VA NEXUS LETTERS & DBQ
Our licensed psychologists provide mental health–specific Nexus Letters and DBQs that meet VA requirements and clearly connect your condition to military service or to an existing service-connected disability.
Each evaluation includes a comprehensive clinical interview, careful record review, and clear documentation of symptoms and functional impairment. Veterans also receive an Independent Medical Examination (IME) report, offering expanded clinical findings that go beyond minimum documentation standards while remaining clear and adjudicator-friendly.
Our process combines clinical precision with a compassionate, trauma-informed approach designed to support Veterans throughout the claims process.
Following the evaluation, Veterans receive documentation prepared to support their claim, including a Mental Health Nexus Letter, DBQ, and Independent Medical Examination (IME) report, clearly documenting symptoms and functional impact in language VA adjudicators understand.
Tampa Counseling & Wellness and Liberty Evaluations are sister companies led by the same psychologist, with Liberty Evaluations focused solely on independent VA disability evaluations.
benefits
Meet Our Team
01
Dr. Saarah Nicolas
My goal is to provide clear, thorough, and evidence-based documentation that accurately reflects your medical and psychological conditions, helping support your VA claims with professionalism, integrity, and care.
02
Dr. Ashton Peltz
My goal is to provide clear, thorough, and evidence-based DBQ evaluations and Nexus Letters that accurately document your condition and support your VA disability claim with professionalism and integrity.
03
Sherese Stewart
Sherese Stewart is a Post-Doctoral Fellow with a doctorate in Clinical Psychology who provides comprehensive DBQ evaluations and Nexus Letters.
04
Dr. Danielle Mason
Licensed psychologist with specialized expertise in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), substance use, co-occurring mental health conditions, and conducting independent psychological evaluations.
05
Dr. Jonathan Rapp
VA & DBQ SUPPORT
Stronger Support for Your VA Disability Claim
Accurate Mental Health DBQs for Veterans
Trusted Experts Who Understand Veterans
You will then participate in a comprehensive mental health evaluation and record review, after which you’ll receive professional documentation prepared to support your claim, including a Mental Health Nexus Letter, DBQ, and Independent Medical Examination (IME) report. These reports clearly document symptoms and functional impact to help VA adjudicators understand your condition and support your claim decision.
Free orientation (phone or virtual): goals, claim stage (new, appeal, increase), and priority conditions.
Comprehensive record review: service/medical records, prior C&P reports, lay statements, and imaging.
Clinical interview & documentation: symptoms, frequency, severity, and functional impact mapped to the right DBQ.
Nexus drafting: diagnosis, mechanism, and rationale tied to your file; use of “at least as likely as not” where supported.
Quality check & submission guidance: consistency review and next-step tips (e.g., filing or appeal pathways).
Looking for VA Nexus Letters & DBQ services you can trust?
Tampa Counseling and Wellness helps veterans across Tampa Bay, and we can serve ALL of Florida and most states for that matter (Please Find Map Below For More Information), with medically grounded nexus opinions and properly completed Disability Benefits Questionnaires (DBQs).
We pair clinical clarity with VA-ready paperwork: condition-specific DBQs and independent medical opinions (IMO) that address causation or aggravation and use the “at least as likely as not” standard when appropriate.
Your service deserves recognition. Don’t let a low-quality evaluation stand in the way of the benefits you’ve earned. At Tampa Counseling & Wellness, we combine expertise, compassion, and integrity to give you the strongest chance of success.
| Tampa Counseling & Wellness | Volume-focused evaluation providers |
|---|---|
| We see YOU, not just your paperwork. Our licensed psychologists provide 60-minute evaluations (longer if clinically appropriate) to fully document your symptoms and history. | Rushed “15–20 minute appointments” that barely scratch the surface. |
| Reports that hold weight. Every DBQ and Nexus Letter references CFR-38 regulations and M21-1 guidance, with clear medical reasoning designed to withstand VA scrutiny. | Generic, copy-and-paste letters with no citations or rationale—often rejected outright by the VA. |
| Veteran-first care. We walk you through every step—what documents you need, what to expect, and how to feel confident in your claim. | No guidance, poor communication, and no follow-up once they’ve been paid. |
| Trusted across states. With PSYPACT privileges, we legally serve veterans in most of the U.S. | Some operate outside their scope of practice, risking your claim’s credibility. |
| A reputation for results. Our evaluations are thorough, personalized, and evidence-based—designed to strengthen your case for service connection or rating increase. | Many veterans end up paying again elsewhere because the first letter failed. |
| We stand behind our work. If your claim is denied, we provide a free rebuttal letter because we believe in the quality of our evaluations and your right to be heard. | No accountability. Once the letter is written, you’re left on your own. |
A Nexus Letter is a clinician’s opinion linking a current condition to service (or to an already service-connected condition). A DBQ is a standardized VA form that structures clinical findings and functional limits for raters. Used together, VA Nexus Letters & DBQ documentation strengthens service connection and helps raters evaluate your claim based on facts instead of assumptions. VA explains that DBQs collect the medical details needed to process claims and can be completed by private providers.
