Independent Medical Evaluation for VA Disability
Get a comprehensive, independent medical evaluation from board-certified providers to support your VA disability claim — all through secure, HIPAA-compliant telehealth.
VA Disability & VA Disability Claims
An independent medical evaluation (IME) is a comprehensive assessment conducted by a provider outside the VA system who can offer an unbiased medical opinion about your condition and its connection to military service. Unlike VA Compensation & Pension (C&P) exams — which are ordered by the VA after you file a claim and are used for rating purposes — independent evaluations provide proactive medical evidence you can submit with your claim to strengthen your case from the start.
AIDE's telehealth platform connects you with board-certified medical providers licensed in all 50 states who specialize in VA disability evaluations. Every evaluation is conducted via secure, HIPAA-compliant video consultation, ensuring your medical information remains protected while providing the convenience of evaluation from your own home.
Our providers understand VA rating criteria and evidentiary standards across multiple condition types. Whether you need a direct service connection evaluation, a secondary service connection assessment, or documentation for a condition increase claim, our team delivers thorough, professional medical opinions that meet the VA's requirements for supporting evidence.
Conditions We Evaluate
VA Rating Scale
Components of a Comprehensive VA Disability Evaluation
Thorough Records Review Before the Clinical Encounter
A meaningful independent medical evaluation begins with reviewing service treatment records, post-service medical records, prior C&P examination reports, existing DBQs, and any prior rating decisions. Conditions, dates of treatment, in-service events or exposures, and the trajectory of symptoms over time all inform the evaluation. A 'cold' evaluation that doesn't account for the documented history produces weak evidence — the VA can tell when a provider hasn't read the chart.
Clinical Evaluation Appropriate to the Condition
The evaluation itself — whether telehealth or in-person — must address the condition(s) being claimed with appropriate clinical detail. For mental health claims, this means a structured psychiatric interview covering DSM-5 criteria and functional impact. For musculoskeletal claims, range-of-motion measurements and functional limitations. For cardiopulmonary conditions, symptom inventory and exertional tolerance. Telehealth is appropriate for many conditions but not all — a quality evaluator knows which conditions require in-person examination or referral to objective testing.
Completed Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ)
A DBQ is a VA-published form documenting the current clinical findings, symptom severity, and functional impact of a condition in the specific format the VA uses for rating decisions. Completing the correct DBQ for the claimed condition — and completing it accurately based on the clinical evaluation — gives the VA exactly the structured information it needs to assign an appropriate rating. Incomplete or inaccurate DBQs are a common cause of underratings.
Medical Nexus Opinion Where Applicable
For claims requiring service connection (direct claims, secondary claims, claims after a denial), the evaluation should include a written nexus opinion explaining the medical reasoning connecting the current condition to military service or to a service-connected primary condition. The opinion must use the 'at least as likely as not' standard, cite supporting medical reasoning and literature where relevant, and be authored by a physician qualified to opine on the condition. For presumptive claims (PACT Act, Gulf War, chronic disease presumptive within one year of separation), a nexus opinion may not be required — the evaluator should know the difference.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's Included in Your VA Disability Evaluation
Comprehensive Telehealth Evaluation
A thorough medical evaluation via secure video with a board-certified provider licensed in your state, including a complete review of your medical records and service history.
Expert Medical Opinion & Nexus Letter
A professionally written medical opinion and nexus letter that clearly establishes the connection between your condition and your military service.
Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ)
A completed, condition-specific DBQ formatted to VA standards — ready to submit as supporting evidence with your disability claim.
Three Simple Steps
Free Screening
Brief intake form so we can match you with the right provider.
Medical Evaluation
Telehealth visit with a board-certified provider licensed in your state.
Receive Documents
Evaluation report, Nexus letter, and DBQ delivered within 7 days.
Flat Fee Pricing
Veterans Keep 100% of Their Benefits — We Never Take a Percentage. One-time flat fee with no hidden costs.
Ready to Get Started?
Important:
AIDE is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the Department of Veterans Affairs. We are an independent, veteran-owned medical evaluation service. Free claims assistance is available through accredited Veteran Service Organizations (VSOs). Our evaluations do not guarantee a specific VA rating or claim outcome. See our full Disclosures for more information.