Top 5 Reasons Claims Get Denied.

Top 5 Reasons Claims Get Denied

1. No Clear Diagnosis

The VA requires an official medical diagnosis to approve a claim.

Symptoms alone aren’t enough — it must be documented by a provider.

How to fix it: Make sure your condition is listed in your VA or private medical records with a formal diagnosis.

2. No Service Connection

You need to show how your condition is connected to your military service.

Without a clear link, the VA will deny the claim.

How to fix it: A Nexus Letter from a doctor can help make this connection. We provide free templates you can take to your provider.

3. Incomplete or Missing Evidence

If your documentation is unclear or disorganized, the VA might deny your claim by default.

How to fix it: Submit complete records including:

• DD-214

• VA and private medical records

• Service treatment records

• Any prior decisions or denial letters

Label your documents clearly. Organization matters.

4. Wrong Claim Type

Filing the wrong kind of claim can delay or reset your process.

For example, filing a new claim instead of a supplemental one can result in losing your effective date.

How to fix it: Know whether you need an original, increased rating, supplemental, or appeal claim. If you were previously denied, a supplemental claim with new evidence is usually the right path.

5. Missed Secondary or Presumptive Conditions

You may qualify for more than one condition — and not realize it.

If the VA does not have all the relevant information, your rating could fall short or be denied entirely.

How to fix it: Review possible secondary conditions caused by your main disability. Also look into presumptive conditions based on your era or location of service (such as Gulf War or Agent Orange exposure).

Steps to Fix or Avoid Denials

1. Request your denial letter and understand the VA’s reasoning

2. Gather stronger evidence, especially for diagnosis and service connection

3. File a supplemental claim if applicable

4. Organize documents clearly and use strong labels

5. Get help from professionals who understand VA rules and Title 38

How ClaimSmart VA Helps

You can handle this alone — but many veterans get stuck here.

At ClaimSmart VA, we use AI to analyze your records, search for eligible conditions (including secondary and presumptive), and compare them to VA regulations from Title 38.

You receive a detailed report with:

• A list of potential claims

• Estimated disability rating

• Personalized next steps

• Documentation checklist

We manually review every report for accuracy, and back everything with a 14-day money-back guarantee.

No hidden fees. No back-pay percentage. Just help.

Take the Next Step

Do not let another denial stop you from getting the benefits you earned.

Choose the package that fits your needs. We’ll take it from there.

ClaimSmart VA

Veteran-owned. Transparent pricing. Built to serve those who served.