Yes, the VA will accept your private medical records for your VA disability appeal. Not all Veterans receive their medical care at the VA, some receive partial care, and others do not even step foot into a VA medical facility. If you have non-VA medical records applicable to your currently applied disability, it is your responsibility to get those records to the VA, but the VA also has a duty to assist. “VA’s Duty to Assist requires VA to assist you in getting evidence, such as medical records, that’s needed to support your case.” https://www.va.gov/decision-reviews/faq/ . Even though the VA has this duty, it is usually more efficient if you obtain the records on your own. Having non-VA medical providers can assist your claim in some situations. A VA accredited attorney can help you obtain a nexus support letter, something most VA medical providers will not write. This nexus letter will show the VA: 1) that you have a current medical condition, 2) that you had an event, injury, or
“Mediation is a structured, interactive process where an impartial third party assists disputing parties in resolving conflict through the use of specialized communication and negotiation techniques.“ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mediation . Mediation is a type of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) conducted to resolve pending Court actions. Georgia has an Office of Dispute Resolution specifically appointed to oversee ADR programs. “The mission of the Georgia Commission on Dispute Resolution is to help the Georgia Supreme Court fulfill its Constitutional mandate to ‘provide for the speedy, efficient, and inexpensive resolution of disputes and prosecutions’ in the judiciary.” https://godr.org/about-us/ . All types of people seek mediation for a wide variety of issues, in fact, some courts order mediation before a case is allowed to move forward with a final hearing. During mediation, both parties agree to attempt to work out their pending issues with a trained neutral medi