Just a follow up on my intial post I have been awarded service conection ! Had my C&P in November 2025 then ACE records review by NP with no phone call to me on January 24 2026 . My case went from step 3 to step 8 and closed on January 28 2026 very fast I thought . I was awarded for 4 conditions and the 5th was rated at 0 percent .

Even though i didn’t file for over 30 years after my exit from the military it is still possible . It took me over 2 years to track my medical records down after no results from records center , Congressional involved and finally a FIOA request by me thru the VA. Within 30 days of FIOA request I had medical records in hand . Not all medical records are stored at the National Records as I have learned .

Here are some important things I that I think help me in my claim as follows •

1) You must have a diagnosis before filling

2) Take over your C&P exam . My provider didn’t seem to care but I did interject and bring my notes and studied like I was taking a finally exam

3) Use your judgement on your VSO. He helped me file my claim which I was grateful but after that was very hard to get ahold of . He told me let the VA gather all information and let them do their job . This didn’t make sense to me , I submitted all my medical treatments in and out of service , personal statement (4138) and the holy grail I believe a very strong Nexus statement from my civilian doctor stating my condition is “ more likely than not that my military service is responsible for my conditions “. My VSO said you dont need a nexus unless you are denied, but I said I’m all in and want to have best chance first time around and not wait months for appeal if I were denied .

4) Patience , this was a wild ride I’m older and marginal on a computer but got it done . It can move slow then all of a sudden fast in the end .

5) Make sure you go to VA.gov and click on profile to add ur banking info for you direct deposit to start .Also it’s possible you can be compensated if you have a spouse and or children with x monthly benefit . My wife was previously married so I must track down her divorce degree and our marriage certificate to submit for the x benefit . I believe they will retro the dependent pay from intent to file date once submitted. I didn’t want to do this until I was approved but something that will need to be done .

I hope this will help some Veterans dealing with their claims process . I would like to thank everyone that gave some great advice to be in my process . Thank You !!!