Your Service-Connected Condition
The Veterans Administration (VA) provides disability compensation for deserving veterans who have disabilities related to their military service. These conditions include those that developed while serving in the military that were not caused by active duty, and conditions that were caused or exasperated by military service.
The Veterans Administration recognizes the following list of conditions as having developed in veterans because of their active service in the military. If you believe you have a service-connected condition, you may be eligible for disability compensation benefits.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Related to combat service or personal trauma
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
If diagnosed anytime after honorable service in excess of 90 days
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
Often diagnosed, but generally related to concussion resulting from explosion
Chronic Diseases:
If diagnosed within one year of separation from service
- Anemia, primary
- Arteriosclerosis
- Arthritis
- Atrophy, Progressive Muscular
- Brain Hemorrhage
- Brain Thrombosis
- Bronchiectasis
- Calculi of the kidney, bladder, or gallbladder
- Cardiovascular-renal disease, including hypertension
- Cirrhosis of the liver
- Coccidioidomycosis
- Diabetes mellitus
- Encephalitis lethargic residuals
- Endocarditis (all forms of valvular heart disease)
- Endocrinopathies
- Epilepsies
- Hansen’s disease
- Hodgkin’s disease
- Leukemia
- Lupus erythematous, systemic
- Myasthenia gravis
- Myelitis
- Myocarditis
- Nephritis
- Other organic diseases of the nervous system
- Osteitis deformans (Paget‟s disease)
- Osteomalacia
- Palsy, bulbar
- Paralysis agitans
- Psychoses
- Purpura idiopathic, hemorrhagic
- Raynaud‟s disease
- Sarcoidosis
- Scleroderma
- Sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral
- Sclerosis, multiple
- Syringomyelia
- Thromboangiitis obliterans (Buerger‟s disease)
- Tuberculosis, active
- Tumors, malignant, or of the brain or spinal cord or peripheral nerves
- Ulcers, peptic (gastric or duodenal)
Tropical Diseases
If diagnosed within incubation period of illness following service in a tropical region
- Amebiasis
- Blackwater fever
- Cholera
- Dracontiasis
- Filariasis
- Leishmaniasis, including kala-azar
- Loiasis.
- Malaria
- Onchocerciasis
- Oroya fever
- Pinta
- Plague
- Schistosomiasis
- Yaws
- Yellow fever
Diseases Specific to Prisoners of War
If held captive more than 30 days and diagnosed at any time following separation from service
- Psychosis
- Any of the anxiety states
- Dysthymic disorder (depressive neurosis)
- Organic residuals of frostbite
- Post-traumatic osteoarthristis
- Atherosclerotic heart disease
- Hypertensive vascular disease
- Hypertensive heart disease
- Myocardial infarction
- Congestive heart failure
- Arrhythmia
- Stroke
- Osteoporosis
- Avitaminosis
- Beriberi (including beriberi heart disease)
- Chronic dysentery
- Helminthiasis
- Malnutrition
- Pellagra
- Other nutritional deficiency
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Peptic ulcer disease
- Peripheral neuropathy (except if related to infectious causes)
- Cirrhosis of the liver
- Osteoporosis (on or after September 28, 2009
Diseases Specific to Radiation Exposure:
- See Wartime Veterans: World War II
Diseases Specific to Herbicide Exposure/Agent Orange:
- See Wartime Veterans: Vietnam
Diseases Specific to Undiagnosed or Medically Unexplained Symptoms:
- See Wartime Veterans: Persian Gulf Wars
Apply for Benefits with an Alpha Advocate – Vets Helping Vets
If you think you have a condition that qualifies for Veterans Disability Compensation, the Alpha team can help you get started with your initial application to the VA.
If you do not receive a fully favorable decision from the VA, or you disagree with the percentage given to your disability, we can help you appeal for more.
It can take months, in many cases, years, for the VA to grant benefits. If you think you have a service-connected disability, or need help to prove that you do, the Alpha team is ready to help you.
Contact us to get started on your claim.
