The Playbook › Step 2 of 7: Build your evidence
VA decides claims on evidence. The strongest claims are not the longest ones. They are the ones where every piece of evidence answers one of the three questions VA has to decide.
Use this checklist to see what you have, what is missing, and where to get it.
The short version
- Organize evidence around three questions: Do you have it now? Did something happen in service? Are the two connected?
- VA has a legal duty to assist. It must try to get federal records and, with your permission, private ones.
- Do not wait on VA for records you can get yourself. It is usually faster.
- Quality beats volume. A hundred pages of unrelated records helps no one.
On this page
The checklist
1. Proof of your current condition
- A diagnosis from a doctor, VA or private
- Treatment records from the last one to two years
- Test results: imaging, sleep studies, audiograms, lab work
- A completed Disability Benefits Questionnaire, if your doctor is willing
- A list of medications and what they are for
If you have symptoms but no diagnosis, get seen before you file. VA health care, if you are enrolled, is a fine place to start.
2. Proof of what happened in service
- Service treatment records showing complaints, injuries, or treatment
- DD214 and personnel records showing your job, units, deployments, and awards
- Line of duty reports, accident reports, or profiles
- Performance evaluations that show a change
- Buddy statements from people who witnessed the event or its effects
- For exposures, records placing you at the location during the right dates
Not everything gets written down in service. Many service members never go to sick call. If your records are thin, lay statements and your own account carry real weight, especially for combat veterans, whose statements about combat events VA must accept if consistent with their service.
3. Proof of the link
- A nexus letter from a medical professional
- Records showing continuous symptoms since service
- For presumptive conditions, proof of qualifying service is enough. No nexus letter is needed.
- For secondary conditions, a medical opinion linking the new condition to one that is already service connected
4. Proof of how bad it is
Service connection gets you in the door. Severity sets the rating.
- Your own statement describing frequency, duration, and effect on work and daily life
- A symptom log or headache diary
- Statements from a spouse, coworker, or supervisor
- Employment records showing missed work or accommodations
Where to get each record
| Record | Where to get it |
|---|---|
| Service treatment and personnel records | Your VA claims file, milConnect, or the National Personnel Records Center using Standard Form 180 |
| DD214 | milConnect or the National Archives |
| VA medical records | My HealtheVet on VA.gov, using the Blue Button download |
| Private medical records | Ask the provider directly, or authorize VA to request them with VA Forms 21-4142 and 21-4142a |
| Past VA decisions and exams | Your VA claims file |
| Social Security disability records | VA will request these if you tell them you receive SSDI |
Standard claim or Fully Developed Claim?
When you file, you choose how VA handles evidence.
- Fully Developed Claim. You submit everything with the claim and certify there is nothing more to get. VA can move straight to scheduling exams. This is usually faster.
- Standard claim. VA takes on more of the work of gathering records. This takes longer but is the right choice if key records are hard for you to get.
If you choose the Fully Developed route and later send more evidence, VA simply moves the claim to the standard process. There is no penalty.
How to organize what you send
- Put a short cover statement on top listing each condition you are claiming.
- Group evidence by condition.
- Highlight or tab the pages that matter. Do not make the rater hunt.
- Leave out duplicates and records unrelated to the claim.
- Keep a complete copy of everything you submit, with the date.
Common mistakes
- Sending only service records, with nothing showing a current condition
- Sending only current records, with nothing tying the condition to service
- Relying on VA to track down private records, which can add months
- Uploading hundreds of unsorted pages
- Describing only your diagnosis and never how it limits you
Next step
If you have filed before, request your C-file so you can see exactly what VA already has.
Free printable checklist. Everything to gather before you file, what to bring to your C&P exam, and what to check in your decision, on two pages.
Last reviewed October 2026. This guide is general educational information, not legal or medical advice, and this site is not affiliated with the Department of Veterans Affairs. Rules and rates change. Confirm details on VA.gov or with an accredited representative. See our disclaimer and editorial policy.