VA Loss of Smell and Taste Claims Guide

If you're a veteran trying to understand how to actually file a loss of smell or taste claim, not just how the VA rates it once it's approved, this guide walks the whole path: how service connection works, how a loss of smell or taste gets connected to your service (directly, or secondary to another condition), what evidence you need, why these claims get denied, a checklist before you file, what the claims process looks like step by step, how to read your decision letter, and what to do whether you win or you're denied. You will also learn how loss of smell (anosmia, DC 6276) and loss of taste (ageusia, DC 6275) are rated under 38 CFR § 4.87a, and why only a complete loss with a documented, objective cause qualifies.

Last updated: July 2026 · Educational use only. Not legal advice. Verify current rules at VA.gov or eCFR.

Overview: The Rules That Decide a Smell or Taste Claim

Smell and taste are rated together under 38 CFR § 4.87a, and the schedule for them is short. Two codes cover the whole area, and a few plain rules decide whether the loss counts.

1. The two codes each rate 10 percent

Complete loss of the sense of smell (anosmia, DC 6276) is rated 10 percent, and complete loss of the sense of taste (ageusia, DC 6275) is rated 10 percent. Because they are separate codes, a veteran who has lost both can carry a rating for each.

2. The loss must be complete

These codes rate complete loss only. A partial or reduced sense of smell or taste (hyposmia or hypogeusia) is not compensable under 6275 or 6276. The rating turns on whether the sense is gone, not merely diminished.

3. The loss must have an objective, verifiable cause

The schedule requires evidence of an anatomical or pathological basis for the loss, for example a documented head injury, toxic exposure, or nasal and sinus disease. A report that things do not smell or taste right, on its own, is not enough. There has to be a medical cause the record can point to.

4. Losing smell often takes taste with it

Smell and taste are closely linked, so losing the sense of smell often reduces the sense of taste as well. Because of that connection, both should be evaluated when one is lost, so a second ratable loss is not missed.

Two codes, two ratings. Because 6275 and 6276 are separate diagnostic codes, complete loss of both smell and taste is rated once under each, not folded into a single 10 percent. If only one was claimed and both were lost, that is worth a second look.

Across a set of published Board decisions reviewed for this guide, roughly half turned out not to be about whether service connection was won at all, they were fights over the rating percentage, the effective date, or an improper severance for a veteran already service-connected. Of the decisions that actually decided service connection on the merits, the split was close to even between grants and denials, and every merits denial in that review failed for the same reason: no current diagnosis of a smell or taste disability in the record. Keep that distinction in mind as you read the rest of this guide, and the "Why These Claims Get Denied" section below.

How Service Connection Works, At a High Level

Before getting into the specific pathways below, it helps to understand the three things every loss of smell or taste claim ultimately has to show. This is the same basic test that applies to any VA disability claim, just applied to this condition.

A current diagnosis or documented loss. Proof that you actually have the condition now, such as a standardized smell or taste test, or a doctor's diagnosis of anosmia, hyposmia, ageusia, or hypogeusia. This is the single most commonly missing element, and the one every merits denial in the review failed on.
An in-service event, or a service-connected condition behind it. An event, injury, exposure, or illness documented in service (for example toxic or burn pit exposure, Agent Orange, a nasal surgery, or repeated sinus infections), or a service-connected condition VA has already recognized that caused the loss.
A medical nexus. Evidence tying the loss to service or to the service-connected condition. This can come from a doctor's opinion or, in some cases, from your own consistent statements about how and when it started, since a loss of smell or taste is something you can observe yourself.

You don't always have to prove all three yourself. A diagnosis is not always required in the strict sense: where symptoms cause a real, observable impairment, the Board can treat them as a disability even without a formal clinical diagnosis, following the rule from Saunders v. Wilkie, 886 F.3d 1356 (Fed. Cir. 2018), that pain or a functional impairment does not require an underlying diagnosed disease to count. Knowing which of the three elements is actually contested in your case tells you where to focus your evidence. See the Service Connection Guide for how this test works generally.

