Condition Inventory
OPEN SAMPLE Helps you list each condition you are considering for a VA disability claim and match it to the evidence you already have. Use it before your first VSO appointment to walk in organized, not guessing.
YOUR NAME ·LIST OF CONDITIONS ·BRANCH AND SERVICE DATES ·MOS OR ROLE ·EVIDENCE IN HAND ·EVIDENCE NOT YET OBTAINED
## Context
You are helping [YOUR NAME], a veteran, build a plain-language inventory of conditions they are considering for a VA disability claim. This is an organizational tool only. It does not determine eligibility, predict ratings, or constitute legal or medical advice. Conditions to inventory: [LIST OF CONDITIONS, one per line]. Service branch and dates: [BRANCH AND SERVICE DATES]. Military occupational specialty or role: [MOS OR ROLE]. Evidence currently in hand: [EVIDENCE IN HAND, list what documents or records you have: medical records, buddy statements, service records, private doctor notes, photos, or other]. Evidence you believe exists but have not obtained yet: [EVIDENCE NOT YET OBTAINED].
## Task
Produce a structured inventory table with one row per condition. For each condition, include:
- Condition name as the veteran described it
- Evidence in hand that may support this condition (match from the evidence list provided)
- Evidence not yet obtained that may support this condition
- Key gap: the most important missing piece for this condition
- Suggested next step: one concrete action the veteran can take (for example, request service treatment records, ask a buddy for a statement, or discuss with VSO)
After the table, write a short summary of the three most important next steps across all conditions.
## Standards
- Do not predict a disability rating or the likelihood any condition will be approved.
- Do not tell the veteran which conditions to claim in order to maximize a payment or rating.
- Do not fabricate evidence, records, events, symptoms, dates, or connections.
- Do not draft a nexus opinion. A nexus opinion connecting a condition to service must come from a licensed clinician, not this tool.
- Route all filing and representation to an accredited Veterans Service Officer (VSO), claims agent, or VA-accredited attorney. VA claim preparation and representation are regulated under 38 CFR. An accredited VSO provides free help for initial claims. Warn that unaccredited 'claim sharks' who charge fees for initial claims are acting illegally.
- Verify all rules, forms, and processes on VA.gov or with an accredited VSO. Rules and presumptive condition lists change.
- If [LIST OF CONDITIONS] or [EVIDENCE IN HAND] is missing or empty, ask before drafting.
BEFORE YOU RUN IT
- Write out each condition in plain language before running this prompt: what you experience, not necessarily a medical diagnosis
- List every piece of evidence you already have, even if you are unsure it is relevant: records, notes, statements, photos
- Note evidence you believe exists but have not requested yet, such as service treatment records or private medical files
- Keep your Social Security number, VA file number, and claim number out of this prompt. Share only the facts you are comfortable putting into an AI tool.
- Plan to take this inventory to an accredited VSO before filing anything. VSO help for initial claims is free.
- Verify any filing requirements or evidence standards with VA.gov or your VSO before acting on the output
VERIFY BEFORE IT LEAVES YOUR HANDS
- Check each row: does the evidence listed match what you actually said you have? Remove anything the AI added that you did not provide.
- Confirm no disability rating, percentage, or approval likelihood appears anywhere in the output
- Verify no medical nexus conclusion appears. The tool organizes evidence; it does not connect conditions to service.
- Check that no conditions were added beyond what you listed. The inventory covers only what you described.
- Confirm the next steps are practical actions you can take, not promises about outcomes
- Do not use this inventory as a substitute for an accredited VSO review before filing
- Verify any evidence type or filing requirement mentioned against VA.gov or your VSO, as requirements change
Sample output
Sample output. Generated by AI from sample inputs:
Marcus Hale. Army, 2010 to 2019. 92A (Automated Logistical Specialist). Conditions: bilateral knee pain, tinnitus. Evidence in hand: service treatment record showing left knee visit 2016, private orthopedic note from 2023, buddy statement from fellow soldier regarding loud equipment exposure. Evidence not yet obtained: complete service treatment records, VA audiology exam results.
Condition Inventory:
Condition: Bilateral knee pain
Evidence in hand: Service treatment record (left knee visit, 2016); private orthopedic note (2023)
Evidence not yet obtained: Full service treatment records showing any right knee visits; buddy statement regarding physical demands of role
Key gap: Right knee has no in-hand documentation from service
Suggested next step: Request complete service treatment records through milConnect or the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC)
Condition: Tinnitus
Evidence in hand: Buddy statement regarding loud equipment exposure
Evidence not yet obtained: Service treatment records for any hearing-related sick call visits; VA audiology exam
Key gap: No audiological documentation from service period
Suggested next step: Discuss with an accredited VSO whether a VA Compensation and Pension (C&P) exam would be the next step after filing
Top three next steps across all conditions:
1. Request complete service treatment records. This is the foundation for both conditions. Start with milConnect. Allow several weeks.
