How to Prepare Your Records Before Requesting a Nexus Letter
A short checklist of the service and post-service records that make a nexus opinion faster, cleaner, and more defensible.
The single biggest factor in the quality of a nexus letter is the quality of the records the opinion is built on. Here is what tends to matter most — and what you can start gathering today.
Service treatment records (STRs)
Sick call notes, in-service injury reports, physical therapy notes, and separation exams. Even a single entry documenting a complaint during service can anchor a causation analysis.
Post-service medical records
Primary care notes, orthopedic and neurology consults, physical therapy, and imaging reports (MRI, X-ray, EMG/NCS). Continuity of care after separation strengthens the temporal link.
Prior VA decisions and C&P exam reports
If you have been denied before, the prior rating decision and any C&P exam reports tell us exactly what the VA found insufficient — and what a rebuttal-strength opinion needs to address.
What if records are missing?
Missing records are common and rarely fatal. A well-written opinion can rely on lay statements, buddy statements, and reasoned medical inference where records are unavailable — provided the reasoning is transparent.