🎖️ VALOR

The Best Thing Veterans Can Do For Their Claims - A Case Example from Our Attorneys

In this video, Attorney Rachel Cheek the story of a veteran who sustained a neck injury during an attack in service, only to face decades of hurdles in proving his condition was service-connected. Despite the VA's claims that a post-service fall was to blame, the veteran’s detailed testimony, along with careful medical review and expert opinions, revealed the truth.

This case highlights the critical role of personal statements in clarifying misunderstandings, filling gaps in medical records, and strengthening claims. It’s a testament to the power of persistence and accurate storytelling in overcoming the VA’s assumptions.

Watch to learn how this veteran’s determination and the right evidence helped secure the benefits he deserved!

⚖️ EXPERTS

Common VA Disabilities by Military Branch

When veterans transition from active duty to civilian life, service-related disabilities often become a significant concern. Each military branch presents unique challenges, contributing to specific types of injuries and health conditions. Here, we explore one of the most prominent disabilities for each branch, followed by a quick overview of other common conditions.

Army Veterans: Musculoskeletal Injuries from Heavy Lifting and Basic Training

The physically demanding nature of Army service often leads to musculoskeletal injuries. Soldiers frequently carry heavy loads, march long distances, and engage in rigorous physical training, all of which strain the spine, knees, and joints. Injuries like degenerative arthritis, chronic back pain, and knee issues are prevalent.

Other Common Disabilities:

• PTSD: Combat deployments expose soldiers to traumatic experiences.

• Hearing Loss: Frequent exposure to gunfire and explosions.

• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI): Often caused by IEDs or accidents during training.

Learn more about musculoskeletal VA claims and ratings →

Navy Veterans: Hearing Loss from Machinery and Noise

For Navy veterans, hearing loss and tinnitus are widespread. Sailors work in enclosed spaces near loud engines, machinery, and shipboard equipment, with prolonged exposure leading to auditory damage over time.

Other Common Disabilities:

• Spinal Conditions: Caused by long periods on ships or submarines.

• Joint Injuries: Resulting from the physically confined and demanding shipboard environment.

• Radiation Exposure: Especially on nuclear-powered vessels.

Learn more about hearing loss claims and ratings →

Air Force Veterans: Neck and Back Injuries from G-Forces

Air Force pilots and crew often develop spinal injuries from exposure to G-forces during flights. The strain on the body, particularly the neck and back, can lead to chronic pain or degenerative conditions.

Other Common Disabilities:

• Hearing Loss: Aircraft engine noise is a major factor.

• PTSD: Combat missions and high-pressure situations can impact mental health.

• Asbestos Exposure: Mechanics and crew were exposed to asbestos in older aircraft parts.

Learn more about spinal conditions and how the VA rates them →

Marine Corps Veterans: Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)

The intensity of Marine Corps combat training and deployment often results in traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). TBIs can stem from blast exposures, falls, or combat-related incidents, leading to long-term cognitive and emotional challenges.

Other Common Disabilities:

• PTSD: High-stress combat environments contribute to mental health conditions.

• Musculoskeletal Injuries: From carrying heavy equipment in demanding terrains.

• Hearing Loss: Due to consistent exposure to gunfire and explosions.

Read more about TBI claims and ratings here →

Coast Guard Veterans: Joint and Muscle Injuries from Physical Tasks

Coast Guard members frequently sustain joint and muscle injuries, including knee injuries due to the physically demanding nature of their work, including rescues, equipment lifting, and ship maintenance.

Other Common Disabilities:

• Hearing Loss: Exposure to loud engines and maritime equipment.

• Mental Health Conditions: High-stakes missions contribute to PTSD and anxiety.

• Back Pain: Resulting from repetitive strain and heavy lifting.

Find detailed information on knee injury VA claims here →

Basic Training Injuries: The Starting Point for Many Disabilities

Regardless of the branch, many injuries originate during basic training. Musculoskeletal injuries are particularly common, as recruits adapt to rigorous physical demands. Overuse injuries like stress fractures, sprains, and strains occur frequently, especially in those with lower baseline fitness levels.