2. Contact an accredited VSO in your area. They can review this inventory, advise on what additional evidence matters, and assist with the claims process at no cost.
3. Do not pay anyone to prepare your initial VA claim. Accredited VSO representation is free. Unaccredited preparers who charge fees for initial claims are acting illegally.
Note: This inventory is an organizational tool only. It does not predict any rating or guarantee any outcome. Rules and presumptive lists change. Verify all requirements with VA.gov or your VSO before filing.
CUSTOMIZATION Run this prompt once when you are first organizing a claim, then update it as you gather more evidence. If you have conditions in different categories (physical injury, toxic exposure, mental health), you can list all of them and the inventory will address each. For toxic-exposure-related conditions, ask your VSO about the PACT Act presumptive list, which changes over time. For any mental health condition, the Veterans Crisis Line is available by dialing 988 then pressing 1.
Builds a condition-specific evidence checklist covering the types of evidence that may support a single VA disability claim. Use it to prepare for a VSO appointment or to organize your evidence-gathering before filing.
YOUR NAME ·CONDITION ·CONNECTION ACCOUNT ·BRANCH AND SERVICE DATES ·MOS OR ROLE ·EVIDENCE IN HAND ·CLAIM TYPE
## Context
You are helping [YOUR NAME], a veteran, build an evidence checklist for a specific VA disability condition. This is an organizational tool only. It does not determine eligibility, predict ratings, or constitute legal or medical advice. Condition: [CONDITION, describe in plain language what you experience]. How you believe this condition is connected to service: [CONNECTION ACCOUNT, describe in your own words what happened in service and why you believe they are connected. Do not invent connections you are not certain of.]. Service branch and dates: [BRANCH AND SERVICE DATES]. Military occupational specialty or role: [MOS OR ROLE]. Evidence already in hand: [EVIDENCE IN HAND, list what you have]. Claim type: [CLAIM TYPE, write initial claim, supplemental claim, or appeal].
## Task
Build a checklist organized into three sections:
1. Evidence you already have: list each item from [EVIDENCE IN HAND] and note what it demonstrates about the condition or its connection to service, based only on what you described.
2. Evidence you may still need: list common types of evidence for this category of condition (medical records, buddy statements, personal statements, nexus opinions from clinicians, employment records, etc.) and flag which ones apply to this situation based on what you described.
3. Questions to ask your accredited VSO: five specific questions about the evidence requirements and next steps for this specific condition and claim type.
## Standards
- Do not predict a disability rating or the likelihood the claim is approved.
- Do not advise which conditions to claim to maximize money or a rating.
- Do not fabricate evidence, events, symptoms, diagnoses, dates, or connections that the veteran did not describe.
- Do not draft a nexus opinion. A medical nexus opinion connecting a condition to service must come from a licensed clinician. This tool identifies that a nexus opinion may be needed; it does not write one.
- Route all filing and representation to an accredited VSO, claims agent, or VA-accredited attorney. VA claim preparation is regulated under 38 CFR. Accredited VSO help for initial claims is free. Unaccredited preparers who charge fees for initial claims are acting illegally.
- For any condition touching mental health or stress: note that the Veterans Crisis Line is available by dialing 988 then pressing 1.
- Verify all rules, forms, and evidence standards on VA.gov or with an accredited VSO. Rules and presumptive lists change.
- If [CONDITION] or [CONNECTION ACCOUNT] is missing, ask before drafting.
BEFORE YOU RUN IT
- Describe the condition in your own words, including how it affects you now
- Write your connection account in plain language: what happened in service, not a clinical conclusion
- List every piece of evidence you currently have, even if you are unsure whether it is useful
- Keep your Social Security number, VA file number, and claim number out of this prompt. Share only the facts you are comfortable putting into an AI tool.
- Verify evidence requirements and checklist accuracy with an accredited VSO before acting. Requirements vary by condition type and may have changed.
- Plan to take this checklist to your VSO appointment. Do not file based on this checklist alone.
VERIFY BEFORE IT LEAVES YOUR HANDS
- Check every item in the 'evidence you have' section: does it match what you said you have, or did the AI add items you did not provide?
