Visiting Angels The Villages: Frequently Asked Questions and Understanding the Veteran Elements of Every VA Claim

Here at Visiting Angels The Villages we strive to provide the best care for all our clients, and we love to provide free home care to our Veteran clients. An aspect of taking care of the Veteran clients is providing answers to questions. Some questions are:

How do I file a claim with the Veteran Administration?

How do I request more hours with the Veteran Administration?

If I am not happy with my current home care company, how do I change over to Visiting Angels The Villages?

If my loved one lives in a facility, can they still get home care services through Visiting Angels The Villages?

If my spouse needs services, but they are not the Veteran, are they eligible for services?

These are all great questions, and our VA Liaison, Courtney Decker, at Visiting Angels The Villages is ready to answer all your questions and direct you to the right people so you can get the care you need or your loved one needs.  She can be reached at the main office phone number, 352-643-0702. 

Now..

“How do I file a claim with the Veteran Administration?”

To succeed in a VA service-connected disability claim, a veteran must establish three key elements:

1. Current Disability

The first requirement is evidence of a current, diagnosable disability.

• This is typically shown through medical records, either from the VA or a private healthcare provider.
• The VA will not grant service connection for past conditions that have fully resolved unless there are residual effects.
• The diagnosis should be consistent, supported by objective evidence, and documented by a qualified healthcare professional.

2. In-Service Event, Injury, or Illness

Next, the veteran must prove that a disease, injury, or aggravation occurred during military service.

• This may be demonstrated through service treatment records, personnel files, or unit histories.
• Examples include injuries during training, exposure to hazardous substances, or psychological trauma.
• For certain conditions, such as those arising from combat, VA law provides special rules (like the combat presumption) to make it easier for veterans to establish this element.

3. Nexus (Causal Link) Between the Two

The third element—often the most debated—is the nexus, or connection, between the current disability and the in-service event.

• This is usually established by a medical opinion stating it is “at least as likely as not” that the condition was caused or aggravated by service.
• A nexus opinion can come from a VA examiner or a private medical provider familiar with the veteran’s history.

Without a clear nexus, even well-documented disabilities and service injuries can fail to result in benefits.

Visiting Angels The Villages strives to educate, support, and provide the compassionate, professional resources needed to deliver the best care possible to families in our community, so their loved ones can remain independent in their own homes. All of our clients are important and are treated with the same care as our family and loved ones!

If you would like to reach out to our VA Liaison, Courtney Decker, to find out more information or to start the process to receive services from us, give us a call at 352-643-0702.