What VA Looks For: Tests, Records, and Diagnostic Codes

Whether you are filing directly or secondary to another condition, the record VA actually reviews centers on a small set of documents and data points.

Objective smell or taste testing: a standardized smell-identification test, or an equivalent taste test, documenting that the loss is complete rather than merely reported.
Documentation of the underlying cause: a head injury, nasal surgery, toxic or burn pit exposure, Agent Orange exposure, or nasal and sinus disease, giving the loss the anatomical or pathological basis the schedule requires.
Treatment records: notes connecting the loss to that documented cause, and any follow-up showing the loss has continued.
The diagnostic codes involved: DC 6275 for complete loss of taste, DC 6276 for complete loss of smell, plus whatever code applies to the condition you're connecting it to, for example DC 8045 (TBI), DC 6522 (rhinitis), or DC 6510 through 6513 (sinusitis).
The matching DBQ: the Disability Benefits Questionnaire for the exam, which prompts the examiner to record the specific findings the rating depends on, discussed in more detail later in this guide.

Service Connection Pathways: Direct and Secondary

Loss of smell and taste is not on VA's presumptive list for Agent Orange, Gulf War, or burn pit exposure, so it will not be granted automatically. Service connection must be established through one of the following pathways.

Direct Service Connection

A veteran demonstrates that the loss of smell or taste began during, or was caused by, an event in active military service, such as a documented in-service nasal surgery, a head injury, or a named toxic exposure like Agent Orange. Even though smell and taste loss is not a presumptive condition, a veteran can still win on a direct basis by proving the link with their own evidence, under the rule from Combee v. Brown, 34 F.3d 1039 (Fed. Cir. 1994), that a veteran retains the opportunity to show direct service connection through actual causation even outside a presumptive framework. Reasoned private medical opinions tying the loss to a named in-service exposure or event are the strongest support for this pathway. See our Service Connection Guide.

Secondary to Sinusitis or Rhinitis (38 CFR § 3.310)

This is the pathway that shows up most often, and in practice it is often the easier route into a grant. If VA already service-connects you for chronic sinusitis (DC 6510 through 6513) or rhinitis (DC 6522), you do not have to prove your smell or taste loss started in service, you only have to show the already-service-connected sinus or nasal condition caused it. Chronic nasal obstruction blocks the nasal passages and can shut down the sense of smell, and taste often follows since the two senses are closely linked. A supportive private opinion together with your own consistent account has been enough to carry this pathway. See our Secondary Service Connection Guide and the Sinusitis & Rhinitis Guide.

Secondary to TBI or Facial Trauma (DC 8045)

A traumatic brain injury or a facial fracture can damage the nerves that carry smell and taste signals to the brain. Loss of smell or taste following a documented head injury or facial trauma is a recognized secondary pathway when the TBI or facial injury is already service-connected. See our TBI Claims Guide.

Secondary to, or Following, a Respiratory Illness (including COVID-19)

Sudden loss of smell or taste is a well-documented symptom following certain respiratory infections, including COVID-19. Where the loss began during or shortly after a documented in-service respiratory illness and has continued since, that timeline itself can support either a direct claim or, where the underlying illness is separately service-connected, a secondary claim. As with any pathway, the loss has to be shown as complete and objectively documented, not just self-reported congestion or a temporary symptom.

A diagnosis is not always required to win. Where the loss causes a real, observable functional impairment, the Board can treat it as a disability under the Saunders rule discussed above, and has granted loss of smell and loss of taste largely on a veteran's own consistent, credible statements about losing the sense and never regaining it. This does not mean a diagnosis or objective test should be skipped, it remains the strongest evidence, but a missing formal diagnosis is not automatically fatal if your account is consistent and credible.

Current Rating Criteria Under DC 6275 and DC 6276

Loss of smell and taste is rated under 38 CFR § 4.87a. The rating structure is short: two codes, each with a single compensable level.

