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PODCAST

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 Tuesday & Wednesday at 7AM Central. Take control of your medical evidence related to your benefits and visit

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All Episodes

9:31

Alcohol Use Disorder and Veterans Disability –...

The Veterans Disability Nexus ·

2025/10/22

🧠 Episode Overview:In this episode, we take an honest and informative look at Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) and how it affects veterans seeking VA disability benefits. Many veterans struggle with alcohol use after service — often as a result of PTSD, chronic pain, or other service-connected conditions. Yet, the VA’s approach to alcohol-related disabilities can be complex and confusing.We’ll break down how the VA evaluates and compensates alcohol use disorder, when it can be service-connected,

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10:27

Glaucoma and VA Disability

The Veterans Disability Nexus ·

2025/10/21

🧠 Episode Overview:In this episode, we break down everything veterans need to know about glaucoma and VA disability benefits. Glaucoma is a serious eye condition that can cause permanent vision loss — and many veterans aren’t aware that it can be connected to their military service or service-connected conditions.We’ll cover how the VA rates glaucoma, what kind of medical evidence you need, and how to establish service connection—whether it’s primary, secondary, or related to exposure or

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9:26

Homeless Veterans Programs: Real Help, Real Hope,...

The Veterans Disability Nexus ·

2025/10/15

Leah breaks down the VA’s Homeless Veterans Programs, highlighting how they provide housing, mental health support, substance abuse treatment, and employment opportunities to help veterans regain stability. She explains key initiatives like HUD-VASH, the GPD program, HCHV, and SSBF, while emphasizing the “housing first” approach as the foundation for recovery. Leah also shares personal insight on the importance of rebuilding community bonds after service, and underscores the role of

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10:42

Top 5 Reasons VA Denies Sleep Apnea Claims

The Veterans Disability Nexus ·

2025/10/14

Leah breaks down why so many veterans’ VA sleep apnea claims get denied and how to strengthen them. She explains what sleep apnea is, why it’s especially common among veterans, and the two main service connection paths—primary and secondary. Leah then highlights the top reasons for denials, including lack of a sleep study, missing or weak service connection, negative nexus opinions, obesity or other non-service-related factors, and weak supporting evidence. She emphasizes that denials

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8:40

VA Disability for Medication Side Effects | What...

The Veterans Disability Nexus ·

2025/09/24

Leah explains how veterans may qualify for VA disability compensation if they experience side effects from medications prescribed for service-connected conditions. She outlines what the VA recognizes under 38 CFR 3.310, provides real-world examples such as ulcers from NSAIDs, metabolic syndrome from antipsychotics, sexual dysfunction from SSRIs, and liver damage from anticonvulsants, and stresses the importance of proving secondary service connection with medical diagnoses, documentation,

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9:53

Congenital Birth Defects and VA Disability | All You...

The Veterans Disability Nexus ·

2025/09/23

Leah explains how congenital birth defects intersect with VA disability benefits for both veterans and their children. She covers what congenital birth defects are, the conditions linked to toxic exposures like Agent Orange in Vietnam and Korea or contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, and when children may qualify for compensation or health benefits. Leah also highlights that veterans with congenital conditions can sometimes receive service connection if their condition was permanently

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10:04

Cold Reality: How the VA Handles Cold Weather Injuries

The Veterans Disability Nexus ·

2025/08/26

Cold weather injuries are more common among veterans than you might think—especially for those who served in harsh winter environments or lacked proper gear and protection. In this episode, we explore how conditions like frostbite, trench foot, chilblains, and cold-induced neuropathy may qualify you for VA disability benefits.You’ll learn how to recognize the long-term effects of cold exposure, how to link those injuries to your service, and what medical documentation the VA requires to

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9:11

Hot Weather Injuries & VA Disability: What Veterans...

The Veterans Disability Nexus ·

2025/08/19

Extreme heat isn’t just uncomfortable—it can be dangerous, especially for veterans who served in hot climates or during physically demanding deployments. In this episode, we break down how hot weather-related injuries like heat stroke, heat exhaustion, dehydration, and rhabdomyolysis can lead to lasting health conditions—and how they may qualify for VA disability compensation.We also explore the connection between heat injuries and other service-connected conditions such as kidney damage,

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9:33

Endometriosis and VA Disability Claims | All You...

The Veterans Disability Nexus ·

2025/07/16

Leah explains how female veterans can get VA disability compensation for endometriosis. She breaks down what endometriosis is, how it's rated by the VA, and what kind of medical evidence is needed to build a strong claim. Leah also covers primary vs. secondary service connection, the role of nexus letters, and the possible secondary conditions like depression, infertility, and chronic pain that can also be claimed. This video is a must-watch for women veterans navigating VA benefits for

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7:12

Rotator Cuff Injuries and VA Disability | All You...

