VA Claim Status: Why Some Veterans DON’T Get Benefits

Описание: 👉 Want help building a smart VA claim (organized evidence, clear nexus, no missed secondaries)? Go here: ➡ https://link.vetclaims.ai/strategy

Combat wounds aren’t required for VA service connection—and believing that myth is costing Veterans real money. In this step-by-step guide, Lukas breaks down Direct, Secondary, and Presumptive service connection, the “at least as likely as not” standard, and the gotchas that quietly tank ratings. If you’ve got training injuries, non-combat mental health, med side-effects, or exposure histories—this is for you.

You do not need a combat injury to be service-connected for VA disability. This video explains the three paths Veterans can use to qualify and increase compensation:

Direct (Primary): current diagnosis + in-service event/injury/illness + nexus linking them.
Overlooked wins: training injuries, repetitive wear-and-tear (knees/back/neck), non-combat mental health stressors, and line-of-duty incidents (not willful misconduct).

Secondary: conditions caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability.
Examples: knee → gait → hip/back, chronic pain → depression/anxiety/sleep, medication side-effects (GERD, weight gain, ED), TBI → migraines/vertigo, cervical/lumbar → radiculopathy. Avoid pyramiding; claim distinct symptoms.

Presumptive: exposures/locations/timeframes where VA presumes the nexus (e.g., burn pits/PACT Act, Agent Orange, Gulf War-related, certain radiogenic/chronic diseases within a year of separation). You still need a current diagnosis and to meet the service criteria.
You’ll also learn how to use the 50/50 “at least as likely as not” standard, why nexus letters and lay/buddy statements move the needle, how to document baselines for aggravation, and why symptom logs/flare-up tracking can change outcomes.

Live Q&A Wednesdays 7pm CT—subscribe and bring your questions!

Not legal/medical advice.

00:00 – Myth Bust: Combat injuries not required

00:20 – Who I am & why this matters

00:40 – What’s at stake: money, healthcare, time

01:03 – Today’s mission & preview (burn pits story)

01:19 – Direct Service Connection (diagnosis + in-service + nexus)

01:41 – Common direct wins vets overlook (+ evidence beats memory)

02:04 – Nexus letters & research-backed rationale

02:25 – Secondary Service Connection (cause vs aggravation)

03:04 – Aggravation, baselines, & missed secondary chains

03:27 – Med side-effects, pain → MH, PTSD → OSA chains

04:13 – TBI → migraines/vertigo; radiculopathy; scars; no pyramiding

05:32 – Multi-ratings on the knee; how MH is rated (F/S/D + impact)

06:34 – Communicating functional impact; track flare-ups

07:10 – Burn pits story → exposures

07:46 – Presumptives/PACT Act (diagnosis + service criteria)

08:20 – Agent Orange, Gulf War, radiogenic, 1-year chronic diseases

09:36 – Proof of location/time; registries; don’t wait

10:10 – Smart claim strategy: Direct + Secondary + Presumptive

10:31 – Wrap-up & CTA (help + weekly live)

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