Helpful VA Disability Terminolgy

If you are a Veteran, and have VA Disability Claim pending, chances are you have been confused by some of the jargon used on your case. This blog post will serve as a small glossary of terms as well as an acronym guide.

RO: Regional Office
SOC: Statement of the Case
RD: Ratings Decision
SSOC: Supplemental Statement of the Case
BVA: Board of Veterans Appeals
CAVC: Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims
NOD: Notice of Disagreement
DRO: Decision Review Officer
VCAA: Veterans Claim Assistance Act
C&P: Compensation and Pension
DOS: Dates of Service
IME: Independent Medical Examination
FOIA: Freedom of Information Act
DOD: Date of Death

These are just a few of the many abbreviations used in the legal process for VA Disability. Remembering all of these terms can be overwhelming at times, and that is just one of the many reasons so many Veterans turn to the legal experts at Jan Dils Attorneys as Law. For a free phone consultation, call us: 1-877-526-3457 Also, be sure to check us out online: www.fight4vets.com

How Does the VA Determine a 100% Rating for Service Connected PTSD?

The following blog is the sixth and final in a series of blogs describing the VA Departments criteria for rating PTSD Service Connection. As we mentioned in our previous blog:

PTSD is a disorder that the VA can grant a Veteran between zero and one hundred percent for service connected compensation. Unlike some issues that peak at ten percent, or thirty percent, a Veteran can get service connected compensation up to one hundred percent for PTSD.

The following symptoms are what a Veteran who was granted 100% service connection would likely suffer from:  

100%-Total occupational and social impairment, due to such symptoms as: gross impairment in thought processes or communication; persistent delusions or hallucinations; grossly inappropriate behavior; persistent danger of hurting self or others; intermittent inability to perform activities of daily living (including maintenance of minimal personal hygiene); disorientation to time or place; memory loss for names of close relatives, own occupation, or own name.

It is important to note that it is very difficult to jump from fifty to seventy, or one hundred percent. Often times an increase such as this requires severe impairment. This can include, but is not limited to fear of leaving ones house, institutionalization, or causing physical harm to one’s self, or others.

When a Veteran has service connected PTSD that is granted at 100%, he is likely to have a GAF score that is in the low end rage of the scale. As we noted before, in most cases, the lower the score, the more severe the PTSD.

*Please note that this is just a general guideline, and it is subject to change. The above illustrates a typical 100% rating.

If you are interested in filing a claim for PTSD in relation to VA Disability Compensation, or if you have been denied, and would like the help of an attorney to file in appeal, call our offices at 1-877-526-3457. Find out more information at our website, www.fight4vets.com

How Does the VA Determine a 70% for Service Connected PTSD?

The following blog is the fifth in a series of blogs describing the VA Departments criteria for rating PTSD Service Connection. As we mentioned in our previous blog:

PTSD is a disorder that the VA can grant a Veteran between zero and one hundred percent for service connected compensation. Unlike some issues that peak at ten percent, or thirty percent, a Veteran can get service connected compensation up to one hundred percent for PTSD.

The following symptoms are what a Veteran who was granted 70% service connection would likely suffer from:  

Occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood, due to such symptoms as: suicidal thoughts; obsessional rituals which interfere with routine activities; speech intermittently illogical, obscure, or irrelevant; near-continuous panic or depression affecting the ability to function independently, appropriately and effectively; impaired impulse control (such as unprovoked irritability with periods of violence); spatial disorientation; neglect of personal appearance and hygiene; difficulty in adapting to stressful circumstances (including work or a work like setting); inability to establish and maintain effective relationships.

When a Veteran has service connected PTSD that is granted at 70%, he is likely to have a GAF score that is in nearing the  low end rage of the scale. As we noted before, in most cases, the lower the score, the more severe the PTSD.

*Please note that this is just a general guideline, and it is subject to change. The above illustrates a typical 70% rating.

If you are interested in filing a claim for PTSD in relation to VA Disability Compensation, or if you have been denied, and would like the help of an attorney to file in appeal, call our offices at 1-877-526-3457. Find out more information at our website, www.fight4vets.com

How does the VA Determine a 50% Rating for Service Connected PTSD?

