The Evidence Brief June 2026: Our new monthly initiative to empower veterans with knowledge
- Tara Thompson PA-C
- 3 minutes ago
- 4 min read
THE EVIDENCE BRIEF by MRPY Professional Services | V1 - June 2026
Empowering lessons from real VA disability benefit claims
This month's opening thoughts
The cost of how we show up...
Hi veterans, Tara here. Earlier this month I attended a VA disability workshop with the same goal everyone else in the room had: to learn, share knowledge, and help veterans move their claims forward.
The presenter was knowledgeable, respectful, and focused on helping veterans navigate a complicated process. Questions were flowing and the discussion was productive... But then something changed.
A government employee strongly disagreed with part of the presentation and responded
by verbally attacking the speaker.
As you can probably imagine, the room's atmosphere shifted right away. Veterans who had been participating got quiet. Others looked uncomfortable. A space that had just felt collaborative moments earlier was now tense.
This person might've had good intentions, but intentions and outcomes aren't always
the same thing. A lot of veterans already hesitate to ask questions. When a learning environment becomes hostile, people stop participating, which creates a loss for everyone.
The lesson I took away had nothing to do with VA regulations or medical evidence... It was a reminder that how we show up matters. The strongest advocates aren't always the loudest voices in the room. Sometimes they're the ones who create an environment where others feel comfortable speaking up.
This month's case study: Sleep Apnea Secondary to PTSD
How one veteran maximized their rating after a denial from the VA.
Case basics
What happened?
A veteran filed a claim for sleep apnea secondary to service-connected PTSD. Both conditions were diagnosed, but the claim was denied.
Why did it happen?
The VA acknowledged the diagnoses, but there wasn't enough evidence to explain how the conditions were medically connected to service.
What changed the case outcome?
After the denial, the appeal for this case included:
A sleep study confirming sleep apnea
PTSD treatment records
A medical opinion explaining the relationship between the conditions
So, the evidence connected the dots rather than simply listing diagnoses. This is how veterans can change the course of their claim's outcome, even after a denial.
What veterans can learn from this for their own VA disability claim
A diagnosis tells the VA what condition exists, but it does not automatically explain why that condition should be service-connected.
A lot of the time, there are multiple risk factors at play. If your treatment records don’t explain how these all interact with the condition that you're trying to connect, then it can often leaves more questions than answers.
Key takeaway from this case study: A successful claim often depends on the evidence explaining how conditions are connected.
VA trends we're seeing this month
What's been going on with the VA recently from our perspective...
Diagnoses without connections
Many veterans focus on proving they have a condition, but the VA often focuses on a different question: Why is it related to service? This is what needs to be proven to the VA in order to get service-connection.
Questions about nexus letters
The most common Q we hear is whether a nexus letter is needed. Sometimes the answer is yes. Sometimes the evidence already establishes service connection. A better Q is: What evidence is missing?
A growing volume of secondary claims
Secondary service connection claims continue to increase. These cases often require clear medical explanations showing how one condition caused or aggravated another.
Bottom line: The strongest claims don't just contain evidence; they tell a complete story.
VA updates this month
News from the VA that veterans should be aware of
Faster claims processing
The VA reports continued improvements in claims processing speed while maintaining approximately 94% decision accuracy.
Women Veteran's Summit
The VA announced its first Women Veterans Enrollment Regional Summit in San Antonio, focused on improving access to benefits and healthcare.
MDMA-assisted therapy trials
The VA launched a new clinical trial evaluating MDMA-assisted therapy for veterans with severe mental health conditions, including PTSD.
Spicer & secondary service connection
Spicer v. McDonough continues to reinforce that a service-connected disability does not need to be the sole cause of another condition for secondary service connection to be considered.
This month's evidence tip
Something you can enhance your claim with today
Build your timeline before you build your claim
One of the most effective ways to strengthen a claim costs nothing.
Create a timeline that answers:
What happened during service?
When did symptoms begin?
When did treatment start?
How has the condition progressed?
How does it affect you today?
Many denied claims contain good evidence, but it's scattered across hundreds of pages
of records. A timeline helps identify gaps and create a clearer story.
Action Step:
Spend 15 minutes this week creating a one-page timeline for your condition.
Evidence Takeaway:
Strong claims are built on a clear story supported by evidence.
Questions we're hearing this month
What we've been hearing from veterans in recent weeks regarding VA claims...
Do I need a nexus letter?
Not always. The key question is whether the evidence already establishes a connection between your condition and service. Focus on identifying what's missing rather than assuming every claim needs a nexus opinion.
Will a gap in treatment hurt my claim?
It can, but not always. A gap in treatment is not necessarily a gap in symptoms. The important thing is explaining the history of the condition.
I have a diagnosis. Why was my claim denied?
A diagnosis answers what condition you have. The VA must still determine whether it is connected to service or another service-connected disability.