The Veterans Disability Nexus

Welcome to The Veterans Disability Nexus, where we provide unique insights and expertise on medical evidence related to VA-rated disabilities. Leah Bucholz, a US Army Veteran, Physician Assistant, & former Compensation & Pension Examiner shares her knowledge related to Independent Medical Opinions often referred to as “Nexus Letters” in support of your pursuit of VA Disability every Wednes...

Welcome to The Veterans Disability Nexus, where we provide unique insights and expertise on medical evidence related to VA-rated disabilities. Leah Bucholz, a US Army Veteran, Physician Assistant, & former Compensation & Pension Examiner shares her knowledge related to Independent Medical Opinions often referred to as “Nexus Letters” in support of your pursuit of VA Disability every Wednes...

Welcome to The Veterans Disability Nexus, where we provide unique insights and expertise on medical evidence related to VA-rated disabilities. Leah Bucholz, a US Army Veteran, Physician Assistant, & former Compensation & Pension Examiner shares her knowledge related to Independent Medical Opinions often referred to as “Nexus Letters” in support of your pursuit of VA Disability every Wednes...

Welcome to The Veterans Disability Nexus, where we provide unique insights and expertise on medical evidence related to VA-rated disabilities. Leah Bucholz, a US Army Veteran, Physician Assistant, & former Compensation & Pension Examiner shares her knowledge related to Independent Medical Opinions often referred to as “Nexus Letters” in support of your pursuit of VA Disability every Wednes...

Garren, an accredited claims agent and CEO of AVET Appeals explains the process of appealing to the Board of Veterans Appeals for VA disability claims. The discussion between Leah and Garren highlights various options available to veterans during the appeal process, such as selecting a decision review lane and the possibility of requesting a hearing. They emphasize the significance of preparing an...

Garen, an accredited claims agent, explains the benefits of the Appeals Modernization Act of 2019, particularly regarding supplemental claims, which can contest decisions made years ago. He emphasizes the necessity of submitting new and relevant evidence to support these claims. Garen and Leah also discuss the weight given to different types of evidence, like lay statements, and the importance of...

Leah and Garren Cone, an accredited claims agent and legal advocate for veterans, discuss the appeals process for veterans who receive unfavourable decisions from the VA. Garren explains his role in assisting veterans with appeals, emphasizing the importance of the Appeals Modernization Act (AMA) and the different options available under it. He outlines the higher-level review process, where veter...

Leah explains the difference between bruxism and TMJ, highlighting that while TMJ involves the jaw joint, bruxism is about teeth grinding, which can occur consciously or unconsciously, and may be linked to stress or previous oral trauma. She shares her personal experience with both conditions and discusses treatments, which can involve primary care doctors or dentists.

Leah from Prestige Veteran Medical Consulting, a U.S. Army veteran and physician assistant, focuses on the relationship between fibromyalgia and mental health conditions like PTSD in the context of VA disability. Leah, addressing requests from veterans, explains that fibromyalgia, characterized by widespread pain, fatigue, and emotional distress, affects about 2% of U.S. adults and is more prevale...

Leah a former US Army physician assistant and compensation and pension (C&P) examiner, provides insights into the C&P exam for hypertension, often known as high blood pressure. She clarifies that hypertension is defined as having a sustained systolic pressure of 140 or above, or a diastolic pressure over 90, and discusses prehypertension levels. Leah explains that veterans may seek service...

Physician Assistant and prior C&P examiner Leah Bucholz discusses about Hearing Loss and Veterans' Disability. Leah discusses the relationship between military service and hearing loss as it pertains to VA disability claims. She explains her expertise as a certified occupational hearing conservationist, which involves interpreting hearing loss data and operating audio booths. Leah highlights t...

Physician Assistant and prior C&P examiner Leah Bucholz interviewing Kim and Garren Cone from the AVET Project What is the AVET Project? (American Veterans Empowerment Team). Leah is interviewing Kim and Garren Cone from the AVET Project. This non-profit organization assists veterans, particularly in understanding VA benefits and providing emotional and psychological support. Garen is an accre...

Physician Assistant and prior C&P examiner Leah Bucholz discusses What to Expect in a PTSD C&P Exam. Leah provides insight into what veterans can expect during a VA Compensation and Pension (C&P) exam for PTSD. Leah emphasizes the importance of being honest and prepared for the exam, which includes filling out a Disability Benefit Questionnaire (DBQ). She explains that the exam, typica...

