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Xterra Health Foundation

Veterans Helping Veterans. Funding the Medical Evidence that Changes Lives.

Our mission is to remove the financial barriers that keep veterans from getting the medical documentation they need to secure their earned VA disability benefits. Your gift directly funds credible, clinician-written Nexus Letters and DBQs for disabled U.S. veterans who cannot afford them. This is not charity. It is a continuation of service.

*Donations supporting Xterra Health Foundation are temporarily processed through our fiscal sponsor, Whiskey Valor Foundation, to ensure full tax-deductible compliance while our 1023EZ is under IRS review.*

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The Story Behind Xterra Health Foundation

The Xterra Health Foundation was born from two veterans’ stories, two lives shaped by service, struggle, and the belief that no veteran should ever be forgotten.

After serving as a Navy Corpsman with Marine infantry units, I, Josh Ackler, faced pain, instability, and a system that didn’t see me. Without resources for the medical proof the VA demanded, I felt stuck and invisible.

Meanwhile, Dr. Marshall Bahr, a former U.S. Army Ranger combat medic and CEO of Xterra Health, saw the same injustice. As both provider and patient, he witnessed how the cost of Nexus Letters and DBQs kept countless veterans from the benefits they earned.

When our paths crossed, our mission became clear: two combat medics, one united purpose—to make sure no veteran’s claim is denied because of money.

The Xterra Health Foundation isn’t a charity; it’s a continuation of service. Veterans helping veterans reclaim dignity, stability, and hope.

The Clients We Serve

Who We Help

Veterans who served honorably and now face health challenges, financial strain, and the frustration of repeated VA denials. They value loyalty, fairness, and trust and are weary from years of hearing no.

What They Feel When They Reach Out

Defeated, frustrated, and uncertain. Many are at the end of their rope, hoping this time will be different and that someone will finally understand.

The Transformation Your Gift Creates

From hopeless to hopeful. From denied to approved. From surviving to stable. Benefits matter. Dignity matters more. Your gift restores both.

Our Story at Xterra Health

The team behind the Foundation are healthcare providers who have personally navigated the VA disability process and faced the same hurdles many veterans encounter. The frustration and confusion of that journey can leave anyone feeling lost and asking why.

The motivation to offer these services also comes from dissatisfaction with so-called advocacy companies that exploit veterans, charge exorbitant fees, and diminish hard-earned disability compensation. Accessing a medical doctor and obtaining an expert medical opinion in the form of a Nexus Letter should not be this hard or costly.

The Foundation’s mission is to provide the most affordable and accessible option possible. As disabled veterans, the leadership understands the complexities of the VA system and is committed to ensuring that every veteran can access the services they need without financial burden.

Why Your Gift Matters

Many claims are denied or delayed not because injuries are minor, but because the required medical opinion is missing. A well crafted Nexus Letter can be the difference between approved and denied. Market rates put that letter out of reach for too many. Your donation removes that barrier.

You fund the clinical review that links a service event to a current condition.

You equip a veteran with VA-ready language such as at least as likely as not.

You convert doubt into documented evidence and waiting into progress.

Leadership

Our team culture is mission driven, disciplined, and grounded in brotherhood, operating with accountability, service, and compassion, and every member is dedicated to changing lives one veteran at a time. Veterans tell us they feel understood and respected, and they value our honesty, steady communication, and a team that walks beside them at every step.

Marshall Bahr, MD

Co-Founder

A veteran who served as a combat medic with the U.S. Army Rangers and a disabled veteran himself. Marshall has stood on both sides of the claims process as patient and provider. After witnessing veterans repeatedly blocked by the cost of medical opinions, he committed his medical career to breaking those barriers. His clinical leadership focuses on rigorous evidence, clear VA-appropriate language, and compassion rooted in service.

Josh Ackler

Co-Founder and Executive Director

A former Hospital Corpsman who served alongside Marine infantry units and resulted in being combat wounded. Josh’s experience with post-service hardship and denial informs the Foundation’s culture of follow through, accountability, and practical support that treats every veteran like family, not a file number.

Cases we support

The Types of Situations We strengthen

We provide Nexus Letters for a wide range of service-related conditions, both physical and psychological.

Musculoskeletal (MSK)

Orthopedic disabilities from joint, spine, or limb injuries can lead to chronic pain and mobility challenges, significantly affecting daily life.

Psychiatric/Mental Health

Psychiatric disabilities like PTSD, anxiety, and depression often stem from trauma, impacting mental well-being and daily functioning.

Cancer

The Xterra Health Difference

The Xterra Health Foundation is a veteran-founded nonprofit and the only organization of its kind, directly partnered with a medically licensed team specializing in Nexus Letters and DBQs. Our founders’ lived experience as combat medics brings a rare combination of empathy, credibility, and firsthand understanding of the battlefield, the challenges of transition, and the fight for benefits.

What Sets Us Apart

Veterans consistently say our team cares when others do not. We provide unwavering follow-through, authentic compassion, and earned trust—because this mission is personal.

The One Sentence We Aim to Earn

The Xterra Health Foundation is where veterans who have been denied finally find hope again—founded by two medics, a Marine Corpsman and an Army Ranger, who turned their own battles into a mission to lift others up.

Our Testimonials

What Our Clients Say About Xterra Health

Lee

Xterra Health made the Nexus Letter process so much easier for me. They really understood what I was going through and took the time to connect my health issues to my military service. I was able to get my disability claim approved, and I couldn’t have done it without their expertise. Truly grateful for their support!

Brandon

As a Veteran, I’ve struggled for years with getting my claims approved. Xterra Health’s team helped me with a detailed Nexus Letter that linked my service to my health problems. Their compassion and dedication were beyond anything I’ve experienced elsewhere. Highly recommend them to any Veteran.

Matthew

The support from Xterra Health was incredible! They walked me through the whole process, from gathering the right evidence to submitting my claim. Thanks to their hard work, I’m finally receiving the benefits I deserve. They really do care about Veterans.

Barbara

Xterra Health made all the difference in my case. Their team was professional, thorough, and truly cared about helping me get the proper disability rating. If you’re a Veteran struggling with your claims, this is the team you need!

Tim

As a veteran, navigating the VA disability claims process was overwhelming, but their team made it so much easier. I highly recommend.

Sam

The best and cheapest option available. The doctor I worked with is also a disabled veteran that has gone through the VA claims process. So he understood that issues veterans can face when trying to navigate the claims process. They were very prompt in their responses and the turnaround time to receiving my letter was also very quick. Some of these other letter writing companies are way too expensive. I recommend checking these guys out!

As a veteran, navigating the VA disability claims process was overwhelming, but their team made it so much easier. I highly recommend.

Xterra Health made the Nexus Letter process so much easier for me. They really understood what I was going through and took the time to connect my health issues to my military service. I was able to get my disability claim approved, and I couldn't have done it without their expertise. Truly grateful for their support!

As a Veteran, I’ve struggled for years with getting my claims approved. Xterra Health's team helped me with a detailed Nexus Letter that linked my service to my health problems. Their compassion and dedication were beyond anything I’ve experienced elsewhere. Highly recommend them to any Veteran.

Xterra Health made all the difference in my case. Their team was professional, thorough, and truly cared about helping me get the proper disability rating. If you're a Veteran struggling with your claims, this is the team you need!

Xterra Health Foundation