Note: All representation coordinated by Alpha is provided by our employees, the Advocates, who are accredited by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). No private organization that trains and employs accredited agents has been legally recognized by the VA for the purposes of preparation, presentation, and prosecution of claims. This work must be done by the Advocates themselves and not organizations.
Dear Sir,
I have both kness with arthritis and hardly any cartiledge. The VA doctors say that I need both knee replacements. They called it (unofficially) “airborn knees”.
The doctors did try injections in one of my kness with “SYNVISC”. I had adverse reasctions to this solution. Then they told me that my weight is a contributing factor; but not the only or being the main factor. They recommended that I rest and not to do much movement of my knees for 9-12 monhs. Then I should be able to walk and run again (which I did even 3 months prior {I played basketball}to my c/o of the pain).
As the months passed, I have gained weight due to decrease mobility. Now they tell me that they cannot do the surgeries to make me walk (and hopefully run) until I loose some weight. The problem is they want me to walk and do excercises to loose the weight. However, the increase movement also increases my pains. I am taking pain killers and muscle relaxers twice a day. Thus, I am in a “catch 22″ cycle…..
increased pain ; cannot move or excercise ; cannot loose weight (even though I am taking 1500-2000kcl diet) ; cannot have the surgeries ; increased pains.
Because of the increased pain and weight, and decreased mobility, I am not able to work and support my family now. I believe that I could truly increase the quality of my life (even go back to work) if I could receive the solution to my knee problems. I ask you if there is anything you could do or advise inorder for me to achieve my goals.
I will thank you in advance for all of your consideration and time you have spent on my email. I look forward to your expedited response.
Sincerely
David
David,
If you visit our section regarding service connection, the challenge as it appears to me is that you need to establish service connection. You need to establish three elements.
1. A current disability, which judging by your statement you clearly have.
2. An inservice injury, usually an entry in your service medical records that documents an actual traumatic event resulting in complaints consistent with an injury (in this case your knees).
3. A medical nexus (or link) connecting your current disability to the documented in service injury.
Civilian medical opinions and records can also help define the service connection.
Let me know if you would like one of our advocates to call you directly to discuss the nature of your VA claim and any other issues you might be having with the VA.
I am currently rated at 10% for HCV that I aquired as a corpsman in 1973. In addition I am rated at 0% for Cirrhosis of the liver with my ssoc stating that having HCV for as long as I have I am bound to have cirrhosis.I won these from the claims in 2004 from the BVA. I am now waiting a decision for an up graded rating. In the mean time I am applying for TDIU as I am cosidered disabled by the State of Utah. I have Been diagnosed by the VAMC in SLC by biopsy as having stage3/4 cirrhosis consistant with HCV. I also have splenomegaly gerd varcies and some that have recanalised all treated by the VAMC. Is this enough information for TDIU? I also have my VAMC Psychistrist saying that my anxiety condition is both primary and secondary to my HCV and cirrhosis. My question is do I need more documentation than that to prove my case? I have drank Alcohol 3 time in the past each time I was sent to the ER at a private hospital. At the time these instances took place I was on Psycotropic medication that contributed to my alcohol consumption. As well as a divorce both my parents passing and general depression. I didn’t drink heavely for years but the record shows abuse. I havent drank since 2006 at all. Yet my liver is still going south. I am constantly fatigued and unable to work because of meds for my back I have degenerative disc disease and periphreal neuropathy most likely caused by the meds I take for gerd. any advice I haven’t covered? Thanks Rob Davis
Rob, sounds like you may apply for individual unemployability. But the catch here is, you will not meet the basic entitlement criteria for the benefit. You would be well advised to apply for service connection for the depression as secondary to your HCV as well. If the VA were to establish service connection for depression, this may pave the way for eligibility for individual unemployability. If you would like, we encourage you to contact us for an appointment with one of our advocates to discuss this strategy.
i retired from the army in 1980 and i had my right shoulder hurt in 1976 and since then i do not know if it is service connected or not but i have pain and arthritis in my back that extend to my right leg i also have problem sleeping(sleep Apena). i am curently taking pain pills for the pain but nothing for sleep. thanks for your time. james
Please call us at 877.611.7724. One of our Alpha advocates can help determine if your symptoms are connected to military service and,if so, get VA compensation to help you.
