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With 5 Years of Professional Experience in
Psychology and VA Disability Nexus Letters
We are Known to Take You Seriously
Life is not always easy. Whether you are navigating the stresses of work, dealing with relationship troubles, or grappling with emotional challenges, sometimes we all need a little help.
Our team at Valor Psychology is here to lend a listening ear, offer tailored guidance, and provide you with the tools to improve your mental well-being. When you walk through our doors, you are not just another appointment—you deserve understanding and respect.
What We Offer
Our Psychological Services
One Time Mental Health Assessments
Get a full mental health assessment for VA Disability claims with a same day return on your medical opinion.
Individual Therapy
Individual therapy for trauma, stress, and mood issues to help you regain control of your symptoms and quality of life.
Records Review
We will look at your medical records to see if our services are right for you.
Assessment
If the VA says 'no,' we can help you write a letter to challenge it. Only for clients who have had a assessment with us in the last year.
Reevaluation
An additional 15 minutes to discuss new and relevent concerns to your claim.
How We Work
Our Process and Expectations
Schedule a consultation: Contact us to discuss your mental health and see if working with Valor Psychology for Veterans is the best option for you. Our staff is highly trained and have been writing successful independent medical evaluations for Veterans
Gather your documentation: (examples include but are not limited to: DD214; VA Blue Button Records; Military Medical Records; Military C-File; Therapy Notes; Personal Statements; Buddy Letters). It is important to be accurate and include all relevant documentation, however this does not guarantee a favorable outcome through the VA. The VA is ultimately the final decision maker in your claim request.
Prepare for an assessment: Write down some of the things you have been struggling with and how your quality of life has been impacted. You will meet with one of our psychologists over HIPAA compliant telehealth for a 45–60-minute clinical interview.
What will we ask questions about:
A brief history of your life before, during, and after your military service. If you have experienced trauma, we ask you not to go into too many details. The reason for this is that we do not want to retrigger your symptoms.
- How your relationships with family and friends have been negatively affected because of your mental health.
- How your work environment has negatively been impacted because of your mental health.
- Things that you used to enjoy or can no longer do because of your mental health or your service-connected disabilities.
- Your history in regard to: Legal matters, mental health, substance use, and other general behaviors due to your mental health or service-connected disabilities.
We are licensed in the following states and are striving to add more: AL, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, ME, MD, MI, MN, MO, ND, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NC, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY.
Prepare your claims file: Valor Psychology for Veterans cannot advise you on the claims process itself, however we do provide you with a list of resources to ensure that you feel confident in portraying your disability and submitting on your own.
Follow up: Submit the documentation that accurately reflects your current condition to the VA and attend the C&P exam if requested and wait for the VA to make the decision.
What if I receive a denial from the VA? You may submit your denial letter for review by one of our expert psychologists, and if deemed appropriate, you may request a rebuttal letter to assist you in furthering your claim. You must have completed an IMO with us within the last 12 months to request a rebuttal letter. Not everyone will qualify, and it is based on the reasons listed in your denial.
Our Services & Pricing
A Small Price for a Priceless Mental Health
One Time Mental Health Assessments – $395: We offer one-time mental health assessments and an Independent Medical Opinion (if you meet diagnostic criteria) that serves both as a diagnosis and documentation of your mental health condition for VA disability benefits. This includes a detailed review of your records, a 45–60-minute clinical interview, and the completed IMO. We make every effort to get your documentation to you the same day, but our providers are given 48 hours to complete it.
Individual Therapy (varies based on complexity): We offer private pay individual therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder, military sexual trauma, childhood trauma, depression, and anxiety. We use evidence-based approaches to include Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Prolonged Exposure (PE), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help our clients resolve and manage their symptoms. We use a client centered approach to create a safe and validating environment in which to talk about your stressors. We currently accept Aetna and Optum in California and Utah.
Records Review – $100: Unsure if you qualify after a free consultation? You can upload your records to our HIPPA compliant electronic health records system, and we can conduct and detailed review of your records. If you decide to move forward with an assessment, your review fee will be applied toward the evaluation.
Rebuttal Letter – $130: If you receive a denial letter from the VA, you may request a letter review by one of our psychologists. If he/she deems appropriate, you may request a rebuttal letter to assist you in escalating your claim. You must have completed an IMO with us within the last 12 months.
Reevaluation – $175: Our providers are only allowed to assess what was discussed in the initial meeting and what is documented in the medical records you have provided. If you have additional information that you would like to discuss, you may request an additional 15-minute reevaluation and update to your IMO.
