Our Process

Built Around Evidence, Not Guesswork

Every VA claim or appeal is a legal proceeding with specific evidentiary requirements. The VA is required to grant claims that are supported by law and evidence — but it is not required to build your case for you. We work methodically through each element of entitlement to give the rating authority everything it needs to grant the claim at the correct rating, without gaps that invite a denial.

Our process has four stages. Every case moves through all four, regardless of claim type.

Step 01 — Intake

We start by listening. In the intake conversation we gather your service history, medical history, and the full picture of what you have already filed with the VA. We review any prior decisions, rating sheets, and records you can provide at the outset.

From there we assess the legal theory for each potential claim — what law and regulation applies, what the elements of entitlement are, and what evidence is currently available versus what needs to be developed. This produces a clear picture of what can be filed now and what needs more work before submission.

• Service history and period-of-service review
• Review of prior VA decisions and rating sheets
• Assessment of available medical and service records
• Legal theory mapping for each potential condition
• Identification of deadlines and pending actions

Step 02 — Evidence Plan

After intake we build a written evidence plan. This identifies every element of entitlement for each condition, maps the evidence that currently supports each element, and flags every gap that needs to be filled before submission.

Common evidence gaps include missing nexus opinions (the link between a condition and service), inadequate medical documentation of current disability, and missing or incomplete service records. We identify what additional evidence is needed and work with you to obtain it before filing — whether that means coordinating with private physicians, preparing lay statements, or requesting records through the appropriate channels.

• Element-by-element analysis of each claim under the applicable rating criteria
• Identification of nexus gaps and available presumptive service connection theories
• Strategy for private medical opinions, nexus letters, and buddy statements
• Service record requests through the National Personnel Records Center and other sources
• Review of Social Security records, private treatment records, and other corroborating evidence

Step 03 — Submission

We do not file claims speculatively or before the evidence is ready. When the claim package is complete, we prepare all required VA forms, organize the supporting evidence into a coherent, labeled submission, and file through the appropriate channel — either directly to the VA Regional Office, the Board of Veterans' Appeals, or through the applicable AMA lane.

Every submission includes a written argument where appropriate — explaining the theory of entitlement, citing the applicable law and regulation, and connecting the evidence to each element the rater must resolve in your favor. We do not rely on the rater to draw the connections; we draw them explicitly.

• Preparation of all required VA forms (21-526EZ, 10182, 20-0996, and others as applicable)
• Organized, tabbed evidence package with a cover argument where warranted
• Filing through the correct lane: Supplemental Claim, Higher-Level Review, or BVA
• Tracking and confirmation of receipt

Step 04 — Follow-Through

Filing is not the end of the process. After submission we monitor the claim's progress in the VA system, respond promptly to any VA requests for additional information or examinations, and prepare you for Compensation and Pension (C&P) exams when they are scheduled.

If the decision is unfavorable, we analyze the rating decision to identify what went wrong and advise on the best path forward — whether that is a Supplemental Claim with new evidence, a Higher-Level Review targeting a specific error, or a direct appeal to the Board of Veterans' Appeals. We do not consider the representation complete until you have an outcome you can accept or we have exhausted the options available under law.

• Post-submission monitoring and status tracking
• C&P exam preparation — what to expect, what to say, what to document
• Response to VA development letters and requests for information
• Post-decision analysis and appeal recommendation
• AMA appeal preparation and filing if needed