Over five million veterans receive VA disability benefits for their service-connected health conditions. According to the VA’s most recent annual report, the most common VA disability claims are awards for:
- Tinnitus
- Limited range of motion for the knee
- Paralysis of the sciatic nerve
- Hearing loss
- Lumbosacral or cervical strain
- PTSD
- Limited range of motion for the arm
- Limited range of motion for the ankle
- Migraines
- Scars (general)
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Though these are the most common VA disability claims, that doesn’t mean they are the easiest VA disability claims to get approved or properly rated. However, veterans who can prove these conditions were caused or aggravated by their service are owed disability compensation from the VA.
VA disability rates for conditions are based on their impact on your daily life. Some of these conditions affect people more than others.
In this article on common VA disability claims:
- The 10 most common VA disability claims
- #1. VA disability for tinnitus
- #2. VA disability for limitation of flexion, knee
- #3. VA disability for paralysis of the sciatic nerve
- #4. VA disability for hearing loss
- #5. VA disability for lumbosacral or cervical strain
- #6. VA disability for PTSD
- #7. VA disability for limitation of motion of the arm
- #8. VA disability for limitation of motion of the ankle
- #9. VA disability for migraines
- #10. VA disability rates for scars
- Who receives VA disability compensation?
- What does VA disability compensation pay?
- Are any of these common conditions eligible for TDIU?
- How Woods and Woods can help
“They did good by me. I am sick, and the VA was stalling. They got me 100% permanent and total.”
R.W.
The 10 most common VA disability claims
The VA shares yearly data on the most common service-connected disabilities among veterans who receive benefits. In 2023, 38.2% of disabilities were related to the musculoskeletal system. Neurological conditions made up 12.6%, and 12.5% were conditions related to hearing. Disabilities related to the skin (10.5%) and mental health (6.9%) rounded out the top five body systems for veterans’ disabilities.
The ten most common service-connected health conditions as of 2023 are, in order:
- Tinnitus
- Limited range of motion for the knee
- Paralysis of the sciatic nerve
- Hearing loss
- Lumbosacral or cervical strain
- PTSD
- Limited range of motion for the arm
- Limited range of motion for the ankle
- Migraines
- Scars (general)
#1. VA disability for tinnitus
More veterans are receiving benefits for their service-connected tinnitus than any other health condition. In 2023, more than 2.9 million veterans were receiving benefits for tinnitus, representing almost 8% of all service-connected disabilities that year.
Veterans with tinnitus “hear” sounds, such as ringing or buzzing, in their ears or heads without any external source of the noise. The noise they experience may range from a low roar to a high-pitched whine and can be heard constantly or come and go. Tinnitus has many causes, including exposure to loud noise, head injuries, side effects from medication, and ear-related medical problems.
Though the maximum VA rating for recurrent tinnitus in one or both ears is only 10% according to diagnostic code 6260, it may lead to other rateable hearing conditions like hearing loss.
#2. VA disability for limitation of flexion, knee
The second most common health condition that veterans receive VA disability benefits for is limited movement of the knee. Training, combat, and other responsibilities during service can contribute to many types of knee pain. The inability to bend the knee fully is the most common.
In the schedule of ratings, the limited flexion of the knee is listed under diagnostic code 5260 as “Leg, limitation of flexion of.” Veterans receive a rating between 0% and 30%, depending on the degree of flexibility, or “flexion angle,” in their affected knee. The VA considers the normal range of knee flexion to be approximately 140°.
5260 Leg, limitation of flexion of:
| Description | VA Rating | Monthly payment (vet only) |
|---|---|---|
| Flexion limited to 15° | 30% | $537.42 |
| Flexion limited to 30° | 20% | $346.95 |
| Flexion limited to 45° | 10% | $175.51 |
| Flexion limited to 60° | 0% | None |
#3. VA disability for paralysis of the sciatic nerve
The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the human body, running from the lower back, through the hips and buttocks, and down each leg. Veterans with paralysis of the sciatic nerve cannot control or have difficulty controlling muscles in the leg below the knee.
