One of the major aspects of developing a disability claim with the VA is gathering and submitting relevant evidence to help support it.
The VA has what is called a duty to assist, however, it can be extremely beneficial to also gather your own evidence during the claims process.
By submitting various forms of evidence, you provide the VA with more information and different angles for them to view your case. The type of evidence you should consider submitting will depend greatly on the disabilities that you are experiencing and at what step of the process you are at.
Types of Evidence
Service Records/Service Medical Records
When trying to initially get your claim service connected, you have to show an in-service event that led to your disability. The easiest way to prove this in-service event is with your service records and medical records, if the event is documented.
Whether it is a physical injury, or a mental one, having it documented in your service records can be a huge stress reliever when it comes to managing your VA claim. If the in-service event is not documented in your service record, don’t give up on your claim! There are other pieces of evidence that can be used to help prove your claim.
Service records can also be beneficial when you need to prove you were in a certain location during a specific time period.
For example, for the VA’s presumptive illnesses, you may need to show that you were in Vietnam or Thailand between 1962 and 1975, or that you were stationed at Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987, or even possibly that you served in the Southwest Asia Theater during the Gulf War.
Your service record should contain any documents that show what units you were assigned to and the location of each. These documents can include, but are not limited to, orders, travel vouchers, re-enlistment paperwork, and awards.
Expert Medical Opinions
Medical opinions can be useful, whether you are trying to show service connection for a disability, or if you are requesting an increased rating. Medical opinions allow for an outside doctor to review your claims file and meet with you to discuss your disabilities, symptoms, and the limitations you suffer because of it.
They can provide the VA with a detailed medical account to show diagnosis and severity.
Employment Information
When filing for increased compensation based on unemployability, it is required to disclose your employers of the last five years that you actually worked.
By giving the VA the employer’s name and address, it allows them to send the employer a form to verify when you worked there, your total income earned, the type of work you did, and anytime you lost due to illnesses.
Basically, they are verifying all of the information that you included on the form 21-8940, but they want to hear it from the employer.
You can expedite this step by sending your previous employers a form 21-4192 when you first file for individual unemployability.
Buddy Statements
Buddy statements can be helpful at any point in your process with the VA. If you are trying to get service connected or receive a higher rating, a buddy statement can prove to be your best piece of evidence.
Generally, buddy statements will come from close family members or friends who have witnessed your disabilities and the change they have caused in your life.
Buddy statements can also come from fellow service members, and can be beneficial if you are trying to prove a specific location or an event in service. They can help to corroborate the facts to the VA and provide an additional outlook on your situation.
Deck Logs
Deck logs can be vital to a Navy veteran’s claim, especially when they need to show that they were part of the Brown Water Navy, serving within the inland waterways of Vietnam.
For these veterans, the deck logs for their ship during the time they were deployed to Vietnam can be requested and used to show on what days their ship was inland and what specific bay or waterway they were in.
Deck logs can also be used to help prove a stressor that may have occurred on board on the ship.
For example, if there was an active shooter on the ship and a veteran developed PTSD and is now trying to get it service connected, the deck logs can be used to prove the incident occurred and provide the details of the situation.
Dependent Benefits
If you are trying to obtain additional compensation for your dependents, there is also evidence required for these benefits to be granted. When you file for dependents with the VA, you must complete a form 21-686c.
With this form, you list any current and prior marriages, as well any prior marriages of your spouse. You also list any children who may qualify for benefits.
To prove you have a spouse, you may be required to submit your marriage certificate and any prior divorce decrees.
To claim children, you may be required to submit their birth certificate, so it is helpful to know where these documents are and have them ready to avoid further delay with the VA.