I have never been the same since I was involantarily seperated from the USCG. I have PTSD, Bi polar, severe depression, and general anxiety disorder. I have been seeing a psychiatrist since my discharge in 2000.
My c&p doctor diagnosed me with valvular disease will that quafy me for comisation?
Douglas,
We need to know more about you and your military service. Please read our aricle on Elgibility and Benefit Compensation Criteria. If you think your condition is related to military service we can help you get VA benefits.
Kris,
Perhaps we can help you. You should call us so we can talk to you to find out if we can. If interested please call us at 877.611.7724.
There used to be a list of specific conditions and the percentage of disability for eadch of those conditions that typically qualify for VA disability. I can no longer find that specific list. I’m currently rated at 40% but feel the VA has intentionally overlooked several factors in my claims, particularly regarding my kneeds. Now I’m having back problems that go back to about 1981 whuile I was on active duty.
Jim,
You may be able to find what you’re looking for at the VA Web site, Click this link: 38 CFR, Part 4 – Schedule for Rating Disabilities
I am unable to get into “38 CFR,Part 4-schedule for rating disabilities”.Can you help? Thanks,Danny!
tropical disease filariasis/elephantiasis need second opinion
I am told by a lot of people that i may how lymphantic filariasis. The VA doctors of course say no
Danny,
The link to 38 CFR Part 4 is available on the VA Web site.
I served in the Army (ASA) from 9/72 thru 9/75. While on duty I injured my left ankle and left hand in a fall. I ankle has progressively gotten worse. I had both my knees replace to help with the pain. The ankle is completely gone due to repeated falls substained since the original fall. The doctor that performed my knees said the only thing left was to fuse the ankle which might work. Do I have any claim for the original injury. I have always worked and paid for everything myself. The injury happen while I was on duty in Germany. Can I get any type of disability help from the Veterans Administration?
Sheila,
If we can prove that your injury occured while on active duty, it would be considered a service-connected disability and you could get compensation. We need to know more about the circumstances to guide you on this. If interested in our help, please call 877.611.7724.
while serving in germany i was temporarily assigned to a chemical weapons storage facility within minutes i broke out in a rash.also worked on nuclear missile escorts and missions where ship loaded with nuke 155 shells with depleted uranium warheads.Also gaurded m-1 tanks with depleted uranium armor/sat on and ate rations on tank.developed multiple sclerosis va says i had to have been diagnosed within 7 years of discharge.after disharge while ms was extremely active i worked as much as i could and income records are the only proof i have that the disability was active.Since that time i had several injuries that took extraordinary times to heal and doctors even said that it was in my head.But finally in 2003 after a back injury a neuroligist concluded tested for and verified my ms.addittionally i am fully disabled and on social security and unemployable.addittional conditions consist of bad knees wear braces and have had injections at vamc they say that even though service records show the injuries i didnt have med treatment for so long i didnt qualify for service connected.have anxiety depression according to va dr.osteoarthritis,ed,use crutches or cane as needed.i need your help thank you
I am in my ealy 40′s and have over 30+ medical conditions. I served during the Gulf War in 1990-91 with one of the most forward combat support Ordanace units.I particapted in the largest demolition after the war at khamisiyah pit on 11 March 1991. Also, for 3 months in Florence Italy where we recieved and demoloshed thoudands of tons of ammunitions we blew up without wearing any protective gear. I have filled multiple claims in the past 20 yrs as a Vet. w/ the V.A. ( the last claim was # 5 or 6. I have a bad left knee & bulging disc’s in my mid & lower back. All of the x-ray’s; MRI’s show rapid degenration of my spine. I also, have been treated for PTSD, depression, anxiety,treated for bi-polar which I believe was a mis-diagnoses, hearing loss, memory loss,IBS-irritable bowel syndrome, sleeping disorder,BTI-Brain trauma injury that has not been evaluated,exposed to depleted uranium and smoke from doing EOD-Emergency Ordinance Destruction,multiple undiagnosable symptoms, pain in both feet and hands for the past 6-9 months, many new food allergies, unexplaned chronic headaches, and so on….I have been unable to work for the past 3 yrs. and have been told that I am a good canidate for surgery but I have to wait till I turn 50 yrs old according to the VA proto call. The sugeries would give me a life with less pain and a little more mobility. I have been told by the VA that I am unemployable as well. My current rating is 30% total/ 10% L knee; 20% lower back.
