Receiving disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is a complicated task at best. But because of its nature, there are some conditions that are approved more quickly and more frequently than others. Want to know what they are? Keep reading.
The list of conditions for which assistance is available is quite extensive. Conditions such as chronic back pain, breathing problems, hearing loss, general loss of range of motion, and loss of range of motion in specific joints are just a few of the conditions for which the VA will consider providing benefits to people who suffer from these conditions.
High rates of approval include tinnitus, limited knee flexibility, lumbosacral or cervical tension, limited arm movement, and scars or burns.
Tinnitus is the most common cause for first-time claims for compensation and for those already receiving benefits. The VA reported that 197,935 new claims for tinnitus were approved in 2022, for a total of 2.7 million beneficiaries with the condition.
The top 10 conditions most commonly approved for VA disability determinations include hearing loss, limited ankle movement, sciatic nerve palsy, migraines and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Under what conditions will I automatically receive VA disability certification?
According to the VA, there are no conditions that automatically qualify you for disability benefits, but there are certain conditions that the VA calls “presumptive,” meaning your disability is automatically presumed to be caused by military service.
Presumptive illnesses include amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, arthritis, hypertension, diabetes, etc. Please note that to be considered presumptive, the diagnosis must be received within one year of leaving active duty.
It’s not just physical conditions that are suspected: mental illnesses such as psychosis, anxiety, and depression are also on the list.
Remember that while the VA will automatically link these conditions to your military service, you still have to go through the process to receive benefits, which includes proving that you do in fact suffer from the condition through medical studies and all of the requirements set forth by the department.