The 5 Reasons Your VA Claim Got Denied (And How to Fix Them)

Feb 08, 2026

Most VA disability claims get denied for 5 fixable reasons. This post breaks down each one and gives you the exact steps to turn your denial into an approval—often in 90 days or less.

You'll learn:

Why 60% of claims fail (missing medical nexus) and how to fix it
The one document that can add $1,800/month to your benefits
What to do if you've already been denied (3 appeal options explained)
How to avoid simple mistakes that kill claims before they start
Real case studies: Veterans who went from denied to 70-100% approved
Who this is for: Veterans who've been denied, are about to file, or are stuck at a lower rating than they deserve.

Time to read: 14 minutes

Let's get started.

You served your country.

You put your life on the line.

You came home with injuries: physical, mental, or both.

You filed your VA disability claim, hoping to get the benefits you earned.

And then...

DENIED.

If you're reading this, you probably know that gut-punch feeling. The frustration. The anger. The sense that the system you fought to protect has turned its back on you.

I get it. I've been there. And I've helped hundreds of veterans just like you turn their denials into approvals.

Here's the good news: Most VA claim denials are fixable.

In fact, the five most common reasons claims get denied are problems you can solve - once you know what they are.

In this post, I'm going to show you:

The #1 reason claims get denied (and it's NOT what you think)
The "missing link" that sinks 60% of all claims
How to turn a denial into an approval in 90 days or less
The one document the VA can't ignore (most vets don't know about it)
Exactly what to do if you've already been denied

Let's dive in.

REASON #1: LACK OF CURRENT DIAGNOSIS

Here's what the VA wants: A formal medical diagnosis from a qualified doctor.

Here's what most veterans give them: A description of symptoms.

See the problem?

You can't just tell the VA, "my back hurts," or "I have nightmares." They need a doctor to say, on paper, "This veteran has chronic lumbar strain" or "This veteran has Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder."

Without that official diagnosis, your claim is dead in the water.

WHY VETERANS MAKE THIS MISTAKE:

Most guys think, "Well, I had this problem in service, so the VA will figure it out." Wrong. The VA doesn't "figure out" anything. They need documentation.

Or they think their service medical records are enough. They're not. The VA wants a CURRENT diagnosis, meaning within the last year or so.

THE FIX:

1. Schedule an appointment with a doctor (VA or private - doesn't matter)

2. Get evaluated for your condition

3. Get a formal diagnosis in writing

4. Submit that diagnosis with your claim

Simple? Yes. But you'd be shocked at how many claims fail at this basic step.

REAL EXAMPLE: John's PTSD Claim

John served in Iraq. He came home with nightmares, anxiety, and couldn't hold down a job. Classic PTSD symptoms.

He filed his claim and described everything he was going through. Denied.

Why? No formal PTSD diagnosis from a doctor.

We sent him to get evaluated. The doctor diagnosed him with PTSD. We refiled. Approved at 70%.

That one piece of paper was worth $1,800 a month for the rest of his life.

REASON #2: NO SERVICE CONNECTION (THE MISSING NEXUS)

This is the #1 reason for VA claims denials.

Listen carefully: The VA needs THREE things to approve your claim:

1. A current diagnosis (we just covered that)

2. Evidence of an in-service event, injury, or illness

3. A MEDICAL LINK connecting #1 and #2

That third one? That's called a "nexus."

And it's where most claims die.

Here's the problem: Veterans assume the VA will "connect the dots." They won't.

You can have a current diagnosis of back pain. You can have service records showing you injured your back in a training accident. But if you don't have a DOCTOR saying, "this back pain is caused by that service injury," the VA will deny you.

They need that medical opinion. In writing. Using specific language.

THE MAGIC PHRASE:

Your doctor needs to say: "It is at least as likely as not (50% or greater probability) that this veteran's [condition] is related to military service."

That phrase "at least as likely as not” is gold. It's the legal standard the VA uses.

Without it, you're guessing. With it, you're giving the VA what they need to approve your claim.

THE FIX:

Get a nexus letter.

This is a letter from a qualified medical professional (MD, DO, PhD) that:

Reviews your service records
Reviews your medical records
Confirms your current diagnosis
States the medical opinion that your condition is service-connected
Provides medical rationale (the "why")

You can get this from your private doctor (if they're willing) or from an Independent Medical Opinion (IMO) provider (typically costs $1,500-$3,000).

Is it worth it? Absolutely.

REAL EXAMPLE: Sarah's Back Injury

Sarah hurt her back during a parachute jump in the Army. She had the service records. She had the current diagnosis of chronic back pain.

Denied. Three times.

Why? No nexus letter.

We provided her with a template for a solid nexus letter that her primary care physician could review and sign. Her doctor reviewed the materials and agreed with the nexus letter, so he signed it and added his credentials.

Cost: $0.00.

Result: Approved at 40%.

Monthly payment: $755.

Annual: $9,060.

Lifetime value (assuming 30 years): $271,800.

That $0.00 nexus letter was the best investment Sarah ever made.

REASON #3: INSUFFICIENT MEDICAL EVIDENCE

The VA wants to see a paper trail.

