Do I need my complete service treatment records?

The entries that matter most are the ones that record the in-service event and any treatment for it. More complete records let the clinician check the timeline and answer anything that points the other way.

What if my service records do not mention the condition?

An opinion can still rest on other evidence of the in-service event, such as personnel records showing where you served or statements from people who saw it, but the clinician needs something in the file to reason from.

Do I need a current diagnosis?

Yes. Service connection requires a current disability (38 CFR 3.303), so the clinician needs a diagnosis in your current treatment records.

Is a DD-214 required?

It is not medical evidence, but it confirms your dates and branch of service and helps place the in-service event in time.

What records does a clinician need for a nexus letter?

Updated October 4, 2026

A clinician writing a nexus letter needs your service treatment records showing the in-service event, injury, exposure or illness; a current diagnosis; treatment records showing the condition over time; and, if VA already decided the claim, the C&P exam and decision letter. Your DD-214 confirms your dates and branch of service. At Commander Health a free screen checks for these first; then a licensed clinician reviews them for a flat $500 and signs only if they support the opinion.

The checklist

Service treatment records: the entries that record the in-service event, injury, exposure or illness, and any treatment for it.
A current diagnosis: service connection requires a current disability (38 CFR 3.303).
Treatment history since service: private and VA records that show the condition continuing over time.
The C&P exam and the decision letter, if VA already decided the claim, so the opinion can answer what VA found.
Your DD-214: not medical evidence, but it confirms your dates and branch of service.
For a secondary condition: the records of the service-connected condition it stems from (38 CFR 3.310).

Where to get them

Your VA claims file (C-file) normally holds your service treatment records, past C&P exams and decisions, and you can request a copy from VA. VA treatment records are available through your VA facility or your VA online health record. Private records come from each provider's records office or patient portal.

If a record is missing

VA has a duty to make reasonable efforts to obtain relevant records for your claim (38 CFR 3.159(c)). Statements from you and from people who saw what happened in service are evidence too.

A clinician cannot supply a fact the records do not hold. Without a current diagnosis or any evidence of the in-service event, no opinion can fill the gap, which is why the screen comes before payment.

Sending records to Commander Health

Upload what you have for the free screen. It checks for a current diagnosis, the in-service event, continuity of care and support for the link, and tells you what is missing before you pay anything. If the evidence is there, a licensed clinician reviews your file for a flat $500 and signs only if the records support the opinion. Commander Health reviews physical conditions only.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need my complete service treatment records?: The entries that matter most are the ones that record the in-service event and any treatment for it. More complete records let the clinician check the timeline and answer anything that points the other way.
What if my service records do not mention the condition?: An opinion can still rest on other evidence of the in-service event, such as personnel records showing where you served or statements from people who saw it, but the clinician needs something in the file to reason from.
Do I need a current diagnosis?: Yes. Service connection requires a current disability (38 CFR 3.303), so the clinician needs a diagnosis in your current treatment records.
Is a DD-214 required?: It is not medical evidence, but it confirms your dates and branch of service and helps place the in-service event in time.