The Top 10 Most Common VA Disability Claims (And How to Win Them)

Some conditions are claimed by thousands of veterans every year. Knowing which ones are most common — and what evidence wins them — gives you a huge advantage.

Here are the top 10 most-claimed VA disabilities and exactly how to win them.

1. Tinnitus (Ringing in the Ears)

Approval Rate: ~75%
Common Rating: 10%
Diagnostic Code: 6260

Tinnitus is the #1 most-claimed VA disability. It's also one of the easiest to prove if you have the right evidence.

What you need to win:

• Audiologist diagnosis confirming tinnitus (VA will order one at your C&P exam)
• Service connection: Noise exposure records (gunfire, flight deck, heavy equipment)
• Buddy letters from people who served with you and witnessed the noise exposure

💡 Pro Tip: Even if your hearing test is normal, you can still get rated for tinnitus. The ringing itself is ratable separately under code 6260.

2. Hearing Loss

Approval Rate: ~72%
Common Ratings: 0%, 10%
Diagnostic Code: 6100

Service-connected hearing loss requires measurable loss on an audiogram. The VA rates based on frequency-specific thresholds.

What you need to win:

• Current audiogram showing measurable hearing loss
• In-service baseline hearing test (if available)
• MOS documentation showing noise exposure (artillery, aviation, infantry, etc.)

⚠️ Watch Out: Mild hearing loss often gets rated at 0%. That still means it's service-connected, which matters if it worsens later.

3. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Approval Rate: ~68%
Common Ratings: 50%, 70%, 100%
Diagnostic Code: 9411

PTSD is ratable from 0% to 100% based on symptom severity. Higher ratings require proof of occupational and social impairment.

What you need to win:

• Diagnosis from a psychiatrist or psychologist (not just a therapist)
• Stressor statement describing the traumatic event(s)
• Evidence of the stressor: deployment records, combat action reports, buddy letters
• Treatment records showing ongoing symptoms and therapy

💡 Pro Tip: For combat veterans, your sworn testimony about a stressor is usually enough. The VA doesn't need to verify every detail if you served in a combat zone.

4. Scars (Including Burn Scars)

Approval Rate: ~81%
Common Ratings: 10%, 20%, 30%
Diagnostic Codes: 7800-7805

Scars are rated based on size, location, and whether they cause functional impairment or disfigurement.

What you need to win:

• Photos showing the scar with measurements (use a ruler in the photo)
• Service records documenting the injury
• Medical notes describing the scar's impact (pain, restricted movement, etc.)

5. Limitation of Flexion — Knee

Approval Rate: ~70%
Common Ratings: 10%, 20%, 30%
Diagnostic Code: 5260

Knee conditions are extremely common. Ratings depend on range of motion, instability, and pain on use.

What you need to win:

• MRI or X-ray showing structural damage (meniscus tear, arthritis, etc.)
• Range of motion measurements from a doctor
• In-service injury documentation (sick call records, line-of-duty reports)
• Buddy letters describing how the injury happened

⚠️ Watch Out: Don't let a C&P examiner rush your range-of-motion test. Move slowly and stop when it hurts. Your worst day counts, not your best.

6. Limitation of Range of Motion — Ankle

Approval Rate: ~73%
Common Ratings: 10%, 20%
Diagnostic Code: 5271

Ankle injuries from jumps, rucks, and vehicle accidents are common. Like knees, ratings depend on range of motion and instability.

What you need to win:

• X-ray or MRI showing damage
• Goniometer measurements (tool that measures joint angles)
• Documentation of in-service injury

7. Lumbosacral/Cervical Strain (Back and Neck Pain)

Approval Rate: ~65%
Common Ratings: 10%, 20%, 40%
Diagnostic Codes: 5237 (lumbar), 5243 (neck)

Back and neck pain are among the most claimed — and most denied — conditions. Why? Vague evidence. You need specifics.

What you need to win:

• MRI showing disc issues, stenosis, or nerve impingement
• Range of motion measurements (flexion, extension, lateral bending)
• Radiculopathy symptoms (pain radiating into arms/legs boosts the rating)
• In-service documentation of heavy lifting, vehicle accidents, parachute jumps

💡 Pro Tip: If your back pain causes sciatica (leg pain), claim both as separate conditions. Back strain is one code, sciatica is another (Code 5293).

8. Migraines

Approval Rate: ~58%
Common Ratings: 30%, 50%
Diagnostic Code: 8100

Migraines are rated based on frequency and severity of "prostrating attacks" (headaches so bad you have to lie down).

What you need to win:

• Diagnosis from a neurologist (or at least documented by your primary care doctor)
• Headache diary tracking frequency, duration, and severity
• Nexus to service: head injury, TBI, or stress-related onset during/after service

9. Plantar Fasciitis

Approval Rate: ~66%
Common Ratings: 10%, 20%, 30%
Diagnostic Code: 5276

Foot pain from long marches, standing, and heavy boots. Ratings depend on whether one or both feet are affected.

What you need to win:

• Podiatrist diagnosis
• Evidence of in-service foot problems (sick call, boots issued, buddy letters)
• X-rays (optional, but can show heel spurs)

10. Sleep Apnea

Approval Rate: ~52%
Common Ratings: 50%, 100%
Diagnostic Code: 6847

Sleep apnea is harder to win because you need to prove it's service-connected. Most cases are filed as secondary to another condition (PTSD, deviated septum, obesity from limited mobility, etc.).

What you need to win:

• Sleep study confirming obstructive sleep apnea
• Nexus letter from a doctor explaining how your service-connected condition caused or worsened the sleep apnea
• CPAP prescription (proves you require a breathing device, which qualifies for 50% rating minimum)

💡 Pro Tip: If you have PTSD and sleep apnea, get a nexus letter linking them. PTSD causes hypervigilance and disrupted sleep, which can lead to or worsen sleep apnea.

How to Maximize Your Chances

Don't claim just one condition. If you have multiple issues, claim them all. Each condition is rated separately, and they combine using VA math.

Get buddy letters for everything. Even "obvious" conditions benefit from corroborating testimony.

Track your symptoms. Keep a journal of pain levels, missed work, activities you can't do anymore. Bring it to your C&P exam.

Appeal if you're lowballed. A 0% rating is still service-connected. You can file for an increase later with new evidence.

Final Thoughts

These 10 conditions represent the majority of VA disability claims. If you have any of them, you're not alone — but you still need strong evidence.

Do your homework, gather documentation, and don't settle for a denial. Thousands of veterans win these claims every year. You can be one of them.