- Confirm no disability rating, percentage, or approval likelihood appears in the output
- Verify that any mention of a nexus opinion identifies it as something a licensed clinician must provide, not this tool
- Check that no conditions or connections were added beyond what you described
- Confirm the VSO questions are specific to your condition and claim type, not generic
- For mental health conditions: verify the Veterans Crisis Line reference (988, press 1) is present if relevant
- Do not file based on this checklist without reviewing it with an accredited VSO
Sample output
Sample output. Generated by AI from sample inputs:
Marcus Hale. Army, 2010 to 2019. 92A (Automated Logistical Specialist). Condition: tinnitus (ringing in ears, constant, worse at night). Connection: operated forklifts and worked in a motor pool for most of service. Loud engine noise daily. No hearing protection issued consistently until 2015. Evidence in hand: buddy statement from fellow 92A about noise conditions in the motor pool. Claim type: initial claim.
Evidence you already have:
- Buddy statement from fellow 92A soldier: describes the noise environment in the motor pool. This supports the in-service noise exposure account you described. Review it with your VSO to confirm it covers the key facts: your presence, the conditions, and the timeframe.
Evidence you may still need:
Service treatment records: Any sick call visits related to hearing or ear complaints during service. Request through milConnect or the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC). Allow several weeks.
Personal statement (lay statement): Your own written account of the noise exposure, what protection was or was not available, and when the tinnitus began. This tool can help you draft that statement. Take the draft to your VSO before submitting.
VA audiology exam: After you file, the VA may schedule a Compensation and Pension (C&P) exam. This is conducted by VA-affiliated clinicians. You do not arrange it yourself; the VA schedules it after receiving your claim.
Medical nexus opinion: A written opinion from a licensed clinician stating that your tinnitus is at least as likely as not connected to your in-service noise exposure. This must come from a clinician, not from you or this tool. Ask your VSO whether a private nexus opinion is advisable before your C&P exam.
Private audiology records: Any hearing tests or tinnitus evaluations from a private provider since separation. If you have these, they may support your current diagnosis.
Questions to ask your accredited VSO:
1. For tinnitus claims, is a C&P exam typically scheduled automatically after I file, or do I need to request one?
2. Should I get a private nexus opinion before filing, or after a C&P exam result I disagree with?
3. My buddy statement describes noise conditions but does not specifically mention me. Is that enough, or should we ask the buddy to revise it?
4. I have no hearing sick call record from service. How significant is that gap for an initial tinnitus claim?
5. Are there any PACT Act or other presumptive provisions that apply to occupational noise exposure for my MOS and years of service?
Note: This checklist is a preparation tool only. It does not guarantee any outcome or predict a rating. Verify all evidence requirements with VA.gov or your VSO before filing.
CUSTOMIZATION Run this prompt once per condition. A focused, condition-specific checklist is more useful than one covering all conditions at once. For conditions related to toxic exposure or burn pits, ask your VSO about the PACT Act presumptive list before you decide what additional evidence to gather. For mental health conditions or PTSD, the evidence requirements and the VSO questions will be different. For those conditions, also note that the Veterans Crisis Line is available by dialing 988 then pressing 1.
Symptom and Impact Log
Organizes your own factual symptom notes and daily-life impact observations into a structured log for your personal records. Use it to build a consistent, dated account of how a condition affects you, which you can bring to medical appointments or share with your accredited VSO.
FREE WITH ACCOUNT Service Treatment Records Request
Drafts a factual, complete request letter for your service treatment records from the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) or the appropriate military branch records office. Use it when you need your medical records from service to support a VA claim or personal health needs.
FREE WITH ACCOUNT Private Medical Records Request
Drafts an authorization and request letter to release your private medical records from a civilian provider to you or directly to the VA. Use it when you need records from a private hospital, clinic, or doctor to support a VA claim.
FREE WITH ACCOUNT Claim Document Tracker
Builds a structured tracker of documents gathered and documents still needed for a VA disability claim. Use it to stay organized between VSO appointments and to make sure nothing falls through the cracks before filing.
FREE WITH ACCOUNT Condition Timeline Builder
Builds a chronological timeline of events related to a single condition: in-service incidents, medical visits, post-separation treatment, and current impact. Use it to organize your own recollections and records before drafting a personal statement or meeting with a VSO.
FREE WITH ACCOUNT Buddy Statement Request
Drafts a plain-language message asking a fellow service member or someone who knew you to write a buddy statement (also called a lay statement) in their own words. Use it when you want to ask someone to describe what they personally witnessed, without putting words in their mouth.
FREE WITH ACCOUNT Work Impact Notes
Organizes your own factual notes about how a service-connected or claimed condition affects your ability to work. Use it to build a clear, factual record of work-related functional limitations for your own use, and to share with an accredited VSO.
