Behavior health

Yes, you should absolutely inform the VA about your private mental health treatment and submit those records; they are crucial evidence the VA must consider under 38 CFR 3.159(c)(1), which mandates the VA to assist in obtaining relevant non-federal records you adequately identify. Your private social worker’s clinical notes and diagnosis provide essential medical nexus and severity evidence for your claim, rated under 38 CFR 4.130 using Diagnostic Codes 9200-9440. The VA will accept and consider these records, but to ensure they are properly obtained and evaluated, you must provide a signed release (VA Form 21-4142a) and explicitly identify the provider and dates of treatment—relying solely on a later mention risks a denial for lack of evidence. To strengthen your claim, proactively submit your private records alongside a completed VA Form 21-526EZ, and complement them with buddy statements and your own lay statement detailing in-service stressors and current symptoms, as supported by case law like *Buchanan v. Nicholson* which emphasizes the probative value of competent lay evidence. Simultaneously, schedule a VA Compensation & Pension (C&P) exam, as the VA must reconcile all evidence, including private opinions, per *DeLuca v. Brown*, which holds that private medical evidence can be as competent as VA evidence. Your actionable next steps are: 1) Sign and submit VA Form 21-4142a to authorize release of your private records; 2) File an Intent to File (VA Form 21-0966) to preserve your earliest possible effective date; 3) Gather and submit your private treatment records, a personal statement (VA Form 21-4138), and buddy statements with your formal claim.

*Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes regarding VA claims processes and is not intended as legal, medical, or official VA advice. For guidance specific to your claim, consult an accredited VA attorney or claims agent.*