10%Complete loss of taste (DC 6275)

Ageusia, a total loss of the sense of taste, with an objective, verifiable cause documented in the record. This is the only compensable level for this code.

10%Complete loss of smell (DC 6276)

Anosmia, a total loss of the sense of smell, with an objective, verifiable cause documented in the record. This is the only compensable level for this code.

0%Partial loss (hyposmia or hypogeusia)

A reduced but present sense of smell or taste does not meet either code's criteria. Objective testing that shows a partial loss, rather than a complete loss, results in a noncompensable evaluation even where service connection for the underlying cause is otherwise established.

Two separate ratings are possible. Because 6275 and 6276 are distinct diagnostic codes, a veteran who has completely lost both smell and taste can be rated 10 percent under each, for a combined rating, not a single 10 percent for both senses together.

Evidence That Wins

Across the Board's published DC 6275 and DC 6276 decisions, a private nexus opinion in the file goes with a meaningfully different grant rate, shown below.

Objective smell or taste testing: for example a standardized smell-identification test, to document that the loss is complete rather than reported.
Documentation of the underlying cause: such as a head injury, nasal surgery, or sinus disease, that gives the loss the anatomical or pathological basis the schedule requires.
A treatment record connecting the loss to that cause: tying the missing sense back to the injury or disease that produced it, not left as a standalone complaint.
A nexus opinion that explains its reasoning: a private doctor's opinion that explains why the loss is linked to service, or to a service-connected condition, can outweigh a VA opinion, especially when the VA examiner's opinion only points to a lack of records. An opinion with no explanation, just a bare conclusion, is given little weight. See our Nexus Letters Guide.
Consistent statements about when it started and that it continued: your own credible account of losing smell or taste in service, and having it ever since, can carry the claim, because loss of smell and taste is something you can observe yourself. Keep your story consistent everywhere it appears. (Jandreau v. Nicholson, 492 F.3d 1372 (Fed. Cir. 2007).)
The matching DBQ: for the examination, which prompts the examiner to record the findings the rating depends on. See the DBQ guide.

Why These Claims Get Denied

Among the Board's classified service-connection denials for DC 6275 and DC 6276, here is what claims most often fell short on.

No current diagnosis in the record. A belief that you lost your sense of smell or taste is not enough without a diagnosis or objective testing. This is the leading denial reason by a wide margin: claims are denied where the record shows no current smell or taste disability, and in some cases the record even shows the veteran denied any smell or taste problem at a VA visit.
Exposure argued alone, with no diagnosed loss. Being exposed to toxins, burn pits, or Agent Orange does not by itself prove a disability. Exposure is not the same thing as a disability, and a claim built only on exposure, with no loss ever diagnosed, fails on that ground alone.
Statements that conflict with your medical records. If you report that you cannot smell or taste, but your treatment records show you denied any nose or smell problem at a prior visit, the Board can find your statements not credible and deny the claim on that basis. Make sure your reports and your records match.
A diagnosis of a similar condition standing in for the smell or taste loss itself. If an exam diagnoses rhinitis or sinusitis instead of documenting a loss of smell, the smell claim can still be denied for no current disability, even though a related condition was found. The smell or taste loss itself has to be separately documented, not assumed from a nearby diagnosis.
Confusing a rating or effective-date fight with winning service connection. Many published decisions in this area are not about whether service connection was granted at all, they are about the rating percentage or the start date for a veteran already service-connected. The most VA pays is 10 percent for a complete loss of smell and 10 percent for a complete loss of taste, know what you are actually fighting for before you appeal.

Common Mistakes

Procedural pitfalls, distinct from the substantive denial reasons above, that show up often enough in these files to call out on their own.

