In every appeal we submit, where the veteran was denied service-connection, we argue a single legal point: entitlement to service-connection.
What facts were present in the record which mandated VA grant service-connection? That’s it. We strip away all of the complexity and focus on that single point.
Why? Because nothing else matters until service-connection is granted. It doesn’t matter how debilitating the condition is if VA has not conceded the condition is related to service.
And that is what you as a veteran need to focus on when applying for a particular condition.
- Provide evidence supporting a diagnosis of a chronically diabling condition; and
- Provide evidence that the condition is related to service.
That is your only job when the condition is not service-connected.
It doesn’t matter how bad the condition is; all that matters is whether you have a chronic disabling condition; and what happened in service that can relate that condition to service. That’s it.
People argue who diagnosed the condition and how bad it is and everything under the sun except service-connection. Then they are confused when they are denied, and it’s all because they did not focus on what mattered.
Nothing matters before service-connection is found. Nothing. Focus on the components of service-connection when it has not been conceded. Nothing else.