Disability compensation is a monthly benefit paid by the Department of Veterans Affairs to disabled veterans who sustained an accident or disease that can be linked to their military service.

Chronic (long-term) back pain resulting in a current documented back impairment, breathing problems resulting from a current lung ailment or lung illness, significant hearing loss, scar tissue, loss of range of motion (trouble moving your body), and ulcers may be eligible for VA disability compensation.

Suppose you or a loved one has a current physical or mental ailment and fulfill the standards listed below. In that case, you may be entitled to disability compensation from the VA.

What are the Easiest Things to Get VA Disability For?

Tinnitus 

The condition recognized more commonly as “ringing in the ear” is called tinnitus. After being exposed to deafening noises, it is typical to experience a high-pitched ringing in the ear for a few seconds; many veterans are familiar with this from firing weapons without hearing protection or being near explosions.

While the VA may provide compensation for tinnitus, the greatest rating you can earn due to tinnitus alone is 10%. For this reason, tinnitus claims are considered “poor value” by disability compensation experts. VA doctors may grant a greater disability rating if your tinnitus is just one of many service-connected health problems.

Tinnitus disability claims, on the other hand, have one of the lowest approval percentages. You may be eligible for a higher total disability rating and more compensation if tinnitus is added to an existing service-connected illness.

Mental Health Disorder

In the insurance industry, claims related to mental health disabilities are typically valued at a high percentage. This is because a disability rating of 30% or greater is far more common for mental health difficulties than neurological, cutaneous, auditory, or musculoskeletal conditions. More than 90% of veterans with mental health disabilities are rated 30% or above.

More than 13% of disabled veterans with mental health issues were granted a 100% disability rating in the 2018–2019 Veterans Benefits Administration Report to Congress, researching these conditions significantly more lucrative than most other medical conditions. Veterans with cardiovascular diseases were underrepresented among those with a 100% disability rating. They gave as little as 1.9% of patients with a respiratory condition a rating of 100% impairment.

Musculoskeletal Conditions

Injuries to the neck, shoulders, arms, and legs, as well as arthritis and limited range of motion, are all in this category. Injuries to the knee and ankle were among the most frequently accepted claims, which probably comes as no surprise to ex-infantry.

Even though musculoskeletal illnesses are typically given a VA disability rating of 20% or less, you can still claim them as a secondary ailment if you meet the requirements.

Scars

Approval for VA disability compensation is usually straightforward for those with qualifying scars. A veteran with scars can receive a disability rating from the VA from 10% to 80%. However, this is only applicable if the scarring is extensive enough. A connection to military service is almost always assumed. The military service record nearly always contains details about injuries sustained while on active duty that are severe enough to qualify for disability pay.

Scar tissue can also cause mobility issues in the arms, legs, back, and neck, a secondary ailment that falls within the musculoskeletal category.

Why Would a Veteran Not Be Eligible for VA Benefits?

Most veterans with private health insurance are trying to find ways to have the VA cover the cost of their care, particularly for costly procedures like chemotherapy.

Many veterans are taken aback to learn that they no longer have access to VA medical care, as it has led them to believe that they could always rely on VA services in times of need. Furthermore, many people who didn’t apply before the admissions process changed in 2003 now wish they had.

Regrettably, the VA recommendations will likely deteriorate before they improve. For Priority Groups with earnings over the national barrier (now $36,554 per year for a veteran and one dependent) but below the geographic criterion, the House of Representatives suggested a plan to decrease VA Health Care last year.

What Gets You the Most Disability for VA?

In the VA’s case, there are several possible outcomes. The VA may assign different ratings to two veterans with the same medical condition. Another veteran may be approved for benefits while the other is not, thus clouding the issue. Why?

A claim’s success or failure depends on a variety of elements. It’s crucial to have solid evidence. You must include proof of your injuries and a link to the service in your claim. You will need to provide evidence that serving in the military contributed to the onset of your disability. A strong VA disability claim will include medical and lay (non-professional) evidence. 

How Do I Guarantee My VA Disability?

To determine disability ratings, the VA’s Schedule for Rating Disabilities is employed. Veterans with certain symptoms are given a grade from this chart. An appeal for a higher rating may not succeed if your symptoms are consistent with the one assigned to you.

There are times when filing for a higher rating is necessary, such as when your symptoms have worsened and you believe they now meet the criteria for a higher rating. Show VA that your illness has worsened by providing evidence, including test results or a doctor’s opinion.

In the long run, a higher disability rating will result in higher monthly benefits. Suppose the VA receives fresh information that a veteran’s condition has worsened. In that case, it may decide to enhance the veteran’s disability rating. Similarly, suppose a veteran’s condition has worsened since they were initially awarded a disability rating. In that case, the veteran can file a petition for an increase.

What is the 55-Year-Old Rule for VA Disability?

When a veteran receiving VA disability benefits for a service-connected condition reaches the age of 55, he or she is no longer required to undergo periodic future assessments. According to the VA Adjudication Procedures Manual, this also applies to veterans who will be 55 years old on their next exam.

The VA can request a reevaluation of a rating for a veteran over 55 “under extraordinary circumstances,” albeit what constitutes “unique circumstances” is not defined in the Code of Federal Regulations. Vets who have finished treatment for certain cancers must be reexamined six months after finishing therapy, which is an exception to the 55-year-old requirement.