Category: Mental Health
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7 VA Secondary Conditions to Lower Back Pain
Living with lower back pain doesn’t just affect your spine; it can also trigger or exacerbate other health issues throughout your body. The VA recognizes these as secondary service-connected conditions, which means you may be entitled to additional disability compensation. In this post, we’ll examine how the VA rates lower back pain, highlight 7 VA…
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Anxiety VA Rating and Service Connection
Many veterans experience anxiety after service, whether from combat exposure, stressful environments, or the challenges of transition. The VA recognizes several types of anxiety disorders and rates them based on how much they affect your social and occupational impairment. This Veteran’s Guide explains how the VA rates anxiety, the fastest way to file a claim,…
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Qualifying for a VA Rating for Depression
If you’re a veteran experiencing depression, you may be eligible for VA disability compensation (even if your symptoms began after service). Depression is a serious medical condition that can significantly impact your daily functioning, relationships, and ability to work. You may qualify for a VA rating for depression from 0% to 100%, depending on symptom…
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8 VA Secondary Conditions to Allergic Rhinitis
Allergic rhinitis might seem like a minor issue—but for many veterans, it can lead to more serious health problems over time. Chronic inflammation, airway obstruction, and immune system stress caused by allergic rhinitis can contribute to secondary conditions like asthma, migraines, sinusitis, and even sleep apnea. The VA may award additional disability compensation and benefits…
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VA Secondary Conditions to Degenerative Disc Disease
Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) is a painful and often disabling spinal condition that many veterans develop due to the physical demands of military service. If you’re already service-connected for DDD, you may also qualify for additional VA disability compensation. These benefits are available for VA secondary conditions to degenerative disc disease—such as nerve damage,…
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Understanding the VA Mental Health Rating Changes
Upcoming VA mental health rating changes represent a significant overhaul of how the VA evaluates mental health conditions for disability compensation. The goal? To make the system more fair, transparent, and aligned with modern clinical standards. In this post, you’ll learn what’s changing, how the new system may affect your VA rating, and what steps…
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When Do You Need a Nexus Letter for a VA Claim?
VA disability claims can be complex and frustrating, particularly when it comes to proving service connection for your condition. A Nexus Letter is often the missing piece that help veterans establish the link between their military service and their current disability. But when do you need a Nexus Letter for a VA claim? In this…
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How Much Weight Does a C&P Exam Have?
In this blog, we’ll break down the critical role of the C&P exam, how to tell if your exam went well, what could go wrong during the process, and how to access your C&P exam results. If you are a veteran navigating the VA disability claims process, you’ve likely encountered or heard about the Compensation…
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How a PTSD DBQ Enhances Your VA Disability Claim
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is one of the most common disability claims among veterans. If you are a veteran with a current PTSD diagnosis, you may qualify for VA disability benefits regardless of where or when you served in the armed forces. This blog examines what a PTSD Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ) form is, how…
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6 Common VA Secondary Conditions to Migraines
Chronic (long-term) migraines often cause or worsen other severe conditions, such as sleep, mood, and digestive disorders. If you are a veteran, receiving, or applying for migraine disability compensation, you may be interested in knowing that if your service-connected migraine condition leads to a VA-ratable secondary condition, you could be entitled to a higher VA…