I need your professional help to get my rating increased. I believe 100% is what I should be at, but would be satified w/ 70% or higher. I look forward to you guy’s helping me and feel paying you 20% for the appeals process is very fair.
I Pray God’s speed & that God will help me find all the paper’s I need to send to you. Go Alpha. Thanks
I also found out that two of the medications that the VA had me on for 10-15 yrs caused me to get 2 new conditions and the medicines where accelerating them called myofascial pain syndrome; fibromyalgia. Very Concerned;
frustrated Gulf War Vet, Sgt Spivey,K.
I was in the Navy and stationed on a ship in the Tonkin Gulf during the Vietnam War from 71 to 72. I now have been diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes and there is no history of diabetes in my family to my knowledge. Am I eligible for benefits (Agent Orange) or is that only for in country vets? I also have developed back problems since leaving the service. Thanks for your help.
John,
You should read our article “VA Rules that Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Must Prove Agent Orange Exposure.” If you think you could have been exposed to Agent Orange you should pursue benefits. If interested in our help, please call in to talk to an Alpha advocate about best strategies for developing a claim.
In 2007 I donated a kidney to my sister. Before doing so I had to get approval from the Army Surgeon General’s Office for approval since the Army would have to deal with the issues of allowing a Soldier to do so. After the surgery my physical abilities became less and less. I was put on a permanent profile due to the fact that I was having chronic back pain. I could no longer run or even perform a APFT, such as doing situps because of the pain. After my discharge earlier this year, the VA denied my claim of residuals of the donation because they stated it was not service connected. According to the Army Regulation, anything that happens due to the donation is considered in the line of duty.
Naomi,
Hats off to you for doing what had to be done for your sister. The VA is taking the position that surgery was elective and so they will not cover it. We think it really wasn’t “elective” as your sister’s health was in serious question. Your choice could be compared to a soldier electing to take a bullet for a fellow soldier. You sacrified a part of yourself to help another. You deserve to have an Alpha advocate review the VA decision to determine whether an appeal is appropriate.
i just wish that the military would be considerate for infantry soldiers. we train hard every day. when its time to end time in service and you are hurt, they do not want give you any. they are done with you
i serve in the army. my unit was 1/506 Camp Greaves Korea ranger battalion . I hurt my back but i still move on until i could not move any more. I could barely move. i experience numbness and tingling on the left side of my body and there numbness around my anus also my private part . My left leg became weak and i have this burning sensation on my left arm. i really just want to be back right before i got in the military
Earnest,
Our Alpha advocates are veterans too, and many of them are disabled. They understand what fellow veterans go through. If you think your conditions are related to your military service you could be entitled to compesnation from the VA. And we can help you with that. If interested, please call 877-611-7724 to talk to one of them and maybe get some real attention.
I am currently being seperated with a General Under honorable conditions discharge. The final decision hasn’t been made yet, but what I want to know is if i may qualify for VA Compensation because of the following conditions.
-Shin Splints : Located in both Shins worse on the right. Performed physical therapy with little benefit. Pain improves with decreased runnning.
