Do you know how to gather and submit the strongest evidence to support your VA disability claim?
Many Veterans don’t.
Recently, I spoke with a claims processor at a major VA Regional Office—someone genuinely dedicated to doing their job right. We discussed the types of evidence used in VA claims, and I asked: when deciding a claim, which holds more weight—lay (personal) evidence or medical evidence?
The answer was insightful:
“There’s definitely a ranking of evidence. Medical evidence often carries more influence since doctors have professional expertise. But when medical evidence is missing or incomplete, well-documented lay evidence can be more important. The real priority is that the evidence must be competent, credible, and relevant. That’s what counts the most.”
This reveals why so many Veterans struggle with their claims. Yes, the VA system can be frustrating and complicated, but the biggest hurdle is this:
Do you have the strongest possible evidence to support your case?
Are You Just Dumping Paper on the VA and Hoping for the Best?
I frequently talk with Veterans who are overwhelmed by the claims process. Too often, they just send piles of documents to the VA and expect the staff to sort through and find what matters. When they don’t get a response, they send even more papers—sometimes the same stuff again.
I call this “giving the VA a haystack and getting mad when they can’t find the needle.”
But this isn’t the Veteran’s fault. No one really teaches them how to organize and submit powerful evidence properly.
Think about it: mechanics teach you how to check your tires; dentists teach you how to keep your teeth healthy. But who teaches Veterans how to submit winning evidence?
Sadly, few VA representatives or Veteran service organizations provide clear guidance on this. And the system itself is full of confusing rules, court decisions, and legal jargon that only add to the frustration.
How to Submit Stronger Evidence — Four Key Principles
I use four core principles to help Veterans submit better evidence, and they work. They’ve helped Veterans win claims quickly—even in a matter of weeks or months.
Here’s what I recommend:
1. Know What’s In Your VA Claims File (C-File)
You can’t fix a problem if you don’t know what’s going on. Your C-File holds all your claim documents and medical records the VA has. Getting a copy and reviewing it carefully is essential.
2. Don’t Overwhelm the VA with Unorganized Evidence
Sending a mountain of documents that look the same only confuses VA raters. Learn what’s missing from your file, and submit clear, relevant evidence that fills those gaps. Make it easy for the decision-makers to see your case.
3. Build Your Claim on Four Strong Pillars
Think of your claim like a building supported by four pillars. Each pillar needs solid evidence. The stronger and clearer your evidence, the better your chance of success.
4. Use “5-Star” Evidence
What’s “5-Star” evidence? It’s evidence that’s:
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Competent: Comes from someone with personal knowledge or proper expertise.
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Credible: Believable, unbiased, and consistent with other evidence.
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Material, Probative, and Relevant: Directly related to your claim and helpful in proving it.
Lay evidence (your personal statements, buddy statements) and medical evidence (doctor’s reports, medical records) both matter. They work best when combined effectively.
What Is “5-Star Evidence”?
“5-Star Evidence” meets all these criteria:
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Competent: The person providing evidence has direct knowledge or expertise.
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Credible: The evidence is believable and trustworthy.
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Material: It’s significant to your claim.
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Probative: It proves something important.
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Relevant: It applies directly to the issue at hand.
Getting this type of evidence takes effort but dramatically improves your chances.
In closing, the key question is:
What part of VA Disability Claim Evidence confuses you the most?
If I notice common struggles, I’ll write more posts to clear things up.
