How We Calculate Evidence Strength
Overview
When you add a condition to your claim, we calculate an Evidence Strength Score to help you understand how well-supported your claim is before you file. This score is based on the same three elements the VA uses to decide service connection claims.
BLUF: Your score reflects how likely the VA is to approve your claim based on the evidence you have. A higher score means stronger evidence. Focus on the gaps we identify—fixing critical gaps can dramatically improve your chances.
The VA's Three Pillars of Service Connection
The VA requires proof of three things to grant service connection. Think of them as three pillars holding up your claim. If any pillar is missing, the claim falls.
| Pillar | What It Means | Max Points |
|---|---|---|
| Current Diagnosis | You have a medical diagnosis for the condition right now | 30 |
| In-Service Event | Something happened during your service that caused or relates to the condition | 30 |
| Medical Nexus | A medical opinion linking your current condition to your service | 40 |
Why Nexus Gets More Points: While all three are required, the nexus is where most claims fail. It's the hardest element to prove, which is why we weight it slightly higher.
How We Score Each Pillar
Current Diagnosis (0-30 points)
| Your Evidence | Points | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| No diagnosis | 0 | VA will not process your claim |
| Self-reported symptoms only | 8 | You describe symptoms but no doctor has diagnosed you |
| Diagnosis over 3 years old | 18 | You have a diagnosis but it's outdated |
| Diagnosis 1-3 years old | 24 | Recent-ish diagnosis from a provider |
| Diagnosis within 1 year + ICD-10 code | 30 | Current diagnosis with proper medical coding |
What to do if you're low: Schedule an appointment with a healthcare provider. Ask them to document your diagnosis with an ICD-10 code. The VA needs formal medical documentation, not just your description of symptoms.
In-Service Event (0-30 points)
| Your Evidence | Points | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| Nothing documented | 0 | No evidence the condition relates to service |
| Personal statement only | 10 | You wrote about the event, but no corroboration |
| Buddy statement confirms event | 16 | A fellow service member backs up your account |
| Event in service records | 22 | Military records mention the incident |
| Service Treatment Record | 30 | Medical documentation from during your service |
| Presumptive condition | 30 | Automatically maxed—VA presumes service connection by law |
What to do if you're low: Write a detailed personal statement about what happened during service. Then reach out to fellow service members who witnessed it and ask them to write buddy statements.
Note for Secondary Conditions: If you're claiming a condition secondary to an already service-connected disability, this pillar automatically maxes out—your primary condition's service connection carries over.
Medical Nexus (0-40 points)
| Your Evidence | Points | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| Nothing | 0 | No connection established between service and condition |
| Your personal belief | 8 | You wrote a statement connecting them, but no medical support |
| Continuity of symptoms documented | 15 | Records show symptoms from service through today |
| Medical literature supports connection | 22 | Published research shows the relationship |
| C&P examiner gave favorable opinion | 32 | VA's examiner agreed with service connection |
| Private nexus letter or IMO | 40 | Independent medical opinion with detailed rationale |
| Presumptive condition | 40 | Automatically maxed—nexus is legally presumed |
What to do if you're low: A nexus letter from a physician is the most powerful evidence you can submit. It should: - State the connection is "at least as likely as not" related to service - Include rationale based on your specific medical history - Reference relevant medical literature if applicable
Supporting Evidence Bonus (0-15 points)
These don't replace the three pillars, but they strengthen your overall claim:
| Evidence | Points |
|---|---|
| Personal statement written | +3 |
| Buddy statements (each, max 2) | +2 |
| DBQ (Disability Benefits Questionnaire) completed | +4 |
| Multiple providers documented condition | +2 |
| Functional impact on work documented | +2 |
Quality Adjustments
We also adjust your score based on evidence quality:
| Issue | Adjustment |
|---|---|
| Most recent evidence is 2-5 years old | -10 |
| Most recent evidence is over 5 years old | -20 |
| Conflicting information across documents | -10 |
| Documents flagged as needing review | -5 |
The takeaway: Keep your evidence current. Outdated records hurt your score.
Special Rules
Secondary Conditions
Secondary conditions (conditions caused by your existing service-connected disabilities) use a modifier based on nexus strength:
| Nexus Evidence | Modifier |
|---|---|
| Medical literature or better (22+ points) | No penalty |
| Continuity documented (15-21 points) | 0.85x (15% reduction) |
| Weak or no nexus (<15 points) | 0.70x (30% reduction) |
Why the penalty? Research shows secondary claims without medical nexus support are frequently denied. A nexus letter explaining how your primary condition caused or aggravated the secondary condition is highly recommended.
Presumptive Conditions
If your condition is presumptive under the PACT Act, Agent Orange, Gulf War illness, or other presumptive categories: - In-Service Event: Automatically maxed (30 points) - Medical Nexus: Automatically maxed (40 points) - You only need: A current diagnosis
This reflects the legal presumption—the VA assumes service connection if you served in qualifying locations/timeframes and have the diagnosis.
Understanding Your Grade
| Score | Grade | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| 85-100 | Strong (Green) | Your evidence is solid. Ready to file with confidence. |
| 60-84 | Moderate (Yellow) | Good foundation, but review the gaps before filing. |
| 35-59 | Weak (Orange) | Missing or weak evidence on one or more pillars. Address gaps first. |
| 0-34 | Insufficient (Red) | Missing critical requirements. High risk of denial if filed now. |
Evidence Gaps
Below your score, we show specific gaps in your evidence, prioritized by importance:
- Critical: Missing core requirements that will likely result in denial
- High: Should be addressed before filing for best results
- Recommended: Would strengthen your claim but not essential
Each gap includes: - What's missing - What action to take - How many points you could gain
Example Calculations
Example 1: Strong Primary Claim
Knee injury from parachute jumps - Recent orthopedic diagnosis with ICD-10: 30 pts - Service treatment record documents injury: 30 pts - Private nexus letter from orthopedist: 40 pts - Personal statement (+3), buddy letter (+2), DBQ (+4): +9 pts - Total: 109 → capped at 100 → "Strong"
Example 2: Weak Secondary Claim
Sleep apnea secondary to PTSD - Sleep study from 3 years ago: 24 pts - Secondary (uses PTSD connection): 30 pts - No nexus letter, just personal belief: 8 pts - Core: 62 × 0.70 (weak nexus modifier) = 43 pts - Personal statement: +3 pts - Total: 46 → "Weak"
Recommendation: Get a nexus letter explaining how PTSD causes sleep disturbances, which could add 32+ points.
Example 3: Presumptive Condition
Hypertension, Gulf War veteran - Recent VA diagnosis: 30 pts - Presumptive (in-service auto-maxed): 30 pts - Presumptive (nexus auto-maxed): 40 pts - Total: 100 → "Strong"
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my score lower than expected?
Check the breakdown for each pillar. Usually one pillar is significantly weaker than the others. Focus on that gap first.
Can I still file with a low score?
You can, but claims with weak evidence are frequently denied. It's usually better to strengthen your evidence first—especially for critical gaps.
Does a high score guarantee approval?
No. The VA makes the final decision after reviewing all evidence and conducting a C&P exam. A high score means you've submitted strong evidence, but the VA examiner's opinion also matters.
How often is my score updated?
Your score recalculates whenever you add documents, update condition details, or link new evidence. Check back after uploading new records.
What if I disagree with my score?
The score is based on what evidence we've detected in your uploaded documents. If you have evidence we haven't captured, update your condition details or upload additional documents.