The United States Department of Veterans Affairs offers disability benefits to qualified veterans who are suffering from health complications. To be eligible for benefits such as health care and monthly disability compensation, your condition must be service-connected. And over the years, the VA has gotten countless disability claims.
By looking at the annual report published by the VA, we can see which were the most common disability claims over the years. The application for tinnitus has outnumbered others by a margin for a long time now.
In this article, we will discuss the most common VA disability claims. Let’s get started –
Tinnitus
Tinnitus, which produces ringing, buzzing, or other disturbances in the ears, has long been the most popular VA disability claim. It is also a widespread issue, affecting about 20% of the population.
Limitation of Flexion of the Knee
Limitation of knee mobility, often known as knee discomfort, has been a prevalent concern for veterans of all ages—the VA grades knee impairment based on ligament rupture, sprain, and the need for assistive equipment.
Hearing Loss
Hearing loss is one of the most common illnesses among veterans, with over 3 million receiving VA benefits. Hearing loss is normally granted a 10% disability rating by the VA. However, obtaining such a low rating in comparison to other conditions might be difficult owing to the challenge of proving service connection with hearing loss.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
PTSD is the most prevalent mental health disorder among veterans. PTSD is caused by traumatic or upsetting events, and veterans suffering from PTSD may repeat their traumas and avoid locations, activities, or people. The VA has the authority to grant the maximum disability rating for PTSD, and the rating is determined by the severity of the disorder and its consequences on everyday and professional life.
Lumbosacral or Cervical Strain
Another prevalent issue among veterans is low back discomfort. Pain in the lumbosacral region may worsen with movement, as may swelling and redness in the area. The VA can issue up to a 100% disability rating for this disease based on forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine and cervical spine, as well as the capacity to perform everyday duties.
Paralysis of the Sciatic Nerve (Sciatica)
Sciatica is caused by nerve injury and results in numbness in the lower back or legs, discomfort, and the inability to move the feet and legs, among other symptoms. Based on the severity of the disease, the VA can provide a rating of up to 60%.
General Scars
Unstable or painful scars may be deemed a compensable impairment by the VA, with a rating of up to 80% based on the length, breadth, and other abnormalities present.
Limitation of Range of Motion of the Ankle
Chronic ankle instability is a disorder in which the outside side of your ankle continually gives way, creating problems while walking or standing still. The maximum VA disability rating for ankle discomfort is 20%. However, ankle instability can occur in conjunction with other service-related problems, so you may be able to receive a better rating.
Limitation of Motion of the Arm
If you are unable to move your arms freely and have difficulty moving one or both to shoulder level or less, you may be eligible for a 40% VA rating.
Migraines
The three keywords to understand how VA ranks migraines are frequency, severity, and economic inadaptability. Migraines have a maximum disability rating of 50%. It is provided to veterans who have long and incapacitating migraine attacks that interfere with their work lives and contribute to economic inadaptability.
Conclusion
If you are a veteran with any of these conditions with service connection, you may be able to get disability compensation from the VA. Experts at VA Disability Coach can help you prepare the best disability claim that will ensure the highest possible rating.