Letter tools · included with your free account
One page for everyone who can move your claim.
Your rep files it. Your member of Congress can ask where it is. Your own doctor can write the opinion it needs. Each tool drafts the one page you hand them — here's a real example of each.
01 · For your VA-accredited rep
Walk into your rep's office organized.
VSO Handoff Brief
A VA-accredited representative files your claim for free — and works faster when you arrive organized. One clean page: the conditions you're claiming, the evidence you have, and exactly what you're asking them to do.
- Each condition and how it connects to service
- The evidence you have — and what's still missing
- Built in your browser, with no AI — print, copy or download
Free account, no card. Your entries are saved only in your browser.
Your handoff brief
TO MY VA-ACCREDITED REPRESENTATIVE From: Jordan Sample VA file number / last four of SSN: [fill in before sending] Subject: Assistance preparing and filing my VA disability claim Dear my accredited representative, I am a veteran asking for your help, as my VA-accredited representative, to prepare and file a VA disability compensation claim. I have organized the summary below myself so our time together is efficient — it lays out the conditions I intend to claim and the evidence I have gathered so far. CONDITIONS I INTEND TO CLAIM 1. Obstructive sleep apnea — secondary — caused or worsened by a service-connected condition (PTSD) Evidence I have: 2025 sleep study (moderate OSA); CPAP prescription; my wife's buddy statement Still needed: A medical opinion linking it to my PTSD 2. Lower back strain — increase — a service-connected condition that has worsened Evidence I have: March 2026 VA exam; 8 physical therapy visits Still needed: Records of my flare-ups WHAT I'M ASKING YOU TO DO - Review the conditions and evidence above and advise me on each. - Help me complete and file the correct VA form (e.g. VA Form 21-526EZ). - Note: I have already filed an Intent to File to protect my effective date. - Represent me with the VA on this claim. I understand that you — my accredited representative — provide the representation on my claim, and that no software does. I prepared this summary myself to help us work efficiently. Respectfully, Jordan Sample
02 · For your Representative or Senator
Ask your member of Congress to check on a stalled claim.
Congressional Inquiry Letter
When a claim sits too long, a letter from your House Representative or Senator asking the VA for a status update is a legitimate, well-established way to get an answer. It asks for a status update — it never tries to influence the decision.
- Addressed to your Representative or Senator
- Includes a Privacy Act release so the office can ask about your claim
- One page — review, edit, then mail or email it
Free account, no card. Your entries are saved only in your browser.
Your letter
Jordan Sample [Mailing Address] September 26, 2026 The Honorable [Your Representative] [Office Address] Dear Representative [Last Name]: I am writing to request your office's assistance in obtaining a status update on my VA disability claim, which has been pending for over 125 days with no resolution. I filed my claim on March 3, 2026, for service-connected conditions including obstructive sleep apnea and lower back strain. My VA file number is [VA File Number]. Despite the passage of more than four months, I have not received a decision or substantive update on the status of my claim. I am requesting that your office contact the Department of Veterans Affairs on my behalf to inquire about the current status of my claim and, if appropriate, to request expedited handling. I understand that your office may require a signed Privacy Act release form in addition to this letter. I authorize your office to access and discuss my VA records and claim information on my behalf pursuant to the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. § 552a). I am prepared to complete any additional privacy release forms your office requires and can provide them promptly. Thank you for your assistance in this matter. I can be reached at [Phone Number] or [Email Address] if your office requires any additional information. Respectfully, Jordan Sample [Mailing Address] [Phone Number] [Email Address]
03 · For your own doctor
Ask your own doctor for a nexus opinion — the right way.
Nexus Letter Request
Many doctors are willing to help but don't know the format the VA expects. This drafts a respectful one-page request that explains the “at least as likely as not” standard and ends with a checklist of what the VA looks for. The opinion itself is always theirs to form.
- Explains the VA's “at least as likely as not” standard
- A built-in checklist of what a nexus letter needs
- It asks — it never writes the medical opinion
Free account, no card. Your entries are saved only in your browser.
Your request letter
Jordan Sample September 26, 2026 Dear Dr. [Provider Name]: I am writing to request your consideration in providing a medical nexus letter to support a VA disability claim I am pursuing. I have been receiving care from you for [condition], and I greatly respect your clinical judgment. If you are willing and believe it is appropriate based on your independent medical opinion, I would be grateful for your help. What is a VA Nexus Letter? A VA nexus letter is a signed statement from a qualified medical provider—such as yourself—offering your professional opinion on whether a current medical condition is connected to military service or to another condition already recognized by the VA as service-connected. The VA uses these letters to help evaluate disability claims. The VA's Legal Standard The VA asks providers to consider a specific legal standard: whether it is "at least as likely as not" that the claimed condition is connected to service or to an existing service-connected condition. In plain terms, this means a 50 percent or greater probability. This is a lower threshold than absolute medical certainty, but you should only provide an opinion you genuinely hold based on your clinical knowledge and the evidence available to you. My History (As I Understand It) Here is what I can tell you about my history: I am service-connected for PTSD, which the VA rates at 50 percent. A couple of years after my PTSD diagnosis, my wife noticed loud snoring and episodes where I would wake up gasping for breath. I underwent a sleep study in 2025, which diagnosed moderate obstructive sleep apnea. I have been using CPAP therapy nightly since November 2025. What the VA Looks for in a Nexus Letter If you are willing to offer your professional opinion, the VA typically expects the letter to include: - A clear statement of my current diagnosis - Your medical opinion on whether my obstructive sleep apnea is at least as likely as not connected to my service-connected PTSD (or the physiological effects thereof) - A brief explanation of your medical reasoning—the "why" behind your opinion - Reference to the medical records, examination findings, or clinical evidence your opinion is based on - Your signature, credentials (license type and number if applicable), and the date Closing I am deeply grateful for all the care you have provided me. Please know that I am happy to provide any additional medical records, examination results, or other documentation that might assist you in forming your opinion. If you have any questions about this request or the VA process, I welcome the opportunity to discuss it with you. Thank you for considering this request. Respectfully, Jordan Sample [Phone Number] [Email Address]
Behind every letter
Bring the evidence, too.
A letter asks for help. The claim still needs the evidence — statements in your own words, the medical opinion, and a cover sheet listing all of it. VA Claim Commander builds that package from your records.
VA Claim Commander is a self-service software tool — not a VSO, law firm, medical provider or VA-accredited representative — and is not affiliated with the Department of Veterans Affairs. It files nothing for you and makes no guarantee of any claim outcome.