CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (Chambana Today) — For many veterans seeking disability benefits, proving that their current medical conditions are linked to their military service can be the hardest part of the process. Dr. David Fletcher, an Army veteran and occupational medicine specialist at SafeWorks Illinois, says that’s exactly where a nexus letter becomes crucial.
“A nexus letter is the medical documentation that links a veteran’s exposure or injury during their service to the condition they have today,” Fletcher explained. “Without it, they’re going to have a difficult time proving their claim.”
Unlike a traditional medical evaluation, a nexus letter requires detailed review of service records, medical history, and often scientific research. Fletcher says writing one is a “cumbersome process” because the physician must connect events that may have happened decades earlier — sometimes exposures that weren’t fully understood at the time.
Fletcher’s experience makes him uniquely suited for the job. He served in the military from 1976 to 1986, a period when the first wave of post–Vietnam health claims emerged, and he frequently handled what would later become known as nexus evaluations. His specialty, occupational medicine, focuses directly on whether exposures and work conditions cause illness — a perfect match for veterans’ claims.
“Some conditions take decades to show up,” Fletcher said, pointing to cancers and environmental exposures from Iraq and Vietnam, including Agent Orange. “You have to look at the medical literature and the veteran’s exact service location to establish that link.”
While veterans can always receive medical treatment, the nexus process is strictly for benefits — the system that determines disability percentages and compensation. Veterans who seek Fletcher’s help receive a starter packet outlining needed records, documentation, and costs.
“It’s a medical-legal case,” Fletcher said. “My opinions must be rock solid, and I have to defend them.”
Despite the difficulty, Fletcher says helping veterans is personal. “I owe such a debt to my time in the military. This is how I pay it back.”
Veterans seeking information or assistance with nexus letters can contact SafeWorks Illinois at 217-356-6150 or visit safeworksillinois.com.