Claiming a partial loss. Only complete loss is compensable under 6275 and 6276. A reduced-but-present sense does not rate, no matter how documented the reduction is.
Filing without an objective cause documented. The schedule needs an anatomical or pathological basis. A report of lost smell or taste, with nothing in the record explaining it, is not enough on its own.
Not tying the loss to its cause. The loss has to be connected to the head injury, sinus disease, or exposure behind it, not left as a standalone complaint.
Claiming only one sense when both were lost. Because smell and taste are separate codes and often go together, stopping at one can leave a second 10 percent rating unclaimed.
Assuming smell or taste loss is automatically presumed. It is not on VA's presumptive lists for Agent Orange, Gulf War, or burn pit exposure. You must prove the link on a direct basis with your own evidence, it will not be granted automatically from exposure history alone.

Do's and Don'ts

A condensed version of everything above, in the order it actually matters when you sit down to build your file.

Get a smell test and a taste test, and make sure both results and any diagnosis (anosmia, hyposmia, ageusia, hypogeusia) are in your VA file.
Write down when your loss started, what caused it, and that it has continued to today.
If you already have a service-connected condition like sinusitis, rhinitis, or a TBI, argue your loss is secondary to it under 38 CFR 3.310.
Ask a doctor for a nexus opinion that gives reasons linking your loss to service or to your service-connected condition, not just a conclusion.
Point to a specific in-service cause, such as nasal surgery, toxic or burn pit exposure, or Agent Orange.
Keep every statement you give consistent with your medical records.
If a VA opinion relies only on silent records or says the answer would be speculation, say so directly in your response or appeal.
If you were denied before, file a Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence rather than starting over.

Don't

Don't file without proof you currently have the condition, a belief alone is not enough.
Don't rely on exposure alone (burn pits, Agent Orange) without a diagnosed loss, exposure is not the same as a disability.
Don't give statements that conflict with your medical records, inconsistency by itself can sink a credible claim.
Don't assume the loss is automatically presumed from an exposure history, it isn't.
Don't let a diagnosis of a similar condition (like rhinitis) stand in for the smell or taste loss itself, document the loss separately.
Don't confuse a rating or effective-date fight with winning service connection, know what you are actually fighting for.
Don't stop at one sense if both were affected, smell and taste are rated separately.

Secondary Conditions

A ratable loss of smell or taste usually rides on another service-connected condition rather than standing alone, so it is often filed as a secondary claim. These are the conditions most often linked to a smell or taste loss in the pathways above:

Loss secondary to a traumatic brain injury or facial trauma. A head injury or facial fracture can damage the nerves that carry smell and taste. See the TBI claims guide.
Loss of smell secondary to chronic sinusitis or rhinitis. Long-term sinus or nasal disease that blocks the nasal passages can shut down the sense of smell. See the sinusitis and rhinitis guide.
Both senses are often lost together, so when smell goes, taste should be checked as a second claim rather than assumed to be unaffected.

For how secondary service connection works generally, see secondary conditions and our Secondary Service Connection Guide.

A note on the Board-data widgets on this page. DC 6275 and DC 6276 do not yet have enough published Board decisions in our secondary-condition network to support a reliable "conditions this can cause" or "conditions that can cause this" chart the way larger codes do. Rather than show a widget built on too few decisions to be meaningful, this section stays text-based until that data matures.

Quick Checklist Before You File

Bring these together before you submit anything.

A smell test and a taste test, with the results and any diagnosis (anosmia, hyposmia, ageusia, hypogeusia) in your VA file.
A written note of when your loss started, what caused it, and that it has continued to today.
If you already have a service-connected condition like sinusitis, rhinitis, or a TBI, your argument that the loss is secondary to it under 38 CFR 3.310.
A nexus opinion, ideally from a doctor, that gives reasons linking your loss to service or to your service-connected condition.
A specific in-service cause named, such as nasal surgery, toxic or burn pit exposure, or Agent Orange.
Every statement you plan to give, checked against your medical records for consistency.
A reminder to yourself of the ceiling: 10 percent for a complete loss of smell and 10 percent for a complete loss of taste, so you know what you're fighting for.
If you were denied before: new and relevant evidence for a Supplemental Claim, not just a repeat of what was already considered.

