Rating Guides

12 min read

VA Radiculopathy Disability Rating — Complete Filing Guide

Radiculopathy is one of the most frequently claimed VA peripheral-nerve conditions. Upper and lower extremity nerve codes (DC 8510–8730), four service-connection routes, the EMG/NCV requirement, and the bilateral-equality pitfall that costs veterans 10–20%.

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12 min read

VA Tinnitus Disability Rating — How to Get 10% (or More)

Tinnitus is the #1 most-claimed VA disability. Here's exactly how the VA rates it, what evidence closes the claim, and how to combine it with hearing loss.

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13 min read

VA Hearing Loss Disability Rating — Complete Filing Guide

Hearing loss is the #3 most-claimed VA disability. How audiograms determine your rating, what evidence closes the claim, and how to combine it with tinnitus.

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9 min read

VA Sleep Apnea Disability Rating — 50% or 100% Guide

Sleep apnea only rates at 0%, 50%, or 100% — there's no middle ground. How to lock in the 50% guaranteed CPAP rating.

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14 min read

VA PTSD Disability Rating — How to Get 50%, 70% or 100%

PTSD is the #2 most-claimed VA disability. How the VA evaluates PTSD claims, what rating levels mean for your monthly payout, and how to build the evidence stack that wins.

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11 min read

VA Hypertension Disability Rating — From 10% to 40% Guide

Hypertension is the most commonly rated VA cardiovascular condition. How the VA rates it on diastolic pressure thresholds, three service-connection routes, and the 6-step filing path.

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13 min read

VA Back Pain Disability Rating — Complete Filing Guide

Back pain only rates when tied to a diagnosed spine condition (DC 5237/5242/5243). Four service-connection routes, common pitfalls, and the appeals lane menu.

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Deep-Dive Resource Pages

10 min read

VA Education Benefits — GI Bill, Chapter 35 & VR&E Overview

Three VA education programs most veterans never unpack side by side: Post-9/11 GI Bill tuition and BAH, Chapter 35 DEA for spouses and children, and VR&E Chapter 31 for employment-barrier disabilities — what each program pays, eligibility, and the 6-step application path.

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12 min read

VA PTSD Claims — Deep Dive

PTSD is the #2 most-claimed VA disability — built on a four-piece evidence stack: verified in-service stressor, current DSM-5 diagnosis, mental-health nexus letter, and corroborating buddy statements. Stressor rules, nexus language, buddy-statement structure, and mental-health C&P exam tactics.

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12 min read

VA Tinnitus Claims — Complete Filing Guide

Tinnitus is the #1 most-claimed VA disability — built on a three-piece evidence stack: current diagnosis of chronic tinnitus, in-service noise exposure (STR threshold shift, MOS, DD-214, buddy statement), and private nexus letter. DC 6260 flat 10% ceiling, pre-2000 bilateral carve-out, three service-connection routes (direct, secondary to TMJ, secondary to TBI and ototoxic PTSD medications), secondary chains most veterans miss, and three appeal lanes.

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12 min read

VA MST Claims — Military Sexual Trauma Filing Guide

Military Sexual Trauma has its own claim rules: no nexus letter required, separate evidence standards, no dishonorable discharge bar, no time limit. Eligibility criteria, MST Coordinator evidence sources, and the 6-step filing path.

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12 min read

VA Secondary Claims — How to File a Service-Connected Secondary

The most common secondary service connections (PTSD → sleep apnea, sleep apnea → hypertension, back pain → radiculopathy) with the nexus letter, intent to file, and 6-step filing path.

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10 min read

How to File a VA Claim — First-Time Walkthrough

Filing for the first time? Walk the decision tree: confirm eligibility, pick your condition, gather evidence, file, prep for the C&P exam, and read your rating decision — with each step inline-linked to the right resource.

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13 min read

VA TBI Claims — Traumatic Brain Injury Filing Guide

Traumatic Brain Injury claims use the DC 8045 rating framework — how residuals get rated, what secondary conditions stack with TBI, and how to prep for the C&P exam.

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C&P Exam Prep

8 min read

VA C&P Exam Prep Checklist

Consolidated exam-day advice for every VA disability claim: printable checklist (bring, describe, what not to say), DBQ vs. nexus letter context, care-specific exam tactics, and how secondary conditions are evaluated.

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Tools

Interactive

VA Combined Rating Calculator — Every Math Step

Pick the rating-button grid or paste 50, 30, 10, 10-style numbers to see how the VA combines them — with each math step inline, using the official combined ratings table.

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The free 2-minute scan checks PACT Act, TDIU, Aid & Attendance, and 10 other VA programs — personalized to your service history.

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