Disabilities in Women Veterans

Women veterans face unique challenges, with common claims including:

• PTSD and Military Sexual Trauma (MST).

• Chronic Back Pain: From service-related tasks or prolonged physical strain.

• Gynecological Conditions: Including hysterectomies related to service-connected issues.

Explore our detailed guide on common women veteran disabilities →

🦅SUPPORT

Attention: Join us today at 1400 hours EST for a new livestream with our legal team!

Join us to get your questions about VA disability law and the claims process answered by our legal team. Comments open 30 minutes prior to the Livestream starting, so get there early to get your question in. We try to answer as many as we can!

Did Your Military Role Involve Firefighting or Exposure to Hazardous Materials?

For decades, military firefighters, maintenance crews, and personnel working near flight lines or fuel storage areas were frequently exposed to Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AFFF)—a firefighting tool containing PFAS, dangerous "forever chemicals." While essential for extinguishing fuel fires, AFFF is now linked to severe health conditions, including cancers and thyroid diseases.

Even if you didn’t handle AFFF directly, you may have been exposed through contaminated drinking water or proximity to areas where it was used. Veterans and their families are now learning about the long-term health risks tied to this exposure.

Common health conditions linked to AFFF exposure include:

• Testicular Cancer

• Kidney Cancer

• Liver Cancer

• Thyroid Disease (diagnosed 4+ years after exposure)

• Hyper/hypothyroidism (diagnosed 1+ years after exposure)

• Ulcerative Colitis

If you believe your service exposed you to AFFF or PFAS and you’ve experienced any of these conditions, don’t wait. Your military service and health matter, and we’re here to help you seek justice.

Contact us today at (855) 494-1298 to learn more about your options or to begin your claim. You’ve served your country; let us serve you.

🗺️ TACTICS

How a Veteran Won Service Connection for Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis  

Note: All identifying details have been changed to protect privacy. This case is based on examples from the BVA database.

A veteran who served from November 1975 to November 1979 believed his psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis were caused by exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. Despite multiple denials, his persistence and strategic use of medical evidence ultimately led to a favorable decision from the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (BVA).

After years of appeals, the BVA granted the veteran service connection for both psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis (secondary to psoriasis). This victory was achieved through a combination of credible testimony, compelling medical evidence, and a determination to fight through the complex VA process.

Why Was This Decision Made?

• Medical Expertise Linking the Conditions to Service: Medical experts provided detailed opinions connecting the veteran’s psoriasis to environmental toxins, including trichloroethylene (TCE) in Camp Lejeune’s water. They supported their conclusions with medical research and a review of the veteran’s symptoms over time. The veteran’s service records and testimony showed skin issues starting during service and continuing post-discharge. Medical professionals argued these were early signs of psoriasis.

• Credible Testimony:

  • The veteran consistently described his service at Camp Lejeune and the progression of his skin issues. His honesty and clarity strengthened his case.

• Thorough Medical Review:

  • Opinions from board-certified dermatologists and other specialists were key. They ruled out alternative explanations, such as smoking or family history, and determined that environmental exposure during service was at least as likely as not the cause.

• Persistence Through Denials:

  • The veteran faced multiple denials, as his conditions were not presumptively linked to service. By pursuing direct service connection, submitting additional evidence, and enduring remands for further evaluations, he built a strong case.

Tips for Pursuing Complex VA Claims

This case underscores several essential strategies for pursuing complex VA claims:

• Gather Strong Medical Evidence: Secure opinions from qualified specialists who can review your history and provide detailed explanations linking your condition to service.

• Document Symptoms Over Time: Keep thorough records of symptoms and treatments to establish continuity between your service and condition.

• Challenge Denials: Persistence is critical. Appeal decisions, provide new evidence, and consider expert opinions to strengthen your claim.

• Understand Service Connection Types: If your condition is not presumptively linked, pursue direct service connection by demonstrating a clear nexus to your time in service.

If you were denied the VA benefits you deserve, or if you believe your current disability rating does not accurately reflect your condition, we're here to help. Get in touch with our office today at (855) 494-1298.