-Closed Skull Fracture of Orbital Floor: No residual pain , visual disturbances since accident
-Visual Disturbances: Blurred Vision in left eye. Normal vision with right and forward gaze
-Bilatera Knee Pain: Constant persistant , worse when running
-Patellofemoral Syndrome: located in the right knee. Previsous dislocation in 2007
-Fracture of Nasal Bone
In your opinion from the above conditions would I qualify and if so how much do you think I would get? Thanx in advance
Alcyea,
To be eligible for VA compensation you must have been honorably discharged from military service. If you are, you can file for compensation for any condition that could be related to your military service. How much you get in disability depends on the rating, which is determined though medical examinations. If you think you would like help with developing a claim with the VA, please give us a call at 877-611-7724.
Hello all,
I have been in the Army for about 8 years now and it was just discovered that I have 3 heart conditions; Wolffe Parkinsion White Syndrome, bicuspid aortic valve, and I also have a hole in my heart. I will have the Wolffe parkinson fixed by the time I get out. But I am wondering if the other two conditions would qualify for disability. They do not affect me currently but as I get older I have greater chance of needing valve replacements, and etc.
Keith,
If your heart conditions were caused by military service or aggravated by military service you could get benefits. Perhaps you should call in to talk to an Alpha advocate about your situation instead of waiting for your conditions to worsen.
I noticed that you do not list my condition. I have bipolar disorder and currently have a telephone appointment in two weeks with one of your advocates.
Does your organization have experience in winning favorable decisions with mental health service-connection?
Richard,
Yes absolutely. We spend considerable amounts of time coverning mental health conditions and know how the VA rates these disabilities. We are looking forward to helping you get properly rated for your condition to get you the benefits you are entitled.
I have been through a lot of trauma from post traumatic stress caused by mental and emotional breakdowns during my service times in the Air Force and the Air National Guard that has caused me all kinds of medical problems including my latest two brain surgeries for tumor removal.
Solomon,
If you haven’t applied for VA disability, you should. If you need help or would like some more guidance or information we hope you’ll call in to talk to an Alpha advocate at 877-611-7724.
I retired in 2003, I have a 40% rating. My compensation is for my Knees, and my Lower Back. The pain in the morning, is less then the pain through out the day, due to my my job, walking, and bending at times. I have been back a couple of times, for a percentage increase, they contiue to say nothing has changed.
I also complained of a neck issue, at the time, I had not taken any xrays or a MIR. I had all of that done. The MRI showed multilple issue, I’m waiting to hear back from them now.
I was diagnos with Sarcoidosis, about a year ago, after a small procedure, am I eligable for compensation. I also was diagnos with Plitas ficiasits, foot problem, which is very painful, they called it flat feet, and gave me 5% seperate for my original compensation. I need some guidance, I feel I should be receivng more then what they are giving me.
Please help.
Percy,
If we can help, we will. We work hard at helping fellow veterans get the most in benefits that they deserve. Please call to talk to an Alpha advocate about your situation at 877-611-7724.
Hello there, I’m about 12 months from retirement from the Army. I’ve been looking for a chart/web page that shows the % for a certin injury or illness.
I have IBS, injured elbow and such.
I’m just trying to figure out what % I should before I start the process.
Too everyone else here that served, “Thank You” from one veteran to another.
Joseph,
The VA rating system is based on the level of impairment. Our article about VA Compensation shows the percentage breakdown, but it’s hard to say what percentage would be given to your particular service-connected disabilities. Our goal is to get our fellow veterans the most they are entitled to for their medical conditions so, perhaps it would be better for you to talk to an Alpha advocate to decide how you should move forward with the process.
I was discharged from the Navy with a General discharge due to being unable to maintain weight control standards. Years after getting out of the service I was finally diagnosed with an inactive thyroid problem.
While I was in the service and under their weight control program, I was playing a mandated game of volleyball (exercise program) and landed underneath 2 other service members. Years later and much time of pain, I had to have back surgery on my lower back.
I am wondering if either of these issues may make me eligible for disability compensation.