For the mechanics of actually submitting the claim, see the Standard Claim Guide and the Fully Developed Claim Guide (filing with all your evidence up front can speed up the decision).

The Claims Process, Step by Step

Once you file, your claim moves through a series of hand-offs. Understanding who does what helps you know who to contact, and what to expect, at each stage.

You file the claim. Directly with VA, through VA.gov, or with the help of an accredited representative.
VA acknowledges the claim and assigns it for development. A Veteran Service Representative (VSR) is assigned to gather your service treatment records, VA and private medical records, and any other evidence needed.
The VSR orders a Compensation & Pension (C&P) exam if one is needed. Most smell and taste claims require one, especially where objective testing hasn't already been done, or where a secondary nexus opinion is required.
The C&P exam is conducted. By a VA clinician or a contracted examiner, who completes a Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ) documenting whether the loss is complete, its likely cause, and, where relevant, a nexus opinion.
The file goes to a Rating Veteran Service Representative (RVSR), the "rater." The rater reviews the complete file, including the exam results, and decides whether service connection is warranted and at what percentage.
A senior reviewer may review the decision before it's finalized, depending on the complexity of the claim.
VA issues the decision letter. This states whether the claim is granted or denied, the rating percentage if granted, and the reasons behind the decision.
If you disagree, you choose an appeal lane. Higher-Level Review, Supplemental Claim, or a Board appeal, covered later in this guide.

Who's who: VSO vs. VSR vs. Rater vs. C&P Examiner

Your VSO

An accredited representative from a veterans service organization, or an accredited attorney or claims agent. Not a VA employee. Helps you prepare, gather evidence, and file, and can represent you through an appeal. Has no authority to decide your claim.

VSR (Veteran Service Representative)

VA staff who "develops" your claim: requests records, schedules the C&P exam, and assembles the file. Does not decide the rating.

Rater (RVSR)

VA staff who reviews the completed file and makes the actual decision, service connection or denial, and the percentage. This is the person whose judgment the decision letter reflects.

C&P Examiner

A VA clinician or a contracted medical examiner who conducts the exam and completes the DBQ. Documents findings and, where asked, a nexus opinion. Does not decide the claim.

For the full walkthrough of every stage with more detail, see Inside Your Claim and Claim Stages.

DBQs and Your C&P Exam

A Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ) is the standardized form an examiner completes for your condition. For a smell or taste claim, it structures the exam findings into the specific data points VA's rating schedule requires: whether the loss is complete or partial, the objective test result, and the likely cause. See the DBQ Guide for how these forms work, including whether a private DBQ completed by your own doctor can be submitted instead of relying solely on a VA exam.

Before your C&P exam, bring a clear, specific account of your symptoms and when they started, be consistent with what's already in your medical records and prior statements. For a full walkthrough of what to expect and how to prepare, see the C&P Exam Prep Guide.

Reading Your Decision Letter, and What to Do If Denied

Your decision letter has two parts: a narrative section explaining the reasoning (often called "reasons and bases"), and a codesheet showing the actual rating percentage, the effective date, and the diagnostic code used. See the Reading Your Decision Letter Guide for how to find and interpret each part, or use the Letter Interpreter tool to upload your own letter and get a plain-English breakdown.

The effective date is usually the date VA received your claim, not the date your loss actually began, unless a special rule applies; earlier effective dates are typically denied where nothing before the claim date can count as a claim. So the sooner you file once you have your evidence together, the better.

If your claim is denied, or the rating is lower than you expected, you have three main lanes:

Supplemental Claim: refile with new and relevant evidence, such as a new nexus opinion or updated smell or taste test. See Supplemental Claim Guide.
Higher-Level Review (HLR): a senior reviewer looks at the same evidence again for a difference of opinion, no new evidence is added. See HLR Guide.
Board Appeal: your case goes to a Veterans Law Judge at the Board of Veterans' Appeals, with options for a direct review, an evidence docket, or a hearing. See Board Appeal Guide.