Physician Assistant and prior C&P examiner Leah Bucholz discusses about Paratroopers and Veteran's Disability. Leah is discussing the intersection of paratrooper activities and VA (Veterans Affairs) disability. She focuses on the specific injury patterns associated with paratrooper duties and the impact these have on VA disability claims. Leah shares her experience as a former paratrooper and...

Physician Assistant and prior C&P examiner Leah Bucholz discusses about The Benefits of Psychedelics on PTSD | Ben "Doc" Askins Interview. Leah and former PA Ben "Doc" Askins discuss the integration of psychedelic medicine within veteran healthcare. Ben shares his journey from being a combat medic and National Guard member to pursuing a career in medicine, leading to his involvement in psyched...

Physician Assistant and prior C&P examiner Leah Bucholz discusses What to Expect in a TMJ Veterans Disability C&P Exam. Leah discusses how veterans can be service-connected for AFib, emphasizing the necessity of a current diagnosis and a nexus linking the condition to an in-service event or another disability. She highlights that AFib can be directly service-connected or related to other i...

Physician Assistant and prior C&P examiner Leah Bucholz discusses What to Expect in a Low Back Pain C&P Exam. Leah discusses what to expect during a lumbar spine or low back pain C&P (Compensation and Pension) exam for VA disability. After filing a claim for a low back condition, veterans receive a packet detailing their examination details. At the exam, physicians use a Disability Ben...

Physician Assistant and prior C&P examiner Leah Bucholz discusses to Obtaining VA Disability for Jet Fuel Exposure is possible. Leah, explains the connection between jet fuel exposure and potential VA disability claims for veterans. She clarifies that while jet fuel exposure is not a disability, the medical conditions resulting from it can be. Various military roles, including those in the Air...

Physician Assistant and prior C&P examiner Leah Bucholz discusses What to Expect in a TMJ Veterans Disability C&P Exam. Leah discusses Multiple Sclerosis (MS) with Veterans Affairs (VA) disability. She explains that MS, an autoimmune disease affecting the central nervous system, can be linked to service-related factors, including exposure or symptoms that began during active duty. MS has v...

Physician Assistant and prior C&P examiner Leah Bucholz discusses about 11B Infantryman and Veterans Disability. Leah discusses the specific occupational challenges and long-term physical impacts faced by 11B Infantrymen in the U.S. Army. She explains how the MOS (Military Occupational Specialty) Smart Book outlines the physical and skill requirements for different army roles, highlighting how...

Physician Assistant and prior C&P examiner Leah Bucholz discusses What to Expect in a TMJ Veterans Disability C&P Exam. Leah discusses common conditions linked to PTSD in veterans. She outlines five key secondary conditions: headaches (including migraines and tension headaches), sexual dysfunction disorders (often related to PTSD treatments like SSRIs), gastrointestinal disorders (like IBS...

Physician Assistant and prior C&P examiner Leah Bucholz discusses What to Expect in a TMJ Veterans Disability C&P Exam. Leah discusses the Temporal Mandibular Joint Disorder (TMJD), a condition many veterans suffer from, and its relationship with VA disability. TMJD can be related to service either primarily (diagnosed during service and persistent thereafter) or secondarily (related to ot...

Physician Assistant and prior C&P examiner Leah Bucholz discusses about Insomnia and Tinnitus in Veterans' Disability. Leah provides an overview of how insomnia and tinnitus are considered in the context of VA disability. She explains that insomnia, defined by the DSM-5, is a mental health condition rated according to the schedule of mental health ratings, with specific diagnostic criteria inc...

Physician Assistant and prior C&P examiner Leah Bucholz discusses What happens in a C&P examination for Knee pain. Physician Assistant and prior C&P examiner Leah Bucholz discusses What to Expect in a Knee Pain C&P Exam. Leah offers an in-depth guide for veterans undergoing a Compensation and Pension (C&P) exam for knee pain. As a US Army veteran, former C&P examiner, and p...

Physician Assistant and prior C&P examiner Leah Bucholz discusses What to Expect in a Hypothyroidism C&P Exam. Leah explains hypothyroidism and its relevance to VA disability evaluations. Hypothyroidism, often autoimmune (Hashimoto's thyroiditis), is characterized by an underactive thyroid, leading to symptoms like weight gain, fatigue, muscle weakness, menstrual changes, and memory issues...