Commonly Overlooked Conditions
Conditions Veterans Don't Realize They Can Claim
Mental Health Conditions
ð° Anxiety Disorder (NOS)
What it is: Generalized anxiety not meeting full PTSD criteria but still service-connected.
Why overlooked: Veterans think only PTSD qualifies. Any anxiety disorder caused or worsened by service counts.
Typical rating: 30% - 70%
ð Adjustment Disorder
What it is: Emotional/behavioral symptoms in response to identifiable stressors during or after service.
Why overlooked: Often dismissed as "just stress" but is a diagnosable, ratable condition.
Typical rating: 10% - 50%
ðī Insomnia / Sleep Disturbance
What it is: Chronic difficulty sleeping, often secondary to PTSD, anxiety, pain, or tinnitus.
Why overlooked: Veterans see it as a symptom, not a standalone claimable condition.
Typical rating: 0% - 30% (often rated under mental health umbrella)
ðš Substance Use Disorder (Secondary)
What it is: Alcohol or substance dependence caused by a service-connected mental health condition.
Why overlooked: Cannot be claimed as primary, but CAN be rated as secondary to PTSD or depression.
Typical rating: Rated under the primary MH condition
ð§ Somatic Symptom Disorder
What it is: Physical symptoms (pain, fatigue, GI issues) with no clear medical cause, linked to psychological factors.
Why overlooked: Veterans are told "nothing is wrong" by doctors and give up.
Typical rating: 10% - 50%
ðĪ Traumatic Brain Injury (Mild TBI)
What it is: Concussion or blast exposure causing headaches, memory problems, and cognitive issues.
Why overlooked: "Mild" TBI sounds minor but can produce significant, ratable residual symptoms.
Typical rating: 10% - 70% (plus separate ratings for residuals)
Musculoskeletal Conditions
ðĶķ Flat Feet (Pes Planus)
What it is: Fallen arches aggravated by marching, running, and heavy loads in service.
Why overlooked: Common condition â veterans think "everyone has it" so it doesn't count.
Typical rating: 10% - 50% (bilateral)
ðĶĩ Knee Instability (Separate from ROM)
What it is: Knee giving way, requiring a brace â rated separately from range of motion limitation.
Why overlooked: Veterans don't know you can get two separate ratings for the same knee.
Typical rating: 10% - 30% (on top of ROM rating)
ð§ Cervical Strain (Neck Pain)
What it is: Chronic neck pain from helmet wear, vehicle vibration, or carrying heavy loads.
Why overlooked: Veterans focus on back pain and forget the neck â separate rating available.
Typical rating: 10% - 40%
ðĪē Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
What it is: Nerve compression in the wrist from repetitive motions (typing, tools, weapons).
Why overlooked: Considered an "office worker" condition but extremely common in military MOSs.
Typical rating: 10% - 70% (per hand, dominant higher)
ðĶī Shin Splints (Medial Tibial Stress)
What it is: Chronic shin pain from running and marching in service.
Why overlooked: Seen as a "boot camp thing" that should go away, but often becomes chronic.
Typical rating: 10% - 20% (per leg)
ðŠ Shoulder Impingement
What it is: Rotator cuff irritation from overhead work, PT, rucking, and weapon handling.
Why overlooked: Veterans claim the back but forget the shoulders are separately ratable.
Typical rating: 10% - 30% (per shoulder)
Respiratory & Exposure Conditions
ðŦ Rhinitis / Sinusitis
What it is: Chronic nasal congestion, sinus infections, and breathing difficulty.
Why overlooked: Veterans attribute it to allergies, not realizing environmental exposures qualify.
Typical rating: 0% - 50%
ðŽïļ Asthma (New Onset)
What it is: Asthma developed during or after service from dust, burn pits, chemicals.
Why overlooked: Veterans think asthma is always pre-existing. New-onset asthma is very claimable.
Typical rating: 10% - 100%
ðĨ Constrictive Bronchiolitis
What it is: Scarring of small airways from burn pit / toxic exposure â requires surgical lung biopsy to confirm.
Why overlooked: Often misdiagnosed as asthma. PACT Act presumptive for some veterans.
Typical rating: 30% - 100%
Gastrointestinal Conditions
ðĪĒ GERD (Acid Reflux)
What it is: Chronic acid reflux often caused by stress, MREs, NSAIDs for pain, and irregular eating.
Why overlooked: Considered "just heartburn." Very commonly secondary to medications for service-connected pain.
Typical rating: 10% - 30%
ð IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)
What it is: Chronic GI distress â diarrhea, constipation, cramping, bloating.
Why overlooked: Often secondary to PTSD, anxiety, or Gulf War illness. Veterans don't connect the dots.
Typical rating: 10% - 30%
ðĐđ Hemorrhoids
What it is: Chronic hemorrhoids from field conditions, heavy lifting, MRE diet, dehydration.
Why overlooked: Embarrassment keeps veterans from filing. It's more common than you think.
Typical rating: 0% - 20%
Neurological & Sensory Conditions
⥠Radiculopathy
What it is: Nerve pain radiating from spine into arms or legs â separate from the back condition itself.
Why overlooked: Veterans don't know radiating pain is rated separately from the spinal condition.
Typical rating: 10% - 60% (per extremity)
ðĶ· TMJ (Jaw Disorder)
What it is: Temporomandibular joint dysfunction from clenching, stress, dental work, or trauma.
Why overlooked: Veterans don't associate jaw pain with military service.
Typical rating: 10% - 40%
ðïļ Peripheral Neuropathy
What it is: Numbness, tingling, burning in hands or feet from toxic exposure, diabetes, or cold injury.
Why overlooked: Symptoms develop gradually. Often presumptive for Agent Orange and Gulf War veterans.
Typical rating: 10% - 60% (per extremity)
ðĪ Migraine Headaches
What it is: Chronic migraines from TBI, stress, noise exposure, or environmental triggers.
Why overlooked: Veterans treat with OTC meds and never claim. Very high grant rate when documented.
Typical rating: 0% - 50%
ðïļ Dry Eye Syndrome
What it is: Chronic dry eyes from desert environments, wind exposure, chemical exposure, screen use.
Why overlooked: Seems too minor to claim, but can be rated and leads to secondary conditions.
Typical rating: 0% - 10%
Skin & Other Conditions
ðĐđ Eczema / Dermatitis
What it is: Chronic skin irritation from exposure to chemicals, fuels, solvents, or environmental conditions.
Why overlooked: Veterans think skin conditions aren't "serious enough" for VA disability.
Typical rating: 0% - 60% (based on body area affected)
ðĐš Erectile Dysfunction
What it is: ED caused by medications, PTSD, diabetes, or spinal conditions â all service-connected.
Why overlooked: Embarrassment. But ED secondary to mental health or medications has a very high grant rate.
Typical rating: 0% + SMC-K ($131.44/month)
ðī Sleep Apnea
What it is: Obstructive sleep apnea, often secondary to weight gain, PTSD, or nasal conditions.
Why overlooked: Diagnosed after service and veterans don't connect it to their service-connected conditions.
Typical rating: 0% - 100% (50% with CPAP)
ðĶ· Dental Conditions
What it is: Dental trauma, tooth loss, or periodontal disease from service â can qualify for dental treatment AND disability.
Why overlooked: Veterans think VA dental is separate from disability. Dental trauma IS ratable.
Typical rating: 0% - 40% (dental trauma rated under musculoskeletal)