Common Conditions
Plain-English condition explainers for VA claims.
VA Insomnia Claim Guide
How VA insomnia claims work, the path through mental health rating criteria, how it differs from sleep apnea, and when a standalone claim actually makes sense.
VA Rhinitis Claim Guide
How VA rhinitis claims work, PACT Act presumptive coverage, and the rating ladder under DC 6522 (allergic) and DC 6523 (bacterial).
VA Sinusitis Claim Guide
How VA chronic sinusitis claims work, the PACT Act presumptive pathway, ratings under DC 6510–6514, and the evidence that separates a 10% rating from a 50%.
VA Flat Feet (Pes Planus) Claim Guide
How the VA rates flat feet (pes planus), the entrance-exam evidence that decides most claims, and the secondary conditions that often come with it.
VA IBS Claim Guide
How to file a VA IBS claim, the Gulf War presumptive pathway, direct service connection for non-Gulf War veterans, and how the VA rates irritable bowel syndrome.
VA Knee Pain Claim Guide
How the VA rates knee conditions — limitation of motion, instability, and arthritis can all apply at once, and stacking them correctly is where most of the missed rating value is.
VA Radiculopathy Claim Guide
How to claim radiculopathy as secondary to a service-connected back condition, how the VA rates nerve involvement by severity, and the evidence that documents it clearly.
VA Back Pain Claim Guide
How the VA rates back conditions under the General Rating Formula for the Spine, exactly how range of motion measurement affects your rating, and why radiculopathy is the most commonly missed secondary claim.
VA Hearing Loss Claim Guide
How VA hearing loss claims work, what the audiogram thresholds actually require for service connection, and why so many approved claims still come in at 0%.
VA GERD Claim Guide
How the VA rates GERD, the common secondary claim linking GERD to PTSD medications, and the evidence that separates a 10% rating from a much higher one.
VA Sleep Apnea Claim Guide
How to file a VA sleep apnea claim, the full rating ladder from 0% to 100%, why a CPAP prescription alone generally secures 50%, and the secondary conditions worth claiming alongside it.
VA Migraine Claim Guide
How the VA rates migraines based on prostrating attack frequency, the specific evidence that separates a 10% from a 50% rating, and the common links to PTSD and tinnitus as secondaries.
VA Tinnitus Claim Guide
Step-by-step guide to filing a VA tinnitus claim — the evidence that works, what happens at the C&P exam, why the rating caps at 10%, and the secondary conditions worth pursuing alongside it.