Condition Library
How the VA actually rates the conditions veterans claim most, and where they get low-balled.
Every condition below is rated by a specific regulation and a specific formula. Understanding that formula is the difference between the rating you were given and the rating you earned. Browse by category or search for your condition, then talk to an accredited agent about your denial or under-rating.
Mental Health3 separate pagesMental Health: Anxiety & Depression
Anxiety and depressive disorders are among the most under-rated conditions in the VA system. Occupational and social impairment, not a symptom checklist, drives the rating.
Read moreEach condition has its own page
Mental Health1 separate pagesPTSD Claims
PTSD claims turn on stressor verification and impairment. Relaxed stressor rules for combat, fear of hostile activity, and MST exist, but only if the claim is built to trigger them.
Read moreEach condition has its own page
Mental Health1 separate pagesMST & Personal Assault
Military Sexual Trauma claims do not require a police report. The regulation expressly allows alternative evidence, behavioral markers, to corroborate an assault.
Read moreEach condition has its own page
Respiratory & Sleep1 separate pagesSleep Apnea Claims
Sleep apnea requiring a CPAP is a 50% rating. It is frequently secondary to PTSD, weight gain from a service-connected condition, or sinus disease, a link the VA rarely develops.
Read moreEach condition has its own page
Auditory2 separate pagesTinnitus & Hearing Loss
Tinnitus is capped at 10% but is a gateway condition. Hearing loss must meet the specific audiometric thresholds of §3.385 to be considered a disability for VA purposes.
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Musculoskeletal3 separate pagesShoulder Conditions
Shoulder ratings turn on how far you can raise the arm, and on whether it is your dominant (major) or non-dominant (minor) side. Codes 5200–5203 cover ankylosis, limitation of motion, and instability.
Read moreEach condition has its own page
Musculoskeletal1 separate pagesElbow & Forearm Conditions
Elbow and forearm conditions are rated on limitation of flexion and extension and on impairment of the forearm bones under Codes 5205–5213, and, like the shoulder, the dominant-hand distinction changes the payout.
Read moreEach condition has its own page
Musculoskeletal2 separate pagesFoot Conditions
Foot conditions, including plantar fasciitis, now expressly rated under Code 5269, are common in veterans who marched, jumped, and stood for a career. Bilateral involvement adds a §4.26 bonus factor.
Read moreEach condition has its own page
Musculoskeletal1 separate pagesAnkle Conditions
Ankle disabilities are rated on limitation of motion and ankylosis under Codes 5270–5274. Chronic sprains, instability, and post-surgical residuals are common in veterans, and bilateral ankles trigger the §4.26 bonus factor.
Read moreEach condition has its own page
Cardiovascular1 separate pagesHypertension (High Blood Pressure)
Hypertension is rated on specific diastolic and systolic numbers under Diagnostic Code 7101. It is also a well-recognized secondary condition to PTSD and sleep apnea.
Read moreEach condition has its own page
Cardiovascular1 separate pagesCardiovascular Conditions
Heart conditions are rated largely on METs, a measure of workload capacity. Ischemic heart disease is presumptive for herbicide-exposed veterans.
Read moreEach condition has its own page
Endocrine1 separate pagesDiabetes Mellitus Type II
Type II diabetes is presumptive for Agent Orange. Its real value is the chain of secondary conditions, neuropathy, retinopathy, kidney and heart disease, it supports.
Read moreEach condition has its own page
Digestive2 separate pagesGastrointestinal Disorders (GERD / IBS)
GERD is often secondary to medications taken for a service-connected condition. IBS may qualify as a Gulf War presumptive medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness.
Read moreEach condition has its own page
Neurological1 separate pagesTBI & Head Injuries
Traumatic brain injury is rated across ten cognitive facets under a specialized formula. Its residuals overlap with, but are rated separately from, mental health conditions.
Read moreEach condition has its own page
Dermatological1 separate pagesSkin Conditions (Scars & Dermatitis)
Skin conditions are rated on affected body surface area and the therapy required. Scars have their own criteria based on size, location, and whether they are painful or unstable.
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Genitourinary1 separate pagesProstate Conditions
Prostate cancer is presumptive for Agent Orange. Residuals are rated on voiding dysfunction, and related erectile dysfunction can trigger special monthly compensation.
Read moreEach condition has its own page
Multisystem1 separate pagesFibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a recognized Gulf War presumptive condition with a unique rating that turns on how constant the symptoms are and whether they respond to treatment.
Read moreEach condition has its own page
Multisystem1 separate pagesSpecial Monthly Compensation (SMC)
Special Monthly Compensation pays above and beyond the regular rating schedule for specific losses, and it is one of the most under-claimed benefits in the entire system.
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Neurological1 separate pagesPeripheral Neuropathy
Peripheral neuropathy, burning, numbness, and weakness in the hands and feet, is rated per affected nerve under §4.124a. It is frequently secondary to diabetes (§3.310) and is an Agent Orange presumptive for early-onset cases.
Read moreEach condition has its own page
How the VA Rates What You Claim
Your diagnosis gets you in the door. The exam decides the number. Every condition in this library is rated against the criteria in 38 CFR Part 4, and the examiner's report is what the rater reads. Walk through the exam step by step below, check each step against what happened in yours, and write down anything the examiner skipped.
How to Describe Your Symptoms, and What to Avoid
The examiner’s notes drive your rating. A single “I’m fine” can cost you an entire rating level.
- Describe your WORST days and flare-ups, not your average day
- Explain how symptoms limit work, sleep, and daily tasks
- State the frequency & duration (“3 flare-ups a week, 2 hours each”)
- Report pain during repetitive motion, not just the first rep
- Be honest about mental-health impact on relationships & focus
- Don’t say “I’m fine” or “I’m good” out of habit or pride
- Don’t minimize or “power through” to look tough
- Don’t exaggerate, credibility is everything on the record
- Don’t describe only your best day
- Don’t assume the examiner has read your whole file
Real Veterans. Real Claims. Real Outcomes.
Every case on this desk belongs to someone who served. These are the veterans this practice represents, across every era, branch, and condition: the Vietnam vet who was told it was too late, the Gulf War vet the system called a mystery, the young veteran who walked out of a five minute exam with a zero. Different stories, same fight. The record decides the claim, so we build the record.
Veteran Representation
Veteran Representation
Veteran RepresentationThe C&P Exam Decides Your Rating
Nearly every condition in this library is rated off a single exam. Know exactly what happens in that room before you walk in. Bring a short list of your symptoms, how often they flare, and how they limit work and daily life. Afterward, request your exam report and read it. If it does not match what happened, you have to raise it.
Your VA Claim Exam: What to Expect
Tips to Prepare for Your VA Claim Exam
