As a veteran, you've sacrificed for our country. You deserve support for any service-connected conditions impacting your quality of life. Filing VA disability claims can seem complex, but some medical conditions are consistently more common to get approved for than others. This guide outlines the top 10 most common VA claims to win in 2024 based on my experience advocating for thousands of veterans.
10 Most Common VA Disability Claims Table of Contents:
- Understanding VA Disability Claims
- Top 10 Common VA Claims
- 1. Military Sexual Trauma (MST)
- 2. Combat-Related PTSD
- 3. PACT Act Breathing Ailments
- 4. PACT Act CFS and Fibromyalgia
- 5. Jumper’s Knee
- 6. Jumper’s Back Pain
- 7. Tinnitus
- 8. Secondary Mental Health Conditions (Somatic Symptom Disorder and Chronic Pain Syndrome)
- 9. Insomnia Secondary to a Service-Connected Condition
- 10. Migraines Secondary to a Service-Connected Condition
- Conclusion
Understanding VA Disability Claims
It’s important to understand how VA disability claims work to receive disability benefits. The VA awards disability ratings on a scale of 0% to 100%, in increments of 10. The higher the percentage, the more severe the disability and the greater the benefit amount received.
To get a VA claim approved, you need a current diagnosis from a medical professional, strong medical evidence linking the condition to your military service, and a well-written personal statement highlighting how your condition impacts your daily life.
Top 10 Most Common VA Claims
Let’s discuss the top 10 most common VA claims to win and why they're consistently approved at higher rates than others.
1. Military Sexual Trauma (MST)
MST is a sensitive yet very real issue for veterans. If you experienced sexual abuse or assault during service and have a diagnosis of military sexual trauma, you’re on the right track for a successful claim.
The VA recognizes the challenges of MST and focuses on the impact on your social and occupational life, not the specifics of the event. This means proving the event itself is not as critical. You will need to detail how your symptoms manifest and the challenges they present daily in your statement.
Focus on how your ability to work, maintain relationships, and engage in normal social activities is affected.
2. Combat-Related PTSD
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a prevalent condition among veterans, and combat experience often intensifies the trauma. Proving combat-related PTSD usually proves simpler as the VA acknowledges the intense stress of combat situations.
You do not necessarily need extensive documentation linking the PTSD to a specific combat event. Like MST claims, focus on how PTSD currently impacts your life and how severe the symptoms are.
3. PACT Act Breathing Ailments
The Honoring Our PACT Act of 2022 created a presumptive service connection for certain conditions experienced by Gulf War and post-9/11 veterans, especially those related to burn pit exposure. This makes getting breathing ailments related to Agent Orange exposure easier as you don’t need to prove direct causation definitively.
Suppose you have a diagnosis of COPD, asthma, rhinitis, or sinusitis and were stationed in areas known for burn pit use (Middle East, Southwest Asia, Africa). In that case, your claim is more likely to be quickly processed. Check the VA website or consult with a Veterans Service Officer (VSO) to see if your location and time of service qualify under the PACT Act.
4. PACT Act CFS and Fibromyalgia
Like the respiratory ailments mentioned above, the PACT Act also covers Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and Fibromyalgia for qualifying Gulf War and post-9/11 veterans. These conditions are notoriously hard to diagnose and link definitively to service, but the presumptive service connection simplifies this process under the PACT Act.
If you’ve experienced chronic widespread pain, fatigue, sleep issues, and cognitive difficulties after serving in qualifying locations and timeframes, make sure you mention the PACT Act in your claim and connect with a VSO for guidance.
5. Jumper’s Knee
Paratroopers, we salute you but know that those repeated jumps take a toll on the body, particularly the knees. The repetitive impact of parachute landings often leads to knee pain and conditions like chondromalacia (runner’s knee).
For paratroopers with documented knee issues, getting a service connection can be straightforward, often not requiring a nexus letter linking the condition directly to service. Be sure to mention your MOS, jump history, and how your knee pain currently affects your mobility.
6. Jumper’s Back Pain
Similar to Jumper’s Knee, paratroopers also experience a high incidence of back pain. Those landings can cause compression fractures, herniated discs, and chronic back pain.
A strong personal statement detailing jump frequency and instances of parachute malfunction combined with a current medical diagnosis can be enough for approval. If you experience limitations due to back pain, highlight these challenges in your claim.
7. Tinnitus
Tinnitus, or a constant ringing or buzzing in the ears, is extremely common in veterans, particularly those in roles with heavy noise exposure (artillery, infantry, flight line personnel, etc.). If your MOS exposed you to high noise levels for extended periods and you now have tinnitus, this is an easier claim to win.
Focus on your work environment in your statement. Mention specific details like loud equipment operated, duration of exposure, and lack of consistent hearing protection (if applicable). The VA maintains a list of high-noise MOSs that create a presumptive service connection for tinnitus.
8. Secondary Mental Health Conditions (Somatic Symptom Disorder and Chronic Pain Syndrome)
Suppose you already have a service-connected physical condition. In that case, adding a secondary mental health condition, such as Somatic Symptom Disorder or Chronic Pain Syndrome can make your claim easy to win. Living with chronic pain or discomfort takes a mental toll, and these conditions formally recognize the mental health impacts.
You'll need a current diagnosis from a mental health provider that links to the existing condition. For example, you might explain how back pain from a service-connected back injury makes you anxious about social outings due to fear of discomfort. You might mention insomnia because of the tinnitus and that the insomnia is so bad it requires medication that keeps you groggy the next day.
Linking those mental health struggles to an already service-connected physical condition strengthens your claim. It demonstrates the wider impact of the original condition on your well-being.
9. Insomnia Secondary to a Service-Connected Condition
Insomnia can stem from many issues, but if it is directly caused by another already-service-connected condition like chronic pain or tinnitus, it becomes easier to get approved. Focus on how the previous condition disrupts sleep, how often it occurs, and any treatment sought.
A sleep study, though not always required, strengthens this claim, but a log of sleep patterns is encouraged. Detailing your attempts to manage insomnia on your own underscores how the condition impacts you.
10. Migraines Secondary to a Service-Connected Condition
Many veterans experience migraines. Getting them service-connected depends on establishing that link to your time in service or an already-approved condition. For example, if you have service-connected tinnitus, it can trigger migraines for some individuals. Having migraines alongside PTSD is another example.
Demonstrating this link is critical and might require a medical professional to establish that nexus (connection). Keep a detailed migraine log documenting frequency, severity, triggers, and any missed work due to the condition. This gives the VA quantifiable data for your claim.
