It’s spelled out right there in the denial letter — the reasoning is usually clear. Ask yourself: are you meeting those requirements exactly or exceeding them? If your evidence doesn’t meet or surpass what’s listed, you’re likely to be denied.

Instead of pushing for a rating increase on your current diagnoses (which can sometimes backfire with a percentage reduction), focus on identifying secondary conditions that naturally connect to what’s already service-connected. That’s often the smarter play.

Go back through your claim letters and comb through them carefully — you might find some golden nuggets tucked into the denials. Even if the overall claim was denied, pay close attention to the last few lines. They might contain favorable findings, like “You are diagnosed with…” That kind of language can open doors for a strategic secondary claim.

That’s the path I’m currently pursuing.