What are the three essential components required to establish direct service connection (SC)?

To establish a direct service connection for a disability claim with the Veterans Affairs, three essential components must be demonstrated:

1. A current disability: This first criterion necessitates that the veteran has a medical diagnosis of a disability that currently affects their health. This aspect is critical because it confirms that the individual is facing a significant health issue that requires attention and is connected to their service.

2. An event, injury, or disease in service: The second element requires evidence that an event, injury, or disease occurred during the veteran's time in military service. This is important as it establishes a direct link between military service and the disabling condition, indicating that whatever occurred during service may have contributed to the current disability.

3. A link or nexus establishing the disability's inception in service: The final component is the need for a nexus, which serves as the bridge connecting the current disability to the event, injury, or disease that occurred in service. This can be established through medical opinions or other forms of evidence that suggest that the injury or disease directly led to the present disability.

Since all these components are necessary and interlinked, choosing the option that encompasses all three is essential for fulfilling the requirements for a direct service connection. Thus, the choice that includes all of