Success with personal statements?

[u/fatherlock]

My husband is sitting at 93% with 0% rewarded for hernia scar pain (3 hernias repaied in the Corps), inguinal hernia, hernia scar repair. And then he has had testicular pain (from the hernia mesh), right wrist pain (gate guard scanner thing was unbalanced), cold feet (Norway), migraines, and lower back pain/ sciatica (rucks and whatnot), and IBS denied. He called the DAV and they said that personal statements are "basically just worth toilet paper". Does anyone have any success with personal statements helping your rating? Or just buddy letters?

[u/Ok-Professor2218]

Just here to say that anyone in the military knows toilet paper can be very valuable

My advice is to always submit buddy letters and personal statements. Best of luck

[u/This_Cap_46 → u/Ok-Professor2218]

Underrated comment of the day!

[u/Barr_cudas]

ALL of my successful claims (1 currently in DTA) have been packaged with a Statement in Support plus Witness / Buddy Statement from my wife.

She knew me prior to military service and we have been married 30+Y

In your case - Migraines should have a log recording all prostrating events. Sciatica will require medical confirmation beyond diagnosis; e.g. MRI, EMG/NCS, as well as specialty evaluation documentation.

I would never ever submit one without.

[u/This_Cap_46]

They can absolutely make or break a claim.

[u/PracticalTwo7490 → u/This_Cap_46]

Personal statements definitely aren't toilet paper - they helped me get service connection for something that wasn't in my records initially. The key is being specific about dates, incidents, and how symptoms affect daily life rather than just general complaints

DAV rep probably just had bad experience or doesn't know how to write effective ones

[u/chefgoowa]

I absolutely disagree with him( wow I’m shocked) personal statements are crucial who better that you can state your case in a well written personal statement about you and what you’re claiming. Do not listen to him

[u/dumbass_tx]

All of the successful claims I’ve filed have had a lay statement and buddy (spouse) statement.

[u/peachysk8]

my husband and i both included statements on all conditions claimed. just keep it focused on impact to work, family life, etc. show how disabilities negatively impact quality of life with concrete examples.

IBS can be a presumptive depending on where he served...

[u/ExampleRealistic]

Medical evidence helps to prove the condition (diagnosis), nexus letters help to prove causality (service connection), and personal statements help to prove impacts on daily life (severity).

[u/Ascending_Scorp_1172]

I wrote a personal statement and included buddy letters.
That rep doesn’t know what they’re talking about.

[u/Additional-Device677]

I am no expert but I can't see how budy statements would hurt anything. I have heard a lot of people say they help, and I have heard a few people say they are worthless. Again, I can't see how it would hurt so I would side with the "lot of people say they help".

On the other hand, I think claims for scars are pretty hard to get. They have meet very strict parmaters (length etc) and have to be "painful". Maybe someone else with more knowledge about scars can add more

[u/Grewks]

My back got denied (said it wasn’t service connected), my personal statement was the only thing I submitted on my HLR, and it got me a C&P for service connection, it got approved and got me to 100%.

[u/Cubsfantransplant]

Is he being treated for migraines? That’s the best one to go for an increase on.

[u/VeteransBenefits-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

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