For service members, the stresses of training, combat, and reintegration into civilian life can disrupt sleep patterns. Insomnia and nightmares may be the most common service-related sleep disruption, but sleep apnea also affects millions of veterans. Yes, it is a disability that can entitle a veteran to compensation. Sleep apnea is a condition where breathing …
Tag: VA Disability

What Is the VA Disability Pay Chart?
Having an application for service connection is only the first step in receiving compensation for a disability. After the claims process, the VA must determine how much you receive in monthly compensation. VA Disability Pay Chart Overview The modern VA disability pay chart enables the agency to determine the amount of monthly benefits based on …

Lawmakers Cry Foul Over VA Accessibility Issues
Lawmakers Cry Foul Over VA Accessibility Issues This is an update on VA Accessibility. Following an 11-month investigation, the United States Senate Special Commission on Aging said the VA has not made technology accessible to older adults, veterans, and disabled persons. The report says the government has not met the requirements for accessibility set forth …

Breaking Down an Agent Orange Illness Claim
Breaking Down an Agent Orange Illness Claim Does an Agent Orange illness trouble you? Agent Orange may be one of the most well-known herbicides, and not for a good reason. This defoliant was widely used throughout the 1960s, mainly in Vietnam. It contained a contaminant called dioxin, and now both Agent Orange and dioxin are …

The Five and Five of VA Disability PTSD
The Five and Five of VA Disability PTSD Despite the research being done to understand post-traumatic stress disorder better, many people may still be surprised to learn that PTSD is a physical brain injury in addition to a psychological disorder. Compensation and pension examiners may not be specialists or well-versed in new PTSD research. That’s …

VA Disability Benefits for Arthritis in the Hands
Obtaining VA Disability Benefits for Arthritis in the Hands According to the VA and CDC, arthritis affects one in five Americans and is the nation’s leading cause of disability. Over 100 conditions fall under the umbrella of arthritis, including arthritis in the hands, osteoarthritis, and degenerative joint diseases. The percentage of Americans with arthritis is …

Lawsuit Alleges Systemic Discrimination at VA
Lawsuit Alleges Systemic Discrimination at VA A lawsuit filed in November 2022 alleges systemic discrimination at VA. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Conley Monk, Jr., a 74-year-old former Marine. Monk Jr. claims the Veterans Administration systematically discriminated against Black veterans in disability compensation claims. The suit is based partly on a statistical analysis …

How Does VA Disability Back Pay Work
How Does VA Disability Back Pay Work? VA disability back pay amounts depend on the effective dates. Which only increases when there is a Veterans Administration disability case backlog. The 2017 VA appeal system reforms have significantly reduced the Veterans Administration disability case backlog. In September 2022, almost 150,000 disability claims were backlogged, meaning they …

Spinal Fusion Surgery and VA Benefits
FAQ About Spinal Fusion Surgery and VA Benefits Read more to learn about spinal fusion surgery and the available VA Benefits for this condition. Military activity is hard on the joints, especially the spine. Most veterans spend a substantial amount of time carrying heavy objects, bending, standing, walking, and otherwise placing significant stress on their …

Nuts and Bolts of a VA Disability Claim
Nuts and Bolts of a VA Disability Claim Recent, protracted, and violent wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have pushed the official number of veterans with a VA disability claim of at least 70% disability to over two million. That unofficial count, including veterans with less than a 70% disability, may be much higher. This unofficial …