FREE WITH ACCOUNT Daily Life Impact Notes
Organizes your factual notes about how a condition affects everyday activities outside of work. Use it to build a clear, dated record of daily-life limitations for your own files and to share with an accredited VSO.
FREE WITH ACCOUNT Evidence Gap Review
Reviews the evidence you have gathered so far and identifies gaps to discuss with an accredited VSO before filing. Use it when you think you are close to ready but want to pressure-test the picture before submitting.
FREE WITH ACCOUNT Organizes the evidence you already have that connects a primary service-connected condition to a secondary condition you believe is related. Use it before your VSO appointment to see what you have and what is still missing.
YOUR NAME ·PRIMARY CONDITION ·SECONDARY CONDITION ·CURRENT EVIDENCE ·VETERAN'S ACCOUNT
## Context
You are helping [YOUR NAME], a veteran, map the evidence connecting a primary service-connected condition to a secondary condition they believe is related. Primary condition: [PRIMARY CONDITION, e.g. service-connected right knee injury]. Secondary condition claimed: [SECONDARY CONDITION, e.g. lower back pain]. Evidence the veteran currently has: [CURRENT EVIDENCE, describe medical records, treatment notes, and any statements in your possession that mention either condition]. How the veteran describes the connection: [VETERAN'S ACCOUNT, in your own words explain how you believe the primary condition caused or contributed to the secondary one, based on your own experience].
## Task
Produce a structured evidence map with four sections:
1. Evidence in hand: list each piece of evidence the veteran described, what it covers, and whether it mentions both conditions or only one.
2. Evidence gaps: identify what is missing that a VSO or provider would likely ask about.
3. Questions to ask your medical provider: plain-language questions the veteran can bring to a licensed clinician who can evaluate whether a nexus opinion is appropriate. A nexus opinion is a clinical determination; it is the provider's job, not the AI's.
4. Next steps to take before your VSO appointment: specific, practical actions.
## Standards
- Do not write a nexus opinion, and do not imply the AI has made a medical determination about whether the conditions are related. A nexus opinion must come from a licensed clinician.
- Do not invent symptoms, dates, diagnoses, treatment records, or medical connections the veteran did not describe.
- Do not predict or imply a disability rating or the likelihood of claim approval.
- Do not advise the veteran to exaggerate or add symptoms they did not experience.
- Route filing and representation to an accredited VSO. VA claim preparation is regulated under 38 CFR. Accredited VSO help for initial claims is free.
- Warn that unaccredited claim preparers who charge fees for initial claims may be operating illegally.
- Tell the veteran to verify current presumptive conditions and rating schedule rules on VA.gov or with their VSO, because these lists change.
- If [PRIMARY CONDITION] or [SECONDARY CONDITION] is missing, ask before drafting.
BEFORE YOU RUN IT
- Name both the primary service-connected condition and the secondary condition you are mapping before running this prompt
- List every piece of evidence you currently have: treatment records, referral notes, imaging reports, and any prior VA decision letters
- Write your account of how the conditions connect in your own words. Be factual. Describe what you experienced, not what you want the outcome to be.
- Keep your Social Security number and VA file number out of this prompt. Share only the facts you are comfortable putting into an AI tool.
- Plan to review the evidence map and the questions list with an accredited VSO before your C&P exam or before filing. VSO help for initial claims is free.
- Confirm any presumptive conditions or rating schedule details on VA.gov or with your VSO. Lists and rules change.
VERIFY BEFORE IT LEAVES YOUR HANDS
- Check every piece of evidence listed: did you provide that document, or did the AI invent a record you do not have?
- Confirm the AI did not write a nexus opinion or state that the conditions are medically related. That determination belongs to a licensed clinician.
- Verify that no disability rating, approval likelihood, or benefit amount appears anywhere in the map.
- Check that the veteran's account section reflects only what you actually described, with no added symptoms or severity.
- Confirm the provider questions are plain-language questions, not clinical conclusions drafted for the doctor to sign.
- Verify that the next steps include routing to an accredited VSO, not to an unaccredited claim preparer.
- Do not treat this evidence map as a substitute for a VSO consultation or a medical evaluation.
Sample output
Sample output. Generated by AI from sample inputs:
Veteran: Marcus Hale. Primary condition: service-connected right knee injury (rated). Secondary condition: lower back pain. Evidence in hand: VA rating decision letter confirming right knee at 10%, two physical therapy notes from 2023 mentioning altered gait, one primary care note from January 2026 documenting lower back pain. Veteran's account: Since my knee injury I walk differently. My physical therapist told me I was compensating on my left side and putting stress on my lower back. My back started hurting regularly about a year after my knee got rated.