Not sure which lane fits your situation? See the Appeals decision guide for a side-by-side comparison of all three.

After You Win: Maintaining Your Rating

A grant is not always the end of the story. Keep your treatment consistent, and keep any follow-up testing or specialist records on file, this protects you if VA ever schedules a future reexamination. If VA already granted your loss of smell or taste rating and it has been in place for 10 years or more, it generally cannot be taken away (severed) unless the original grant was based on fraud, that 10-year protection has restored improper severances in published decisions. Not every rating gets reexamined; understand when a rating becomes protected from future review and what to do if VA proposes to reduce or sever it. See Protect Your Rating and Future Reexaminations for the specifics.

If you were rated for only one sense but later lose the other, you can file a claim for the additional loss rather than assuming it's automatically covered. See the Rating Increase Guide for how filing for a change in your condition works.

Quick Reference Tables

Rating at a Glance

Finding	Code	Rating
Complete loss of taste (ageusia)	DC 6275	10%
Complete loss of smell (anosmia)	DC 6276	10%
Partial loss (hyposmia / hypogeusia)	Either code	0% (not compensable)
Complete loss of both senses	6275 + 6276	10% each, combined

Service Connection Pathways

Pathway	Mechanism	Evidence Needed
Direct	In-service event, injury, or exposure (nasal surgery, Agent Orange, burn pits)	Objective test + nexus opinion naming the exposure or event
Secondary to sinusitis/rhinitis (DC 6510-6513, 6522)	Chronic nasal obstruction blocking airflow to the olfactory nerves	Objective test + nexus tying the loss to the service-connected sinus/nasal condition
Secondary to TBI (DC 8045)	Nerve damage to the pathways carrying smell/taste signals	Objective test + neurological nexus opinion
Following a respiratory illness (including COVID-19)	Documented in-service illness with sudden onset, loss continuing since	Objective test + consistent timeline from onset to today

From Filing to Decision: Who Does What

Role	Does	Decides your rating?
VSO / accredited representative	Helps prepare, gather evidence, and file; represents you on appeal	No
VSR	Develops the claim: orders records and the C&P exam	No
C&P Examiner	Conducts the exam, completes the DBQ, may give a nexus opinion	No / but has a strong impact
Rater (RVSR)	Reviews the full file and decides service connection and percentage	Yes

Find the Guide for Your Condition

This system has no dedicated per-condition guide beyond this one. For the exact criteria and the Board data, open the condition lookup page:

Area	Guide	DC codes
Loss of smell	Condition Lookup	6276
Loss of taste	Condition Lookup	6275

For the exact criteria and Board data, open the condition lookup page.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the VA rate loss of smell and taste?

Both are rated under 38 CFR 4.87a. Complete loss of the sense of smell (anosmia, DC 6276) is 10 percent, and complete loss of the sense of taste (ageusia, DC 6275) is 10 percent. They are separate codes, so a veteran who has lost both can be rated for each.

Does a partial loss of smell or taste count?

No. These codes rate complete loss only. A partial or reduced sense of smell or taste is not compensable under 6275 or 6276.

What proves the loss?

Objective testing, such as a standardized smell-identification test, plus documentation of the underlying cause and a treatment record connecting the loss to that cause. The schedule wants an anatomical or pathological basis, not just a report that things do not smell or taste right.

What causes a ratable loss?

A loss with a documented anatomical or pathological basis, for example a head injury, a toxic exposure, or nasal and sinus disease. There has to be a medical cause the record can point to, not just the missing sense on its own.

Is loss of smell or taste commonly secondary to a TBI?

Yes. A traumatic brain injury or facial trauma can damage the nerves that carry smell and taste, so the loss is often claimed as secondary to a service-connected TBI. See the TBI claims guide.