The Veterans Disability Nexus ·

2025/07/15

Leah breaks down everything veterans need to know about rotator cuff injuries and how they relate to VA disability claims. As a U.S. Army veteran and former C\&P examiner, she explains the causes, symptoms, and medical evidence needed to support a claim, while also walking viewers through how the VA rates these shoulder conditions under diagnostic codes 5200–5203. With real data, expert insights, and actionable tips—like seeking a nexus letter and understanding the role of

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32:47

How to Maximize Your VA Benefits for Your Family

The Veterans Disability Nexus ·

2025/07/01

Leah sits down with VA-accredited attorney Rebecca Deming to deliver an in-depth overview of how veterans can maximize their VA benefits for their families. They cover everything from who qualifies as a dependent, how to access healthcare options like CHAMPVA, and how to unlock education programs such as Chapter 35 and the GI Bill transfer. They also highlight lesser-known opportunities like the Hazlewood Act, Folds of Honor, caregiver stipends, and dependency indemnity compensation (DIC)

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8:44

How VA Telehealth Works: Virtual Care for Veterans...

The Veterans Disability Nexus ·

2025/06/24

Leah breaks down exactly how VA telehealth services work and why they’re a game changer for veterans. She explains how virtual care makes it easier for vets to connect with providers, access appointments, manage chronic conditions, and get mental health support, no matter where they live. Leah shares real examples of using secure video visits, messaging through My HealtheVet, and remote monitoring devices, emphasizing the huge increase in telehealth use since the pandemic and how the VA now

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8:06

VA Presumptive Conditions and Nexus Letters | All You...

The Veterans Disability Nexus ·

2025/05/28

Leah explains whether nexus letters are needed for VA presumptive conditions. She breaks down what presumptive conditions are, referencing official VA sources like exposure to Agent Orange, burn pits, and Camp Lejeune toxins, and clarifies that these conditions are generally assumed by the VA to be service-connected, meaning a nexus letter is *typically* not required. However, Leah points out important exceptions, such as unclear service dates, denied claims, or secondary conditions, where

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8:51

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and VA...

The Veterans Disability Nexus ·

2025/05/27

Leah breaks down everything veterans need to know about getting VA disability benefits for COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease). She explains how COPD includes conditions like chronic bronchitis and emphysema, outlines symptoms, and dives into medical literature showing a strong connection between toxic military exposures (like burn pits or Agent Orange) and COPD—even in non-smokers. Leah details the VA rating system, diagnostic codes, necessary medical documentation (like pulmonary

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8:16

What Are Favorable Findings in VA Disability Claims ?...

The Veterans Disability Nexus ·

2025/05/21

Leah explains the crucial concept of favorable findings in VA disability claims. These are positive acknowledgments by the VA, such as confirmed diagnoses, in-service injuries, or credible lay statements, that remain on record even if a claim is denied. Leah walks viewers through how to find and interpret these favorable findings in their rating decision letters, why they’re valuable in appeals, and how they can guide future claims. With clear examples and practical advice, she empowers

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31:24

How to Avoid Rating Mistakes and Maximize Your VA...

The Veterans Disability Nexus ·

2025/05/20

Leah and Rebecca Deming from Provet Legal dive deep into the topic of "pyramiding" in VA disability claims. They explain how the VA prevents veterans from receiving multiple ratings for the same symptoms, using real-world examples involving mental health, respiratory conditions, and TBI. The conversation is packed with practical insights on how to avoid rating mistakes, maximize benefits, and when to seek legal and medical support. It's a thorough, relatable guide for veterans who want to

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10:01

Dry Eye Syndrome (DES) : A Hidden Disability for...

The Veterans Disability Nexus ·

2025/05/14

Leah breaks down the often-overlooked condition of Dry Eye Syndrome (DES) and its significant impact on veterans. She explains the symptoms, causes, and heightened prevalence of DES in the veteran population, especially among those with PTSD, depression, or who underwent refractive surgeries like LASIK or PRK during active duty. Leah supports her insights with peer-reviewed studies and provides practical advice on how veterans can pursue VA disability claims for DES, either as a primary or

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8:36

Alzheimer's Disease and Tinnitus in Veterans | All...

The Veterans Disability Nexus ·

2025/05/13

Leah explores the potential connection between Alzheimer's disease and tinnitus in veterans, highlighting how both conditions—often overlooked as related—may actually share neurological links. Drawing from multiple scientific studies, Leah presents compelling evidence that tinnitus could be an early indicator or risk factor for cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, especially in veterans exposed to chronic stress and noise. She emphasizes the

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23:59

Can You Work with a 100% VA Disability Rating? | All...

The Veterans Disability Nexus ·

2025/05/06

Leah teams up with VA attorney Rebecca Deming of ProVet Legal to unpack a complex but crucial topic: working while rated 100% disabled by the VA. They clearly differentiate between 100% scheduler disability, which allows full-time work with no income restrictions, and TDIU (Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability), which comes with more nuanced rules around employment and income. Rebecca provides expert insight into what constitutes substantially gainful employment, sheltered

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8:17

What is a DBQ in VA Disability? (Disability Benefits...

The Veterans Disability Nexus ·

2025/04/08

What is a DBQ in VA Disability? (Disability Benefits Questionnaire Explained)Episode OverviewIn this episode, we break down the Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ)—a key tool in the VA disability claims process. Whether you’re filing a new claim, appealing a decision, or looking to increase your rating, understanding how a DBQ works can make all the difference.What We Cover:✅ What is a Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ)? ✅ How DBQs impact VA disability claims and ratings ✅ Who can

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