If you claim you've had back pain since service, but you haven't seen a doctor in 10 years, they're going to question whether it's really that bad.

If you claim PTSD but have no mental health treatment records, they'll wonder if you actually have it.

The VA looks for:

Ongoing treatment records
Consistent symptom reporting
Medical documentation showing the condition persists

Gaps in your medical history hurt your claim.

THE FIX:

Start documenting NOW.

Even if you haven't filed yet, start seeing doctors for your conditions. Get treatment. Build that paper trail.

If you've already filed and been denied, go get evaluated and treated, then refile with the new evidence.

PRO TIP: Use buddy statements.

If you don't have medical records from service, get statements from fellow service members who witnessed your injury or symptoms. These "lay statements" can fill gaps in your evidence.

We'll talk more about buddy statements in a future post, but for now, know this: They work.

REASON #4: INCOMPLETE OR INACCURATE APPLICATIONS

This one's frustrating because it's so preventable.

Simple mistakes that cost veterans thousands:

Missing signatures or dates
Inconsistent information across forms
Not listing all conditions you're claiming
Using the wrong version of a form
Forgetting to submit the required documents

The VA won't call you to fix these. They'll just deny your claim.

THE FIX:

Use a checklist.

Before you submit ANYTHING to the VA:

Double-check all signatures and dates
Make sure information is consistent (dates, names, etc.)
List EVERY condition you're claiming (don't leave anything out)
Use the current version of all forms (check VA.gov)
Include all required supporting documents
Keep copies of EVERYTHING you submit

Better yet, have someone else review your application before you submit it. Fresh eyes catch mistakes.

THE "ONE-SHOT RULE":

Here's why accuracy matters: The VA makes decisions based on what you submit. If you leave something out or make a mistake, you might not get another chance to fix it without going through the appeals process (which can take years).

Get it right the first time.

REASON #5: FAILURE TO PROVE IN-SERVICE EVENT

This is especially tough for conditions that developed gradually.

The VA wants proof that something happened during service that caused your condition.

For a specific injury (like a car accident or training mishap), this is easier - you have incident reports, service medical records, etc.

But what about conditions that developed over time? Hearing loss from years of exposure to loud equipment. Back problems from carrying heavy gear. Mental health issues from cumulative stress.

These are harder to prove.

THE FIX:

Use every piece of evidence you can find:

Service medical records (even if they just mention the problem once)
Your DD-214 (shows your MOS, deployments, etc.)
Buddy statements from fellow service members
Service personnel records
Lay evidence (your own statement describing what happened)

Even if you don't have a specific "incident," you can build a case showing that your service activities caused or contributed to your condition.

SPECIAL CASE: Presumptive Conditions

Some conditions are "presumptive”, meaning the VA automatically assumes they're service-connected if you served in certain locations or time periods.

Examples:

Agent Orange exposure (Vietnam veterans)
Burn pit exposure (Iraq/Afghanistan veterans under the PACT Act)
Radiation exposure (atomic veterans)

If you have a presumptive condition, you DON'T need to prove the in-service event. The VA presumes it happened.

We'll cover presumptive conditions in detail in a future post, but if you served in Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan, or other covered locations, check if your condition qualifies. It could save you a lot of hassle.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU'VE BEEN DENIED

First: Don't panic.

A denial is not the end. It's just the beginning of the appeals process.

You have three options:

1. SUPPLEMENTAL CLAIM (New Evidence)

File a new claim with additional evidence you didn't submit before. This is often the fastest route if you have new medical records, a nexus letter, or other documentation.

2. HIGHER-LEVEL REVIEW (Same Evidence, Different Reviewer)

Ask a senior VA reviewer to look at your claim again. No new evidence allowed, but sometimes a fresh set of eyes catches something the first reviewer missed.

3. BOARD APPEAL (Formal Hearing)

Appeal to the Board of Veterans' Appeals. This can take 1-3 years, but you can present new evidence and even have a hearing with a judge.

Which path is right for you? It depends on your situation.

If you have new evidence (like a nexus letter you didn't have before), go with a Supplemental Claim.

If you think the VA made an error based on the evidence you already submitted, try a Higher-Level Review.

If you've exhausted those options or have a complex case, consider a Board Appeal.

THE ONE-YEAR RULE:

Important: If you file an appeal within one year of your denial, your effective date (the date your benefits start) goes back to your original claim date. That means more retroactive pay.

Don't wait. Act fast.

THE BOTTOM LINE

These five reasons - lack of diagnosis, missing nexus, insufficient evidence, application errors, and failure to prove in-service event - account for the vast majority of VA claim denials.

But here's the thing: They're all fixable.

You don't have to accept a denial. You don't have to give up on the benefits you earned.

You just need to know what the VA is looking for and give it to them.

That's what we do at Veteran Claims Made Easy. We help veterans like you navigate this system, gather the right evidence, and get the ratings you deserve.

Because you've earned these benefits. You put your life on the line for this country. The least we can do is help you get what you're owed.

You've served your country. Now let us serve you.

Semper Fi,

Nicasio Rios

GySgt, USMC Retired

Veteran Claims Made Easy