When evidence supports that a connection is “at least as likely as not” ( greater than 50% probability), it meets a common nexus threshold recognized in VA disability decisions. Clear reasoning, accurate diagnostics, and consistency across your records are essential.
Local access + virtual care. Visit us at 2814 W Dr Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Suite 201 & 100, Tampa, FL 33607, or book telehealth from anywhere in Florida and beyond.
Phone: (813) 520-2807
Email: livewell@tampacw.com.
Veteran-focused service. Our dedicated VA Nexus Letters & DBQs page outlines exactly how we help—nexus letters, DBQs, IMOs, and rating increases when conditions worsen. We collaborate with attorneys and VSOs upon request; results always depend on the facts of each case.
Aligned with VA standards. We use the latest public DBQ templates and structure opinions so adjudicators see a complete, consistent picture of your claim.
TESTIMONIALS
Definitely recommend!
Dr. Garcia is the most compassionate person I have ever met. He was always available for me and helped me work through a lot of depression and develop the person I wanted to be. Even today there are things that I remind myself of that he told me that there is no quick fix to undo years of life experience.
Stacy Roman
33F, Tampa
Professional, caring and a strongly skilled.
Dr. Garcia is professional, caring and a strongly skilled psychologist. I refer to him whenever possible to make sure that potential clients are receiving excellent care. I highly recommend him for any of your mental and emotional health needs!
Callie Nettles
28F, Tampa
Very welcoming people!
I was able to come into this office, and the people are very welcoming and so is the environment! As soon as you step into this office you will feel inviting, warm, and open. They are great people and provide such a valuable, and important resource for the entire Tampa community.
Allan Venegas
34M, Tampa
Definitely recommend!
Dr. Garcia is the most compassionate person I have ever met. He was always available for me and helped me work through a lot of depression and develop the person I wanted to be. Even today there are things that I remind myself of that he told me that there is no quick fix to undo years of life experience.
Stacy Roman
33F, Tampa
Professional, caring and a strongly skilled.
Dr. Garcia is professional, caring and a strongly skilled psychologist. I refer to him whenever possible to make sure that potential clients are receiving excellent care. I highly recommend him for any of your mental and emotional health needs!
Callie Nettles
28F, Tampa
Very welcoming people!
I was able to come into this office, and the people are very welcoming and so is the environment! As soon as you step into this office you will feel inviting, warm, and open. They are great people and provide such a valuable, and important resource for the entire Tampa community.
Allan Venegas
34M, Tampa
USEFUL INFORMATION
Contact Information
Office Location
2814 W Dr Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Suite 201 & 100, Tampa, FL 33607
Telephone
Front Desk Hours
Monday - Thursday 9AM - 4PM
Session Hours
9AM - 7PM
Visit Our Office
Feel free to stop by our location during operating hours if you’d like in-person assistance.
We provide mental health evaluations and supporting documentation for a wide range of VA disability claim types. Our licensed, trauma-informed psychologists are experienced in evaluating and documenting mental health conditions across multiple claim pathways, ensuring symptoms and functional impact are clearly presented for VA review.
For Veterans filing a new mental health service connection claim, we provide comprehensive evaluations and documentation to help establish the connection between military service and current mental health conditions.
If you are already service connected but your condition has worsened, we provide updated evaluations documenting symptom severity and functional impairment to support requests for rating increases.
We provide evaluations and documentation for PTSD claims, including those related to:
Our trauma-informed psychologists conduct evaluations with sensitivity and care while clearly documenting symptoms and functional impact for VA adjudication.
Mental health conditions can develop or worsen as a result of other service-connected disabilities. We evaluate and document mental health conditions secondary to physical or medical conditions, including those related to chronic pain, injury, or other service-connected health issues.
Examples often include:
Serious or chronic medical conditions contributing to emotional distress, depression, or anxiety over time.
During evaluation, our psychologists carefully assess how physical conditions may contribute to or worsen mental health symptoms and document these relationships when clinically supported.
For Veterans whose mental health conditions significantly interfere with employment, evaluations help document occupational limitations and support TDIU claims.
For Veterans seeking Aid and Attendance or Housebound benefits, mental health evaluations may help document cognitive, emotional, or psychological factors affecting daily functioning and the need for additional support.
Not Sure Which Claim Type Applies to You?
We and the services embedded in this site — analytics and advertising — collect information about your visit, including your IP address, your browser and the pages you view. Read our Privacy Policy.
