The Evidence Brief July 2026: Your VA Claim Evidence Might Be Stronger Than You Think
- Tara Thompson PA-C
- 4 hours ago
- 4 min read
THE EVIDENCE BRIEF by MRPY Professional Services | V2 - July 2026
Empowering lessons from real VA disability benefit claims
Hi Veterans!
Tara here. Let's talk about the curse of being too close when it comes to VA claims...
One of the challenges of working in VA disability is that veterans know their own stories so well, they sometimes assume everyone else will understand too.
And I get it... Many veterans spend years dealing with their conditions. They remember every appointment, every test, every diagnosis, and every setback. The story feels obvious to them.
But the person reviewing your VA disability benefits claim is reading your story for the first time. What seems obvious to veterans may be buried in hundreds of pages of records.
I see this 24/7 when I'm reviewing claims. A lot of veterans are surprised to learn that they already have strong evidence. But the thing is, the evidence has always been there.
The problem is that is hasn't been organized into a clear story.
Think about it: every claim reviewer, medical provider, attorney, and VA employee are working with limited time and limited context. The easier it is for someone to understand your story, the easier it is for them to recognize the strengths of your claim.
The lesson is simple: Good evidence matters. Clear evidence matters too. I hope this month's Evidence Brief brings some value to your VA disability claim.
– Tara Thompson, PA-C and Founder of MRPY Professional Services
This month's case study: Migraines Secondary to Tinnitus
A denial from the VA doesn't mean it's hopeless. It just means you need to reevaluate your claim evidence strategy.
Case basics
What happened?
A veteran filed a claim for migraines secondary to service-connected tinnitus.
The veteran had years of treatment records documenting headaches, but the claim was denied.
Why did it happen?
The file contained substantial evidence, but there was no clear explanation connecting the migraines to the veteran's tinnitus. The records described symptoms but didn't explain the relationship.
What changed the case outcome?
After the denial, new information was added for the appeal:
Neurology treatment records
Documentation of chronic tinnitus
Medical literature
A medical opinion explaining how tinnitus contributed to migraine symptoms
The evidence already existed, but it needed to be organized and explained. This is what was done for the appeal, resulting in a new rating of 50%.
What veterans can learn from this for their own VA disability claim
Strong evidence is great, but it's not always enough. Your evidence needs to be understandable. In a fully developed VA claim, a reviewer should be able to quickly identify:
The condition
The timeline
And the connection
Key takeaway from this case: The best evidence in your file is the evidence someone can easily find and understand.
VA trends we're seeing this month
What we've seen happening at the VA recently...
Veterans underestimate their claim's organization
A lot of denied claims still contain useful evidence. The challenge is that the evidence is often scattered throughout the record.
More VA claims involve multiple conditions
Direct service connection is still important, but secondary claims are growing. These cases often require stronger explanations than direct claims.
Veterans are becoming better educated with claims
More veterans are learning about service connection, DBQs, and nexus opinions. The next challenge is understanding how all those pieces work together.
Bottom line: Evidence is most effective when it is easy to follow.
VA updates this month
News from the VA that veterans should be aware of
The VA launches the Partial Claim Program to help veterans avoid home foreclosure
The VA just launched the Partial Claim Program: a new initiative developed to help veterans keep their homes and avoid foreclosure while facing financial challenges.
The VA expands access to care with new healthcare facilities
The VA's new Federal Electronic Health Record system has rolled out in Ohio and Kentucky, making it easier to transfer medical records and also giving doctors more time with veterans.
Congress cuts funding for Gulf War illness research
Unfortunately, despite recent advancements in clinical studies for Gulf War illness treatments, Congress has slashed funding by 50%.
This month's evidence tip
Something you can enhance your claim with today
Create an Evidence Index
Before submitting records, create a simple one-page guide that lists:
Important diagnoses
Key treatment dates
Imaging studies
Relevant service records
Supporting statements
Think of it as a roadmap for your evidence.
Action Step:
Create a one-page list of the five most important pieces of evidence supporting your claim.
Evidence Takeaway:
The easier your evidence is to navigate, the easier it is to understand.
Questions we're hearing this month
What we've been hearing from veterans in recent weeks regarding VA claims...
Should I submit every medical record I have?
Not necessarily. More records do not automatically create a stronger claim. What you really need are relevant records – they will create a stronger claim.
What's the difference between a nexus letter and a DBQ?
A DBQ documents severity and symptoms. A nexus opinion addresses the connection between conditions. Some claims need both. Some need neither.
Can I win without treatment records from service?
Sometimes. Many successful claims rely on a combination of service records, post-service treatment, lay statements, and medical opinions.
This month's takeaway:
A missing piece of evidence does not always mean a claim cannot be supported.
Ready to strengthen the medical evidence for your VA claim?
We help veterans build strong, credible medical evidence for their VA disability claims. Discover how we make navigating the VA disability system simple:
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