The Cost of Obtaining a Nexus Letter and Available Options for Veterans on a Budget

Nexus letters are an important part of a winning VA disability claim, but there are costs associated with obtaining them. You are not obligated to support your claim with a nexus letter, but the failure to do so could result in a disappointing outcome.

These letters are written by medical professionals and include an opinion that your disability is linked to your military service. Because this is one of the most difficult aspects of a disability claim to prove, a nexus letter is potentially the strongest evidence available in your case.

Concerned about the cost? When you work with Elite Medical Review Associates, we bill for our services using simple flat fees to avoid any confusion. This approach is generally best for veterans, even those on a budget.

The Current Cost of a VA Nexus Letter

There is no uniform price for a nexus letter. The cost can vary not only based on where you live but also the type of condition you have. There is a lot of work that goes into drafting these letters, which are far more complex than simple correspondence. They include medical research and a review of your records by a skilled professional. In the best-case scenario, the cost of obtaining a letter can be high.

Your geographical location can impact how much a letter might cost. Unfortunately, veterans living in underserved areas may discover a lack of physicians willing to help. Finding a doctor willing to write a letter from a different geographical area could lead to additional costs. Other factors include things like the condition you have, whether you are being treated by a specialist, and the size of your medical file.

When you work with Elite Medical Review Associates, you can expect to pay a single flat fee for our help. We believe this approach is the best way to provide veterans with fair, transparent pricing that will get them the best available outcome in their case. Our current fees for nexus letters include the following:

• Internal Medicine Reports $1,500 
• Psychiatry Reports $2,757
• Psychology Report: No exam $2.117
• Psychology Report: Tele-Exam $2,300
• Orthopedic Reports $2,000
• Family Medicine Reports $1,350
• Otolaryngology Reports $2,500
• Hematology & Oncology Reports $2,500
• Toxicology & Oncology Reports $3,000
• Vocational Report $1,500
• Other Specialties Call for pricing

Unfortunately, the odds of getting a VA nexus letter for cheap is not likely. Any time you rely on the expert guidance of a medical professional, you have to be prepared to pay for their services. Each of these letters is a significant undertaking that can reach up to 20 pages in length. Given how much time it takes a doctor to write a letter, it should come as no surprise that they come at a cost.

As the chart above reflects, the cost of hiring some medical professionals can be lower than others. One of the ways that our team can help is by identifying which type of professional might be able to offer a strong letter in your case.

Will the VA Write a Letter for Free?

The VA is obligated to provide you with medical care, but that does not extend to issuing opinion letters in support of your disability claim. This can be frustrating for veterans that rely on the VA for their primary care, especially those on a budget. While having the VA provide this service for free would be helpful, doctors that work for or are contracted with the VA are urged not to provide these opinion letters.

That does not mean the VA will not help with this process at all. Often, the VA requires C & P examinations designed to provide the decisionmakers with enough details to reach a conclusion on a service connection. However, the outcome of these examinations is not always helpful to your case.

To get the most out of your VA claim, it is in your best interest to seek a letter from a private medical practitioner. For a veteran on a tight budget, this does not have to be from a specialist or even a physician. In many cases, it may be possible to rely on a physician assistant or nurse practitioner to get the strong supporting letter you need. The cost of working with those professionals is less than most doctors.

Can I Pay for a Nexus Letter After I Win?

It is not uncommon to wonder about the potential for securing a nexus letter on contingency, which means only paying for the service if your claim is successful. This is the standard fee structure that lawyers use in personal injury cases, but it is not a viable option for securing nexus letters.

If a service agreed to take your case on contingency, they would get a percentage of anything you recovered from the VA. That could be as much as 30% of your entire settlement. For example, if you are awarded $50,000 from the VA, your letter could cost you as much as $15,000 in the end. This is dramatically more expensive than our flat fee approach, and taking that much of your settlement could impact your ability to meet your needs.

Get Help Now – Talk With Elite Medical Review Associates

The cost of paying for a nexus letter for your VA disability claim might seem daunting, especially if you are on a fixed income. However, this correspondence could be the strongest evidence in your favor. Without it, it could be difficult to establish that your condition is related to your military service at all.

At Elite Medical Review Associates, we will work to find options that fit your needs and your budget. Contact us today to learn how we can help.