In 2023, just over 1.5 million veterans received VA disability benefits for “paralysis of the sciatic nerve,” making it the third most common service-connected disability. Paralysis of the sciatic nerve is rated under diagnostic code 8520 as follows:
| Description | VA Rating | Monthly payment (vet only) |
|---|---|---|
| Complete paralysis; the foot dangles and drops, no active movement possible of muscles below the knee, flexion of knee weakened or (very rarely) lost | 80% | $2,044.89 |
| Incomplete paralysis: Severe, with marked muscular atrophy | 60% | $1,395.93 |
| Incomplete paralysis: Moderately severe | 40% | $774.16 |
| Incomplete paralysis: Moderate | 20% | $346.95 |
| Incomplete paralysis: Mild | 10% | $175.51 |
#4. VA disability for hearing loss
Hearing loss is the fourth most common service-connected condition, affecting 1.49 million veterans in 2023.
To receive a rating for hearing loss, veterans must obtain an evaluation from a licensed audiologist. Evaluations are done without hearing aids. The results of these tests will be used to determine a rating between 0% and 100% under diagnostic code 6100.
The VA may also rate under the diagnostic code related to the cause of the hearing loss. These are found under the Diseases of the Ear section of the Schedule of Ratings and can include conditions such as:
- 6200 Chronic suppurative otitis media, mastoiditis, or cholesteatoma
- 6201 Chronic nonsuppurative otitis media with effusion (serous otitis media)
- 6202 Otosclerosis
- 6204 Peripheral vestibular disorders
- 6205 Meniere’s syndrome
- 6260 Tinnitus, recurrent
Veterans with deafness in both ears or deafness in combination with blindness may be eligible for additional special monthly compensation.
#5. VA disability for lumbosacral or cervical strain
Lumbosacral strain, more commonly referred to as simply low back pain, describes tearing in the muscles and tendons of the lower back. Cervical strain, or neck pain, involves the ligaments and muscles around the vertebrae in your upper back and neck. These two injuries hold the fifth spot in the top ten service-connected disabilities, with more than 1.4 million veterans receiving benefits from lumbosacral or cervical strains in 2023.
Lumbosacral and cervical strains are rated under diagnostic code 5237 using the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine, as follows:
| Description | VA Rating | Monthly payment (vet only) |
|---|---|---|
| Unfavorable ankylosis, — stiffness — of the entire spine | 100% | $3,831.30 |
| Unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine | 50% | $1,102.04 |
| Unfavorable ankylosis of the entire cervical spine; or, forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine 30 degrees or less; or, favorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine | 40% | $774.16 |
| Forward flexion of the cervical spine 15 degrees or less; or, favorable ankylosis of the entire cervical spine | 30% | $537.42 |
| Forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine greater than 30 degrees but not greater than 60 degrees; or, forward flexion of the cervical spine greater than 15 degrees but not greater than 30 degrees; or, the combined range of motion of the thoracolumbar spine not greater than 120 degrees; or, the combined range of motion of the cervical spine not greater than 170 degrees; or, muscle spasm or guarding severe enough to result in an abnormal gait or abnormal spinal contour such as scoliosis, reversed lordosis, or abnormal kyphosis | 20% | $346.95 |
| Forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine greater than 60 degrees but not greater than 85 degrees; or, forward flexion of the cervical spine greater than 30 degrees but not greater than 40 degrees; or, combined range of motion of the thoracolumbar spine greater than 120 degrees but not greater than 235 degrees; or, combined range of motion of the cervical spine greater than 170 degrees but not greater than 335 degrees; or, muscle spasm, guarding, or localized tenderness not resulting in abnormal gait or abnormal spinal contour; or, vertebral body fracture with loss of 50 percent or more of the height | 10% | $175.51 |
#6. VA disability for PTSD
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that develops in people who have experienced a traumatic event. In 2023, over 1.4 million veterans received disability benefits for PTSD. Due to the nature of military service, veterans are more likely to be exposed to traumatic events and develop PTSD than civilians.
