Severity is a longitudinal medical question
A single office visit may understate or overstate a chronic disability. Rating-related medical review therefore benefits from a longitudinal approach that examines the pattern of symptoms, treatment, objective testing, flare behavior, and functional loss over time.
Valor can organize that evidence around the specific severity questions counsel is considering without converting the physician report into a legal rating decision.
Medical evidence commonly evaluated
- Objective findings: imaging, range of motion, strength, neurologic findings, laboratory data, pulmonary or cardiac testing, and other condition-specific measures.
- Flare behavior: frequency, duration, precipitating factors, recovery, and the functional difference between baseline and exacerbation.
- Treatment intensity and response: medication, procedures, therapy, surgery, assistive devices, specialist care, and persistent symptoms despite treatment.
- Functional impairment: effects on mobility, endurance, repetitive use, sleep, concentration, self-care, household tasks, and work-related activity.
- Consistency over time: whether the record demonstrates a stable pattern, progression, intermittent episodes, or materially different levels of severity during distinct periods.
When additional evidence would improve precision
Some severity questions cannot be answered reliably without current testing or a condition-specific examination. Where appropriate, Valor can identify the medical information that would make the analysis more precise—such as updated imaging, range-of-motion measurement, pulmonary testing, neurologic evaluation, cardiac studies, or specialist documentation.
Integration with nexus and employability
Severity does not exist in isolation. The same findings may influence an employability opinion, clarify the consequences of aggravation, or help distinguish the effects of multiple conditions. When counsel asks a combined question, Valor can integrate severity with causation and functional analysis rather than producing disconnected conclusions.