What to Claim in a VA Disability Case: Understanding What’s Eligible

One of the biggest questions veterans ask when starting a VA claim is simple: “What can I actually claim?” The VA’s rules are confusing, and many veterans either under-claim (leaving benefits on the table) or over-claim (filing without the right evidence).

Here’s a clear breakdown of what the VA considers eligible, plus the allowances written into law that every veteran should know.

What the VA Considers “Claimable”

The VA doesn’t let you file for just anything—you need a disability that meets three requirements:

1. A current diagnosed condition

   
   

   • This could be physical (like back pain, migraines, hearing loss) or mental health–related (like PTSD, anxiety, or depression).

   • The condition must be backed up with medical evidence.

   
   

2. An in-service event, illness, or injury

   
   

   • Something happened during your service that could be connected.

   • This doesn’t need to be a single catastrophic event—it could be repetitive stress, exposure to toxins, or a long-term issue that developed in uniform.

   
   

3. A nexus (connection) between the two

   
   

   • Medical records, service treatment records, or expert opinions must connect your current condition to your time in service.

   • Without this “bridge,” the VA is likely to deny the claim.

Conditions Commonly Eligible for VA Claims

Veterans often don’t realize how many conditions can be claimed. Some of the most common include:

• Musculoskeletal issues: back, knees, shoulders, hips, arthritis.

• Hearing loss & tinnitus (the #1 most common VA claim).

• Mental health: PTSD, depression, anxiety, sleep disorders.

• Respiratory conditions: asthma, COPD, exposure-related issues.

• Gulf War presumptives: chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, certain undiagnosed illnesses.

• Agent Orange presumptives: diabetes type II, certain cancers, ischemic heart disease.

• Burn pit–related conditions under the PACT Act: lung disease, sinusitis, certain cancers.

Allowances and Rules Set by Law

Veterans’ disability compensation isn’t arbitrary—it’s grounded in law. A few important points:

• Compensation is tax-free. Your monthly VA disability payments are not taxed.

• Ratings range from 0% to 100%. Even a 0% rating means the VA recognizes your condition, and it can be increased if it worsens.

• Multiple conditions add up. But the VA uses “VA math,” so two 50% ratings don’t equal 100%. (This surprises many veterans.)

• Special Monthly Compensation (SMC). If your disabilities are severe (loss of use of limbs, need for aid and attendance, blindness, etc.), you may qualify for extra allowances.

• Presumptive conditions. Congress has authorized presumptions for certain groups (Vietnam vets exposed to Agent Orange, Gulf War vets, and now PACT Act veterans). For these, you don’t have to prove the nexus—the law assumes it.

What You Shouldn’t Claim

Not everything is worth filing:

• Minor aches and pains without a diagnosis. The VA needs a medical record, not just a complaint.

• Conditions with no service connection. If you developed something years after service without any link, it won’t hold up.

• Duplicate conditions. Claiming the same thing multiple times doesn’t increase your rating.

How to Decide What to Claim

Here’s a simple checklist to guide you:

• Do I have a current diagnosis?

• Is there evidence in my service records, medical history, or exposure history?

• Do I have supporting medical documentation?

• Is the condition already recognized as presumptive for my era of service?

If you can answer “yes” to these, it’s likely claimable.

We Can Help

Filing a VA disability claim can feel like navigating a maze. The key is knowing what’s actually eligible and making sure you have the evidence to back it up.

AI-powered claim reviews are making this easier by scanning C-Files and medical evidence for overlooked evidence and highlighting conditions you may not have realized were claimable. Whether you’re filing your first claim or appealing a decision, understanding **what to claim—and why—is the first step toward getting the benefits you’ve earned.