Symptoms of PTSD vary from person to person but typically involve:
- Reliving the traumatic event
- Avoiding situations associated with the event
- Experiencing increased negative thoughts and emotions
- Feeling on edge or highly alert
PTSD is rated under diagnostic code 9411, using the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders, summarized in the table below:
| Description | VA Rating | Monthly payment (veteran only) |
|---|---|---|
| Total occupational and social impairment, due to such symptoms as: gross impairment in thought processes or communication; persistent delusions or hallucinations; grossly inappropriate behavior; persistent danger of hurting self or others; intermittent inability to perform activities of daily living (including maintenance of minimal personal hygiene); disorientation to time or place; memory loss for names of close relatives, own occupation, or own name. | 100% | $3,831.30 |
| Occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood, due to such symptoms as: suicidal ideation; obsessional rituals which interfere with routine activities; speech intermittently illogical, obscure, or irrelevant; near-continuous panic or depression affecting the ability to function independently, appropriately and effectively; impaired impulse control (such as unprovoked irritability with periods of violence); spatial disorientation; neglect of personal appearance and hygiene; difficulty in adapting to stressful circumstances (including work or a worklike setting); inability to establish and maintain effective relationships. | 70% | $1,759.19 |
| Occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to such symptoms as: flattened affect; circumstantial, circumlocutory, or stereotyped speech; panic attacks more than once a week; difficulty in understanding complex commands; impairment of short- and long-term memory (e.g., retention of only highly learned material, forgetting to complete tasks); impaired judgment; impaired abstract thinking; disturbances of motivation and mood; difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships. | 50% | $1,102.04 |
| Occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks (although generally functioning satisfactorily, with routine behavior, self-care, and conversation normal), due to such symptoms as: depressed mood, anxiety, suspiciousness, panic attacks (weekly or less often), chronic sleep impairment, mild memory loss (such as forgetting names, directions, recent events). | 30% | $537.42 |
| Occupational and social impairment due to mild or transient symptoms which decrease work efficiency and ability to perform occupational tasks only during periods of significant stress, or symptoms controlled by continuous medication. | 10% | $175.51 |
| A mental condition has been formally diagnosed, but symptoms are not severe enough either to interfere with occupational and social functioning or to require continuous medication. | 0% | None |
If you, or a veteran you know, is in crisis, you can contact the Veterans Crisis Line at any time, even if you are not receiving VA benefits.
#7. VA disability for limitation of motion of the arm
With more than 1 million veterans receiving disability benefits for limitation of motion of the arm, it is the seventh most common service-connected disability. Many health conditions and injuries can leave veterans with a decreased range of motion from the shoulder to the elbow, including nerve damage, dislocations, fractures, and tendonitis.
The limitation of motion of the arm is rated under diagnostic code 5201. The ratings are divided into major and minor categories. ‘Major’ ratings refer to the motion in your dominant arm, so if you are right-handed and the right arm is the one with limited motion, the VA will assign the corresponding rating from the major column.
5201 Arm, limited motion of:
| Description | Rating |
|---|---|
| Major / Minor | |
| Flexion and/or abduction limited to 25° from side | 40% / 30% |
| Midway between side and shoulder level (flexion and/or abduction limited to 45°) | 30% / 20% |
| At shoulder level (flexion and/or abduction limited to 90°) | 20% / 20% |
#8. VA disability for limitation of motion of the ankle
The eighth most common service-connected disability is decreased range of motion of the ankle. In 2023, more than 1 million veterans received benefits due to restrictions in the range of motion of their ankle joints. Sprains, fractures, or other injuries and conditions can cause the limitation. This disability is rated under diagnostic code 5271, as follows:
| Description | VA Rating | Monthly payment (vet only) |
|---|---|---|
| Marked (less than 5 degrees dorsiflexion or less than 10 degrees plantar flexion) | 20% | $346.95 |
| Moderate (less than 15 degrees dorsiflexion or less than 30 degrees plantar flexion) | 10% | $175.51 |
#9. VA disability for migraines
Migraines rank as the ninth most common condition for veterans receiving VA disability benefits as of 2023. According to the VA, veterans who were deployed are more likely to experience migraines.
