Mental Health

Depression, generalized anxiety disorder, adjustment disorder, and chronic insomnia are common, and often overlooked, sources of VA disability compensation. They can arise directly from military service or secondary to another service-connected condition such as PTSD, chronic pain, or sleep apnea. The articles below explain how the VA distinguishes one diagnosis from another, what a C&P examiner is trained to ask, and how to document the day-to-day functional impact that actually drives a rating. A physician-reviewed mental health nexus letter puts that evidence and clinical reasoning in front of the rater in one place. Start with whichever guide matches where you are in the claims process.

• What Is a Nexus Letter? A Plain-English Guide From a Physician
• Adjustment Disorder vs Major Depression in Veterans
• Anxiety and Insomnia as Separate VA Claims: The Bidirectional Evidence
• Depression Secondary to Chronic Pain: The Evidence
• Erectile Dysfunction and VA Disability Claims: Proving Service Connection
• Sleep Apnea and Depression: Secondary Claims in Both Directions
• TBI and VA Disability Claims: Proving Service Connection
• Depression and Anxiety Secondary to Tinnitus: VA Secondary Claims
• Generalized Anxiety Disorder VA Claims
• How the VA Differentiates Between Depression and PTSD
• Mental Health C&P Exam Preparation
• Mental Health Denied Claims: How to Appeal
• Social and Occupational Functioning: Documenting Severity
• AUD Secondary to PTSD: the Allen Framework
• Using Psychotherapy Records as Evidence in Your VA Mental Health Claim