Bonnie,
Possibly the low back injury, especially if you sought medical care and complained of low back pain following that incident. As for the inactive thyroid, unless there it was clearly diagnosed while on active duty and not found to be congenital, there is very little chance.
entered Military in fine health. No problems for seven years. Passed physicals, however, due to stress from job, suffered high blood pressure. Was treated, and noted by physician need to closely monitor situation. Doctor left, no monitoring occurred. Thereafter severe high blood pressure (220/180) caused damage to kidneys. Now I have been advised that I have stage 5 kidney failure (need dialysis and transplant) am young, not yet 30. I was Hospitalized for this. I believe that there is no doubt that I am eligible for service connected total disability due to this condition which resulted solely from high stress from my work and the military doctor’s failure to ensure my medical needs were meet by failing to monitor my pressure which created the damages sustained by my kidneys.
My case frustrates me because it seems as though my service in the military was in vain. I served as an active duty member in the Army and reservist for the Air Force. I was forced to leave my unit and cease any future exercises and training programs with my unit because of the diagnosis I was given in 2006 for multiple sclerosis. If in fact, that’s what it is. The problem I’ve been experiencing is that the VA did not see this as a service connected disability because the diagnosis was not assessed until that year. Coincidentally, upon leaving the Army, I never rec’d my medical records nor have any requests to locate them were honored per military rules and regulations. I worked as a petroleum lab tech and was continually involved with the process of testing and inhaling chemicals and fuels even during my second pregnancy. Research throughout the years has indicated that the origin of MS is not known and is currently being studied for additional factors such as environmental, social, and biological to link MS to other autoimmune diseases. And to top it all off, the VA made both determinations without seeing for a medical exam and I never rec’d any documentation stating my date and time only that I was requested to be seen by a VA medical physician. Two weeks later, I rec’d the denial. So I contacted add’l legal services, but I guess my case was not enough to review and try to get an equal opportunity like everyone else. I will continue to write my local Congressman and Senator so that they are made aware of how veterans are treated with fair play. I want to exercise my right to apply and appeal any denials that I am confident was a direct result of my exposure to a chemically induced environment. Can Alpha please contact me and let me know if should fight this with or without your help?
Hello, I currently have an appeal filed in January 2011 through alpha with the VA requesting a DRO decision. Haven’t heard anything yet and I have been out of work over a year. Would filing a financial hardship move my files any faster? Also does Alpha check on the status of my claim? thank you laura
Laura,
Filing a request to speed up the case based on a financial hardship should either expedite a decision or have no effect depending on the persuasiveness of the evidence supporting the alleged hardship. Your Alpha advocate can help you check on the status of your case and they are just a call away. Also, you may find some programs and services to help you financially during your wait at HelpWell. Please check it out. It’s an online tool and it’s free.
Thank you alpha my rep is on it and I will check out your site. Sad that VA is so backlogged it can’t help its people.
Dear Sir
I was on tour from 81-85, and in the course of my duties. I started loosing my hearing. I was check but never got help on, now my hearing is very bad. I also suffer with my knees, back pain, ankles and legs. I feel down a ladder on the ship, I hurt my knee and nothing was done, just excerise. Know I’m having problems walking and hurts to stand. Also from falling on the ladder, I hit my head, now i suffer with headaches and have a spot in the back of my head.
John,
With regard to the problems with your head, back, knees, ankles, and legs, in order to get service connection, the evidence will need to show documentation of the in-service injury, medical evidence of a current diagnosis, and a medical nexus (evidence that connects the current disability to the in-service injury) for each condition claimed. For the hearing loss, if your service medical records document significant loss of hearing coincidental with military service, you should file a claim for this condition.
What are your fee’s-Im awaiting a date for my first appeal and might need some help
Robert,
The Advocate’s fee is subject to review by the VA’s Office of the General Counsel (OGC). The VA/OGC generally considers a fee of 20% of the retroactive award as a reasonable payment and we agree. Subject to the review of the OGC, and only if we win an appeal, your Alpha Advocate will be paid a one time fee of 20% of your retroactive award. Call us at 877-611-7724.