Critical
Blue button report
A full summary of your VA medical history, medications, and clinic visits. This is often the single most useful document for linking your service to a current condition.
How to get it:
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Log in to your VA.gov account
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Find your health records section and select the Blue Button or VA medical records report
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Set the date range to cover your entire service and download the PDF
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Critical
Current VA Ratings Letter
Your most recent VA rating decision, showing your existing service-connected conditions and percentages. This tells us your starting point before adding anything new.
How to get it:
Log in to VA.gov, find your Disability Rating page, and download your Benefit Verification Letter (sometimes called your Ratings Letter).
Critical
Claim Decision Letters
Any past approval or denial letters from the VA. If a condition was denied before, this tells us exactly what the VA said was missing, so we can address it directly.
How to get it:
Log in to VA.gov, go to your claim or appeal status, and download the decision letter as a PDF. If you can't find it, VA.gov also lets you request a copy directly.
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Critical
DD214
Your Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty. This confirms your service dates and discharge status.
How to get it:
Check your personal files first, most veterans received one at discharge. If you can't find it, request a free copy through the National Archives at archives.gov/veterans.
Critical
Civilian Medical Records
Records from any non-VA doctors, urgent care visits, or specialists who treated the condition you're claiming.
How to get it:
Contact the medical records department of each provider directly and ask for a digital copy or scanned version.
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Optional, but often helpful
Buddy Statements / Personal Statements
Written statements from you, family, or fellow service members describing an in-service event or your symptoms since. Especially useful when official records are incomplete.
How to get it:
Use VA Form 21-10210 (Lay/Witness Statement), available on VA.gov, or write a personal statement describing the specific incident or condition.
Optional, but often helpful
Other Medical Records
Anything else relevant: imaging reports, hospital records, specialist notes, or physical therapy records.
How to get it:
Contact each provider directly, same process as civilian medical records.
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Still have questions?
If you're not sure what you need, just reach out. We'll walk you through it.
Email us at nexus@nexusletternow.com