

Direct claims need service evidence; secondaries need a solid primary.

For secondaries: name the primary SC condition and how it links (meds, biomechanics, mental health cascade, etc.).

Nexus (medical link)

Do you have a medical opinion linking this condition to service or to your primary SC condition (nexus letter / IMO / DBQ opinion)?

The “at least as likely as not” bridge — where most denials happen.

Current severity & functional impact

Do your records describe how bad it is now (flare-ups, ROM, sleep, work limits, mental health symptoms) — not just that it exists?

Ratings turn on how bad it is — frequency, severity, duration, work/life limits.

Treatment / continuity

Is there a recent treatment trail (meds, therapy, PT, specialist follow-ups) showing this is ongoing?

Gaps in care get used against you as “not that bad” or unresolved.

Lay / buddy evidence

Do you have a personal statement and/or buddy statements describing symptoms and functional impact?

People who see you struggle fill gaps medicine never writes down.

Records packet ready to submit

Are your private records, nexus, statements, and relevant VA records organized and ready to upload with the claim?

Great evidence that never gets uploaded still loses.

not readyReadiness score 0%

Not ready — biggest gaps will get you denied

Do not rush this to VA.gov yet. Build diagnosis, service/primary link, and nexus (or severity for increases) first — then come back and re-check.

Pillar breakdown

  • Current diagnosisGap · critical
  • In-service event or primary SC conditionGap · critical
  • Nexus (medical link)Gap · critical
  • Current severity & functional impactGap · important
  • Treatment / continuityGap · nice
  • Lay / buddy evidenceGap · important
  • Records packet ready to submitGap · important

Fix-it action plan

  1. Missing: Current diagnosis

    Get evaluated and documented by a clinician. Ask for the diagnosis in writing (visit notes, specialist letter, or DBQ).

    C&P exam prep →
  2. Missing: In-service event or primary SC condition

    Pull STRs, 214, buddy statements from service, or your rating decision naming the primary SC condition.

    Buddy statement generator →
  3. Missing: Nexus (medical link)

    Ask your treating clinician or an independent examiner for a nexus opinion that cites your records and uses clear “at least as likely as not” language.

    Secondary condition mapper →
  4. Missing: Current severity & functional impact

    Write a symptom log (worst days), get updated exams, and draft a personal statement with concrete functional examples.

    Personal statement generator →
  5. Missing: Lay / buddy evidence

    Write your statement and get 1–2 people who actually observe you (spouse, coworker, battle buddy) to write specifics.

    Buddy statement tools →
  6. Missing: Records packet ready to submit

    Make a simple packet: rating letter, private records, nexus, statements, med list. Label files clearly before VA.gov upload.

    Claims roadmap →
  7. Missing: Treatment / continuity

    Restart or document care. Even a fresh eval plus a plan beats a multi-year silence.

This tool does not file claims, store your answers on a server, or replace an accredited representative. Always verify strategy with a VSO, claims agent, or VA-accredited attorney.

Why evidence gaps kill claims

A VA disability claim is not a vibes contest. Raters look for a current disability, a service (or secondary) link, and enough severity detail to assign a percentage. Skip any of those and you get deferred, denied, or lowballed — then spend a year on appeals that a stronger first packet might have avoided.

This checker is a private, browser-side checklist. It does not replace medical opinions or an accredited VSO. Use it to decide what to gather next, then verify with the claims roadmap, C&P prep, and your representative.

What “good enough” usually includes

  • Current diagnosis in medical records
  • In-service event or a clear primary service-connected condition for secondaries
  • Nexus opinion with “at least as likely as not” language when needed
  • Functional impact written like a human lived it
  • Recent treatment or a fresh evaluation
  • Personal and/or buddy statements with specifics
  • Files organized and ready to upload

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