Migraines are severe headaches that cause throbbing pain or pulsing sensations, usually on one side of the head, and can last for hours or even days. Some veterans may also experience auras, which can include visual disturbances, difficulty speaking, or tingling.
Migraines are rated under diagnostic code 8100 as follows:
| Description | VA Rating | Monthly payment (vet only) |
|---|---|---|
| With very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability | 50% | $1,102.04 |
| With characteristic prostrating attacks occurring on an average once a month over last several months | 30% | $537.42 |
| With characteristic prostrating attacks occurring on an average once a month over the last several months | 10% | $175.51 |
| With less frequent attacks | 0% | None |
#10. VA disability rates for scars
Over 930,000 veterans received VA disability benefits for scars in 2023, making it the tenth most common service-connected disability. Scars are fibrous tissue areas that replace normal skin after the destruction of some of the dermis caused by burns, surgical operations, lacerations, or diseases.
The VA has three main diagnostic codes for scars:
- DC 7801 for deep scars
- DC 7802 for superficial scars
- DC 7805 for all other scars
In addition, the VA may use diagnostic code 7804 to rate painful or unstable scars, such as those that may repeatedly open and heal. These scars may also receive a rating under the other scar codes. To learn more about the various ways scars can be rated by the VA, you can read our blog on the topic.
Who receives VA disability compensation?
Veterans with service-connected injuries, diseases, or other health conditions are considered disabled veterans and may be eligible for VA disability compensation. Their conditions must not have resulted from their misconduct, and they also must have received an other than dishonorable discharge. In 2023, 5,662,273 veterans received VA disability compensation benefits, with an average of 6.59 service-connected disabilities per veteran.
What does VA disability compensation pay?
The amount of VA disability pay veterans receive is based on their disability ratings and dependents. Veterans’ spouses (including common-law marriages) and qualifying parents and children can be classified as dependents. The average VA disability compensation benefits individual veterans received in 2023 was around $23,500.
See the table below for information on the current compensation rates for veterans. You can find more information on rates for a spouse, dependents, and additional SMC available on the VA website.
| Disability Rating | Monthly Payment (veteran only) |
|---|---|
| 10% | $175.51 |
| 20% | $346.95 |
| 30% | $537.42 |
| 40% | $774.16 |
| 50% | $1,102.04 |
| 60% | $1,395.93 |
| 70% | $1,759.19 |
| 80% | $2,044.89 |
| 90% | $2,2297.96 |
| 100% | $3,831.30 |
Are any of these common conditions eligible for TDIU?
Veterans with any of these 10 most common service-connected disabilities can seek total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU), even if your rating for the single condition alone isn’t eligible. The team at Woods and Woods has helped thousands of veterans nationwide get TDIU. Our VA disability calculator can also help you identify combinations of disability ratings that could lead to TDIU.
“I honestly believe that:
1) Dealing with that VA requires an expertise that many of us do not possess.
2) Woods & Woods made the difference.
Their savvy expertise in dealing with the VA and their commitment to their clients exemplifies a level of professionalism and commitment that seems not to be the standard in today’s world.
K.W.
How Woods and Woods can help
The VA-accredited attorneys and support staff of case managers and legal analysts at Woods and Woods can help you build your case and gather evidence. Our dedicated team works with medical experts to explain how military service caused or aggravated your conditions. As a result, we often service connect health conditions our clients didn’t know were related to their time in the military. Contact us today to get started with a free case evaluation. You don’t pay unless we win your case.
Talk to Us About Your Claim:
(812) 426-7200
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
The 10 most common VA disability claims are awards for (in order): tinnitus, limited range of motion for the knee, paralysis of the sciatic nerve, hearing loss, lumbosacral or cervical strain, PTSD, limited range of motion for the arm, limited range of motion for the ankle, migraines, and scars.
If you disagree with a VA rating decision, you can appeal. With multiple ways of approaching an appeal, choosing the best option for your situation is vital to your appeal’s success and the time it will take for approval. Consider getting help from a VA-accredited attorney to guide you through the appeals process.
Neil Woods
VA disability attorney
Woods & Woods
Neil Woods is the firm’s owner and president. He received his law degree from Western Michigan University.
