Most veterans fail to receive their appropriate VA rating when they apply for VA benefits, primarily due to a lack of knowledge about common VA disabilities and the lack of education or assistance in filing VA disability claims.
Veterans who understand the most common VA disabilities can achieve their correct rating and receive better compensation.
One thing you can do is seek educational assistance from Just4Veterans. We offer a free consultation with our veteran coach to help you determine the best strategy for seeking VA claims assistance or winning your VA supplemental claim.
A veteran’s coach can be of tremendous assistance, and understanding some common VA disabilities for veterans gives you a breakdown of what type of rating you should have.
List of Common VA Disabilities and Their ratings
Tinnitus
One of the most common VA disabilities for military veterans is tinnitus, which produces noise (i.e., buzzing or hissing) or ringing in the ears even without an actual source.
Active service frequently exposes veterans to loud noises, which damages their hearing.
The highest rating you can get for tinnitus is 10%.
If you have medical evidence confirming you have tinnitus, the VA will require that you complete this form and include all the information necessary for seamless processing your claim.
Limitation of Knee Flexion
The disability rating for the limitation of knee flexion can range from 0%, lowest, to 50%—depending on how you bend your knee. It is one of the most common VA disability claims that can be the result of different injuries (ruptured ligaments; torn cartilage) or another medical condition (arthritis and infections).
A medical examination will be required to determine if you have these conditions. Most often, VA examiners may overlook other indicators that could hinder their ability to accurately rate your condition, such as signs of weakness, difficulties with sitting and/or standing, and the specific movements that cause pain and fatigue.
Sciatic Nerve Paralysis
The third most frequent amongst veterans is paralysis of the sciatic nerve, or sciatica. It is a condition that inflicts pain in your sciatic nerve (lower back to both legs), rendering your movements limited and most often immobile.
Its disability rating ranges from 10%, which means you have mild paralysis, to 80%; complete paralysis causes every muscle in your legs and knees to fail.
A medical evaluation will be required to confirm if you have sciatica.
The primary care doctor will review your full history of symptoms and the level of pain you are experiencing.
Secondly, the doctor will locate your symptoms, which movements cause extreme pain, and what movements relieve it. If the physician determines that you have severe conditions, an orthopedic exam will also be conducted.
Bilateral Hearing Loss
Among other factors, exposure to combat—such as loud engine noises, gun ranges, and heavy machinery—can result in hearing losses. Most veterans frequently exhibit some symptoms, including difficulty hearing words and muffled sounds.
The VA disability rating for hearing loss ranges from 0% to 90%, with 0% being not service-connected, while 90% showcases evident deafness. There are some situations in which a veteran can receive a 100% VA rating if it is confirmed that they have total deafness in both ears.
Although it is one of the most common disability claims, some veterans find it difficult to secure compensation for hearing loss. However, to improve your chances of receiving a rating for hearing loss, getting a medical nexus letter can be of tremendous assistance.
Lumbosacral or Cervical Strain
Veterans who often carry heavy objects or have poor posture sustain back or neck injuries, resulting in lumbosacral or cervical strain. The VA rating for spine injuries ranges from 10%, a mild spinal strain, to 100%, which constitutes a severe spine injury and is in an unfavorable position.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
According to the VA’s published statistics, there are nearly 1.5 million veterans diagnosed with PTSD, making it the 6th most common disability claim amongst veterans.
The rating for PTSD ranges from 0%—symptoms are present but not severe. 100%—complete impairment in their thought process and communication, as well as symptoms of delusions and hallucinations.
You can improve your claim for PTSD by providing medical documentation and a nexus letter.
Arm Motion Limitation
Most veterans who served in combat, worked in aircraft, or were in the navy typically use their arms and shoulders to lift heavy objects. Carrying heavy objects can result in injuries and limit the veteran’s movements, making it the seventh most common disability claim.
The VA will evaluate the extent of your arm and shoulder injury based on how limited your movement is.
The maximum rating of 40% restricts your arm’s movement to a 25° angle, while the lowest rating of 20% allows you to move your arms and shoulders up to 90°.
Ankle Motion Limitation
Most veterans who work in naval ships or aircraft may need to perform various heavy lifting tasks, which can physically strain their ankles as they support their body weight.
Your ability to move is another factor in evaluating your injuries.
The highest VA rating for this injury is 20%, and the lowest is 10%, depending on the ankle’s movement limitations.
Migraine
Migraines are intense headaches that can cause someone with this ailment to dissociate and lock themselves in a dark room free from sounds.
Depending on its severity and frequency, the VA can approve a VA rating of 50% for those with confirmed conditions of migraine.
If you want to claim a VA rating for this, you should understand that the term “prostrating” refers to how common your migraine attacks are; this can be instrumental in ensuring that you receive the correct rating.
Scars
It is also common for veterans to receive scars from accidents, burns, gunshots, cuts, or surgery, and these can happen during their active service. That is why it is one of the most common VA disabilities claimed by veterans.
The VA ratings for scars average 10%, but if there is evident tissue loss and severe distortion for either the eyes, ears, nose, mouth, chin, cheeks, or forehead, the VA grants a rating of 80%.
Get assistance from VA Coaches
Getting educational assistance from verified VA coaches can help increase your VA rating.
Book a free strategy call with our veteran coaches and learn new information to help you pursue your claim. Check out our VA claims assistance page.