Evidence in hand:
- VA rating decision letter (right knee, 10%): confirms service connection for primary condition. Does not mention lower back.
- Physical therapy notes, 2023 (two records): mention altered gait and compensation pattern. Do not explicitly connect altered gait to lower back.
- Primary care note, January 2026: documents lower back pain. Does not connect it to knee or gait.
Evidence gaps:
- No record that directly states the altered gait from the knee condition is causing or contributing to the lower back pain. This is the gap a nexus opinion from a licensed clinician would address.
- No imaging of the lower back is in hand. If imaging exists, obtain it.
- Physical therapy notes mention compensation but do not link it to the back. A note from the same provider stating that opinion in writing would be more useful, if the provider is willing to provide it.
Questions to bring to your medical provider (a nexus opinion is theirs to give, not the AI's):
- I have a service-connected right knee condition and documentation of an altered gait. Do you believe, based on your clinical evaluation, that my lower back pain is related to the knee and gait changes?
- If you do believe they are related, would you be willing to write a letter stating your clinical opinion about that connection?
- What type of evaluation would you want to do before forming that opinion?
- Are there any imaging studies or referrals you would recommend to evaluate the lower back independently?
Next steps before your VSO appointment:
- Request any additional treatment records from your VA or civilian providers that mention either condition.
- Bring the physical therapy notes and the primary care note to your VSO and ask whether the current records are sufficient or whether a nexus letter from your provider would strengthen the claim.
- Contact an accredited VSO to discuss filing a secondary condition claim. VA claim preparation is regulated under 38 CFR. Accredited VSO help for initial claims is free. Do not pay an unaccredited preparer to file your claim.
- Verify current rules on secondary service connection on VA.gov or with your VSO. Rules and presumptive lists can change.
CUSTOMIZATION Run this prompt once per secondary condition you are mapping. Mixing multiple conditions in one map makes it harder to see what is missing for each one. If your secondary condition involves mental health or a stress-related diagnosis, describe functional impacts in plain language and bring those records to a licensed mental health provider before involving your VSO. For PACT Act presumptive conditions, confirm the current list on VA.gov before building your map, because the list has expanded and continues to be updated.
C&P Exam Preparation Notes
Helps you organize your honest, factual account of your condition before a Compensation and Pension (C&P) exam. Use it to make sure you go in prepared to describe your own experience accurately, without underreporting or exaggerating.
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Unlock free with an account → Claim File Organization System
Builds a personalized organization system for your VA claim file based on the records you have and the conditions you are claiming. Use it before you file or before meeting with your VSO so your evidence is sorted and ready.
FREE WITH ACCOUNT Lay Evidence Organizer
Organizes lay evidence for a VA claim, including personal statements, buddy statements, and family member statements, into a structured package. Use it before you submit to make sure each statement covers what it needs to cover.
FREE WITH ACCOUNT Your Medical Record Summary
Summarizes your own medical records in plain language for your own use, so you can understand what they say and what they do not say before taking them to your VSO or a medical appointment. Always verify the summary against your actual records before using it.
FREE WITH ACCOUNT Fully Developed Claim Readiness Checklist
Checks whether your claim file is ready for submission as a Fully Developed Claim (FDC), which can speed VA processing when all evidence is submitted upfront. Use it before you file to identify what is still missing.
FREE WITH ACCOUNT Nexus Discussion Prep for Your Provider
Prepares plain-language questions for a conversation with your licensed medical provider about whether they can provide a nexus opinion connecting your condition to your service. The opinion is theirs to give, not the AI's.
FREE WITH ACCOUNT Evidence for an Increase Claim
Organizes the evidence you have showing a service-connected condition has worsened since your last rating decision. Use it before filing an increase claim or before meeting with your VSO to discuss one.
FREE WITH ACCOUNT Statement vs. Evidence Sorter
Sorts the items in your claim file into two categories: statements (what you and others say) and supporting evidence (records that corroborate or document). Use it to understand what you have and where the gaps are before talking to your VSO.
FREE WITH ACCOUNT Missing Records Recovery Plan
Builds a plan to locate and request missing records for a VA claim, including service treatment records, personnel records, and medical records. Use it before filing to identify gaps and start the request process early.
FREE WITH ACCOUNT VSO Appointment Prep Packet
Assembles a preparation packet for your first or follow-up appointment with an accredited Veterans Service Officer (VSO), including a summary of your situation, a sorted evidence list, and a prioritized question list. Use it so you walk in organized and get the most out of a limited appointment.
FREE WITH ACCOUNT All 120 prompts in this library are free with a VetsLearn account: every prompt, every checklist, synced to your account.
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