Why do most smell and taste claims get denied?

The leading reason by far is no current diagnosis or objective test showing the loss in the record. A belief that you lost the sense is not enough on its own; get tested and make sure the result is filed.

Can I win without proving it started in service?

Yes, through secondary service connection. If a condition like sinusitis, rhinitis, or a TBI is already service-connected, and it caused your loss of smell or taste, you do not have to separately prove the loss began in service.

What is the effective date if I win?

Usually the date VA received your claim, not the date your loss actually began, unless a special rule applies. File as soon as you have your evidence together.

Disclaimer. This guide is written for educational purposes and describes how the VA's rules and regulations work in general. It is not legal advice, and it does not constitute representation or create an attorney relationship. Individual claims have unique facts, and outcomes depend on the specific evidence presented. Veterans seeking help with their claims should work with a VA-accredited VSO representative, claims agent, or attorney. The laws, regulations, and benefit rates referenced in this guide are current as of July 2026. Verify current rules at VA.gov or eCFR or through your VSO. Find an accredited representative →

Sources

38 CFR § 4.87a, Diagnostic Codes 6275 (loss of taste) and 6276 (loss of smell)
38 CFR § 3.303, basic rules for service connection, including § 3.303(d), disease diagnosed after service
38 CFR § 3.310, Secondary Service Connection
38 CFR § 3.102 and 38 U.S.C. § 5107(b), benefit of the doubt
38 U.S.C. §§ 1110 and 1131, compensation for a disability resulting from service
38 CFR § 3.105(d) and § 3.957, severance of service connection and the 10-year protection rule
38 CFR §§ 3.307 and 3.309, presumptive service connection
38 U.S.C. § 5110 and 38 CFR § 3.400, effective dates
Saunders v. Wilkie, 886 F.3d 1356 (Fed. Cir. 2018), symptoms causing a functional impairment can be a disability even without a diagnosed underlying disease
Combee v. Brown, 34 F.3d 1039 (Fed. Cir. 1994), direct service connection remains available even for a condition outside a presumptive framework
Buchanan v. Nicholson, 451 F.3d 1331 (Fed. Cir. 2006), VA cannot rely solely on the absence of records, or an opinion that relies only on silence in the file, to deny a claim
Jandreau v. Nicholson, 492 F.3d 1372 (Fed. Cir. 2007), competency of lay testimony regarding personally observable symptoms
Brammer v. Derwinski, 3 Vet. App. 223 (1992), a current disability is a required element of a valid service-connection claim

Related Tools and Guides

Service Connection Guide

The three-element test that underlies every VA disability claim.

Secondary Conditions

Claiming a loss that flows from another service-connected condition.

Secondary Service Connection Guide

How the causation and aggravation pathways work under 38 CFR 3.310.

Nexus Letters

The medical link a smell or taste claim usually needs to be granted.

Buddy & Lay Statements

How your own consistent account can carry a claim for a sense loss you can observe yourself.

TBI Claims Guide

The head injury behind many smell and taste losses.

Sinusitis & Rhinitis Guide

Nasal and sinus disease that can shut down smell, the most common secondary pathway.

Neurological Guide

How the VA rates nerve-based conditions.

DBQ Guide

The exam forms that record the findings a rating needs.

C&P Exam Prep

What to expect at the exam and how to prepare.

Inside Your Claim

Who handles your claim at each stage, from VSR to rater.

Claim Stages

The full walkthrough of every stage a claim passes through.

Reading Your Decision Letter

How to find the rating, the effective date, and the reasoning in your letter.

Letter Interpreter Tool

Upload your decision letter for a plain-English breakdown.

Appeals Guide

Supplemental Claim vs Higher-Level Review vs Board appeal, side by side.

Protect Your Rating

The 10-year protection rule, reexaminations, and reduction defense.

Future Reexaminations

When a rating can be reexamined, and what to expect if it is.

Condition Lookup

The exact criteria and Board data for 6275 and 6276.