Prestige Veteran Medical Consulting
A Veteran-Owned Independent Medical Opinion Company.
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Latest blogs and updates
From how to claim VA Benefits to understanding ailments and other medical conditions from your time in service. We are here to help the best we can.
2027 VA Disability COLA: 3.6% Increase Explained
The 2027 cost-of-living adjustment is 3.6%. Leah Bucholz and VA-accredited attorney Rebecca Deming explain how the COLA affects veterans’ disability compensation, TDIU, SMC, survivor benefits, and expected payment dates. Learn
Same Condition, Different VA Disability Claim Decisions
Two veterans may have the same diagnosis but receive different VA disability decisions. Leah Bucholz and attorney Rebecca Deming explain how individual medical histories, service records, medical opinions, and the
Free VSO or VA Attorney? What Veterans Should Know Before Choosing
Should veterans work with a free VSO or hire a VA-accredited attorney? Leah Bucholz and Wilson County Veteran Service Officer Ray Herrera discuss the differences, including fees, initial claims, appeals,
Why VA Sleep Apnea Claims Get Denied – Even With a CPAP
Having sleep apnea and using a CPAP machine does not automatically establish VA service connection. Leah Bucholz and VA-accredited attorney Rebecca Deming explain why sleep apnea claims can be denied,
Bad C&P Exam? What Makes an Opinion Inadequate and What Happens Next
A negative C&P exam does not automatically decide a VA disability claim. Leah Bucholz and VA-accredited attorney Rebecca Deming discuss inadequate medical opinions, overlooked evidence, competing medical conclusions, and the
VA Claim Mistakes: A VSO Explains What Veterans Often Miss
In this conversation, Leah Bucholz and Veteran Service Officer Ray Herrera discuss common VA claim mistakes, including unclear evidence, incomplete symptom descriptions, and misunderstandings about decision letters. They explain why
VA Claim Myth: Does Paying for a Nexus Letter Guarantee Approval?
A Nexus letter can be an important piece of medical evidence in a VA disability claim, but it is not a guarantee of service connection. The quality of the reasoning,
VA Claim Myth: No Treatment in Service Means No Claim?
Many veterans assume that if they did not go to sick call or receive treatment during service, their current condition cannot be connected to military service. Missing treatment records can
VA Claim Myth: When VA Has Your Records, Is That Enough?
One common VA claim myth is that if VA already has your medical records, there is nothing else to submit. But medical records and medical evidence are not always the
Myth-Busting VA Claims: Only VA Doctors Can Write Medical Opinions?
One common VA claim myth is that only VA doctors can write medical opinions or Nexus letters. In reality, the strength of a medical opinion often depends on whether the
Free VA Claim Guidance: What Veterans Should Know About Working With a VSO
A Veteran Service Officer can be an important starting point for veterans, surviving spouses, active duty service members, and dependents seeking guidance about VA claims, appeals, benefits, healthcare navigation, and
VA Disability Buzzwords: What Veterans Should Understand About Medical Evidence
VA disability buzzwords can create confusion when they are oversimplified online. Terms like magic wording, presumptive, Nexus letter, rebuttal opinion, and favorable findings may matter, but they do not replace
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2027 VA Disability COLA: 3.6% Increase Explained
The 2027 cost-of-living adjustment is 3.6%. Leah Bucholz and VA-accredited
Same Condition, Different VA Disability Claim Decisions
Two veterans may have the same diagnosis but receive different
Free VSO or VA Attorney? What Veterans Should Know Before Choosing
Should veterans work with a free VSO or hire a
Why VA Sleep Apnea Claims Get Denied – Even With a CPAP
Having sleep apnea and using a CPAP machine does not
Bad C&P Exam? What Makes an Opinion Inadequate and What Happens Next
A negative C&P exam does not automatically decide a VA
2026 VA Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) Rates
This guide covers the 2026 VA SMC rates, dependent increases, and who may qualify. Also, learn what medical evidence the VA may review when evaluating your claim.
What Years of Body Armor Really Do to Veterans’ Spines
For many who have served, the memory of wearing body armor is not just about protection. It is about weight, pressure, and long hours spent
Proposed VA Painful Scar Rule Change: Understanding “Objective Evidence”
On September 29, 2025, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) proposed a rule that may affect how painful scars are evaluated for disability compensation. The proposed change focuses on 38 CFR §4.118, Diagnostic Code 7804, which covers unstable or painful scars. If finalized, this update would introduce a requirement for “objective evidence of pain”, meaning a veteran’s statement alone may no longer be enough.
Why Veterans Feel Sick Even When Tests Are Normal
Many veterans live with frustrating symptoms that seem very real, yet medical tests may come back normal. Blood work looks fine, imaging shows no major
How PTSD Affects the Body in Veterans
Post-traumatic stress disorder, commonly known as PTSD, is often described as a mental health condition. While that is true, it is only part of the
Why Tinnitus Is the #1 VA Disability in Veterans
For many veterans, the memory is vivid. A long day at the firing range ends. The noise fades. Silence finally returns. And then, out of
Requesting a Nexus Letter from Your Doctor: What Veterans Should Know
A nexus letter can serve as a key piece of medical evidence in a VA disability claim when evaluating the relationship between a veteran’s current
Why Veterans Are Drawn to Jiu-Jitsu
After leaving the military, many veterans find themselves searching for something they cannot quite name. It is not always about fitness or even purpose in
Best Evidence to Support a Nexus Letter for VA Disability Claims
When filing a VA disability claim, a nexus letter or an independent medical opinion can be the document that connects your current condition to your service. While veterans may focus on getting the opinion itself, VA reviewers look closely at the supporting evidence to ensure it shows a consistent, credible link between service and current symptoms.
Why Dizziness & Vertigo Are So Hard to Diagnose in Veterans
Dizziness and vertigo are among the most confusing symptoms in medicine, both for patients and clinicians. For many veterans, the experience can be especially frustrating.
5 Nexus Letter Mistakes That Get VA Claims Denied
Filing a VA disability claim can feel like doing everything right and still getting denied. You have a diagnosis, you have your service history, and
Nexus Letter vs Medical Opinion vs IMO: Are They the Same?
When filing a VA disability claim, veterans may hear terms like “nexus letter,” “medical opinion,” or “independent medical opinion (IMO)” and assume they mean the same thing. While these terms are often used interchangeably, they can refer to different types of medical evidence within the VA claims process. Understanding how these opinions are used can help veterans better organize and present their medical evidence.