- Trusted experts in our field
- We know the true needs and expectations of our clients
- We emphasize on your safety and privacy.
- All reports for clients are made simple and easy to understand
Working Hours
- Mon - Thurs : 9.00 A.M - 5.00 P.M
- Fri - Sun : 9.00 A.M - 1.00 P.M
619-576-4020
Direct Booking Instructions
- If you do not need a consult, you may book directly on the Make Appointment Tab.
- Ensure that you have all of your documents ready to upload to our Electronic Health Record System.
- We emphasize on your safety and privacy.
- A member of our Customer Service team will send the informed consent and an intake package in preparation for your appointment.
Working Hours
- Mon - Thurs : 9.00 A.M - 5.00 P.M
- Fri - Sun : 9.00 A.M - 1.00 P.M
619-576-4020
Make an Appointment
Contact Us For Better Information And Services
We are here to help
FAQs
VA Disability Ratings for Mental Health: What you need to know
We get that you might have a lot of questions before starting therapy or taking up any of our services. Do not worry; you are not alone. Here are answers to some of the most common mental health questions we hear from people.
A VA disability rating is a determination made by the Department of Veteran’s Affairs (VA) based on the severity of a Veteran’s mental health condition. This is a measure of the impact on the Veteran’s overall functioning and quality of life. The VA’s rating scale for mental health is based on a percentage scale where each condition (if decided by the VA) is provided a rating of 0%, 10%, 30%, 70%, and 100%. All mental health conditions fall under one umbrella and are treated the same. This means, PTSD is assessed the same as depression, insomnia, anxiety, or adjustment disorder. You can have one diagnosis or three and the number of diagnoses does not impact your percentage. The VA rates off objective loss in quality of life.
To establish or increase benefits for mental health, the VA requires strong documentation and diagnosis of an initial or worsening condition. Valor Psychology for Veterans can provide you with an independent medical opinion (IMO) to assist in advocating for your condition. There are three different types of mental health condition claims.
Initial Claim – linking mental health back to an event or events that happened while in service.
Secondary Claim – linking a mental health condition to a current service connected disability (tinnitus, migraines, chronic pain, sleep apnea, etc.).
Review Claim – if you are currently service connected for a mental health condition and it has worsened, you may qualify for a review to accurately reflect your benefits.
There are two types of Nexuses: Letters and Statements. A Nexus Statement is a one-time mental health evaluation of your condition (i.e., the IMO) which you provide to the VA and serves as both a diagnosis and the documentation of your condition/functioning. In most cases, your current provider is not allowed to write a mental health nexus statement due to an ethical dilemma called “dual relationships”.
A dual relationship is when a provider has more than one relationship with a client, i.e., conducting trauma therapy and then requesting psychological testing (IQ or personality test). These relationships are considered unethical by the Board of Psychology and a second professional MUST be used for the second item. Your providers are allowed to write nexus letters, which are detailed notes of your therapy and require at least 12 weeks of consistent treatment. Many providers elect not to write these statements simply because they aren’t certain what needs to be included in a nexus letter.
Both carry the same amount of weight for the VA. If you have been seeking treatment through a psychologist, you can complete an IMO and turn in your progress notes along side to help strengthen your claim.
FAQs
Common Mental Health Myths
We understand how myths may hold you back. Do not worry, we are here to set the record straight on common misconceptions about mental health.
FALSE – Weapon ownership is not impacted by a mental health diagnosis alone. Weapon ownership is only impacted if you have a felony, are deemed incompetent by the court system, or engage in unsafe behaviors that get you into trouble. Your mental health providers are bound by HIPAA and are not allowed to disclose information without your written consent.
FALSE – A fully functioning adult with a mental health diagnosis does not impact custody. While it is true that occasionally spouses will try to use mental health against a Veteran (and it is allowed in certain states), it is not the mental health diagnosis alone that contributes to the court’s decision. Engaging in behaviors that create and unfit environment or endanger children can. It is not the diagnosis; it is the behaviors that cause the problem. No behavioral issues = no custody issues.
FALSE – Similar to the statement before, it is not a mental health diagnosis that impacts your job. It would be engaging in dangerous/erratic behaviors that would impact your employment. Please note: Pilots and Air Traffic Controllers are held to a different standard due to FAA Regulations and may not have diagnoses of PTSD or depression, however, diagnoses of adjustment disorder or anxiety are acceptable.
FALSE – it’s harder to ask for help than it is to shove symptoms down. If it were easy, everyone would do it.