How An Independent Medical Opinion Can Help You Win Your VA Benefits

VA benefits can sometimes be tough to obtain. This is why veterans evaluations services are sometimes critical for getting the benefits you deserve. 

The most important ones are independent medical opinion or an independent medical examination. Both provide more medical proof about your disability or condition, thus significantly supporting your claim and ensuring you’re a step closer to receiving your VA benefits.

Here’s everything you need to know about these veterans evaluations services.

What Is An Independent Medical Examination?

Independent medical examinations are veterans evaluations services offered by medical experts that aren’t employed by the VA. In other words, they are unbiased opinions on a condition or a disability performed by a third-party contractor.

An independent medical exam is used to collect additional medical evidence of the claimed disability. In turn, this helps the VA make a fair decision.

This report provides an expert opinion on the nature and severity of your condition and determines if it’s service-connected. While the independent medical examination is optional and VA can make a decision without it, they will most likely deny the claim without the evidence. 

What Is An Independent Medical Opinion?

When the VA is looking to make a decision about a veteran’s status, they will first review all the documentation provided. If the board concludes that certain medical issues are left unaddressed or that prior examinations the veteran went through weren’t comprehensive, they’ll demand an independent medical opinion. 

These are provided by medical professionals who specialize in the medical condition outlined in the claim. This is necessary if the claimant is pursuing a service connection to receive VA benefits. 

An independent medical opinion isn’t really an examination - it’s just a review of the existing evidence by an experienced medical professional. 

Once this ‘’review’’ is requested, the veteran will be notified. They will also have 60 days to contest the conclusions after the report is complete and can then produce additional evidence to support their objections.

The medical expert that is offering a medical opinion must be familiar with the claim. They will review the entire medical documentation, including the entire C-file provided in the claim.

When reviewing your service connection, the medical professional will apply a degree of likelihood to your condition. For instance, they may express their opinion such as not likely, more than likely, and highly likely.

Why these types of veterans evaluations services are important lies in the fact that they are performed by experts with competence in your condition. These medical professionals have a better understanding of your disability and can provide an explanation of the underlying causes and the severity of the condition. This is a stark contrast to VA examinations which are conducted by general practitioners.

More importantly, a veteran can ask for these evaluations on their own. This helps support their claim since physicians who perform examinations and reviews are not affiliated with the VA, and as such, can help contest an unfavorable C&P examination.

How Different Are Independent Medical Examinations From Opinions?

As we mentioned briefly, an independent medical examination isn’t just a review of records. You are required to attend a medical examination in person as you will undergo physical testing. While this can be time-consuming, the result is worth it. 

Depending on the circumstances and the information required by VA, one of these veterans evaluations services might be more useful than the other.

For example, if you have issues with the range of motion, a physician will have to examine the ailment in person so a medical examination is clearly a better choice.

If there are any concerns over the changes in the disability over time, an independent medical opinion is more beneficial. 

Is An Independent Medical Opinion The Same As A Nexus Letter?

While both types of documents can be used as evidence to support your claim, they’re slightly different. On the surface, they are similar as both contain evidence-based arguments from physicians who can accurately review the extent of your claims. 

The important distinction between the two is that the Nexus is written by a medical provider who is typically a treating physician in order to establish a connection between your service and your disability.

However, an independent medical opinion is the opinion of a third-party expert and supports your claims.

That is to say you must first establish a service connection or a Nexus. This usually involves distinct stages:

1. Providing proof of military service, as well as aggravation of a condition that occurred during active service.

2. The existence of a diagnosis of the same disease/condition.

3. Linking the disability to the event which happened during active military service.

To fulfill these requirements, a veteran has to go through an examination that shows whether they are disabled and if so, if the disease has a high probability of being aggravated during military service.

How To Get A Nexus Letter Or A Medical Opinion

The best way to go about this is simply to reach out to a physician or a doctor who is open to writing your Nexus letter. Generally, your treating physician or a specialist who treated your condition will be open to doing this.

You then need to provide the medical professional in question with information about the case. It’s recommended you include a detailed breakdown of your symptoms, along with any test results or records you have from prior examinations.

The doctor can use this information to establish a connection between your military service and your current condition. They will then write a letter that details their findings.

Can A Vocational Expert Help?

Once a Nexus is established, you can hire a vocational expert to maximize your benefits. 

For instance, vocational experts at OAS can help you via their veterans evaluations services designed to determine your employability.

We can review your medical records, conduct a vocational diagnostic interview, complete aptitude testing, and do labor market research. This report can determine if you’re unable to secure and sustain employment as a result of your disabilities. 

Ultimately, this can boost your chances of receiving benefits that you earned through hard work and dedication during service.

Call 800-292-1919 to book a consultation and make the first step towards receiving fair VA disability benefits.