The following blog is the fourth in a series of blogs describing the VA Departments criteria for rating PTSD Service Connection. As we mentioned in our previous blog: 

PTSD is a disorder that the VA can grant a Veteran between zero and one hundred percent for service connected compensation. Unlike some issues that peak at ten percent, or thirty percent, a Veteran can get service connected compensation up to one hundred percent for PTSD.


The following symptoms are what a Veteran who was granted 50% service connection would likely suffer from:  

Occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to such symptoms as: flattened affect; circumstantial, circumlocutory, or stereotyped speech; panic attacks more than once a week; difficulty in understanding complex commands; impairment of short- and long-term memory (e.g., retention of only highly learned material, forgetting to complete tasks); impaired judgment; impaired abstract thinking; disturbances of motivation and mood; difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships.

When a Veteran has service connected PTSD that is granted at 50%, he is likely to have a GAF score that is in nearing the middle, to low end rage of the scale. As we noted before, in most cases, the lower the GAF score, the more severe the PTSD.

*Please note that this is just a general guideline, and it is subject to change. The above illustrates a typical 50% rating..

If you are interested in filing a claim for PTSD in relation to VA Disability Compensation, or if you have been denied, and would like the help of an attorney to file in appeal, call our offices at 1-877-526-3457. Find out more information at our website, www.fight4vets.com

How does the VA define the term "Veteran" in VA Disability Compensation?

The VA Disability process can be quite confusing. As one goes through appeals, and decisions, it can be overwhelming at times. This can be true for the most basic of information too. For instance, are you a Veteran? Many of those who have served in military would automatically say yes. Often times this is true, but it is important to know how the VA defines the term "Veteran."

According to the VA, The term "Veteran" means a person who served in the active military, naval, or air service and who was discharged or released therefrom under conditions other than dishonorable.

The terms of your discharge have a lot to do with your eligibility for VA disability compensation benefits. The type of discharge one receives can have an affect on which benefits one is eligible be for through the VA.

If you are interested in more information about VA Disability Compensation, or if you would like a free phone consultation, call our office at 1-877-526-3457 Check us out online: www.fight4vets.com



How does the VA Determine a 30% Rating for Service Connected PTSD?

The following blog is the third in a series of blogs describing the VA Departments criteria for rating PTSD Service Connection. As we mentioned in our previous blog:

PTSD is a disorder that the VA can grant a Veteran between zero and one hundred percent for service connected compensation. Unlike some issues that peak at ten percent, or thirty percent, a Veteran can get service connected compensation up to one hundred percent for PTSD.

The following symptoms are what a Veteran who was granted 30% service connection would likely suffer from: 

Occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks (although generally functioning satisfactorily, with routine behavior, self-care, and conversation normal), due to such symptoms as: depressed mood, anxiety, panic attacks (weekly or less often), chronic sleep impairment, mild memory loss (such as forgetting names, directions, recent events).

When a Veteran has service connected PTSD that is granted at 30%, he is likely to have a GAF score that is in nearing the middle range of the scale. As we noted before, in most cases, the lower the score, the more severe the PTSD.

*Please note that this is just a general guideline, and it is subject to change. The above illustrates a typical 30% rating.

If you are interested in filing a claim for PTSD in relation to VA Disability Compensation, or if you have been denied, and would like the help of an attorney to file in appeal, call our offices at 1-877-526-3457. Find out more information at our website, www.fight4vets.com

How Does the VA Determine a 10% Rating for Service Connected PTSD?

The following blog is the Second in a series of blogs describing the VA Departments criteria for rating PTSD Service Connection. As we mentioned in our previous blog:

PTSD is a disorder that the VA can grant a Veteran between zero and one hundred percent for service connected compensation. Unlike some issues that peak at ten percent, or thirty percent, a Veteran can get service connected compensation up to one hundred percent for PTSD.

If a Veteran qualifies at a 10% rating, he will likely have some or all of the following symptoms:

Occupational and social impairment due to mild or transient symptoms which decrease work efficiency and ability to perform occupational tasks only during periods of significant stress, or; symptoms controlled by continuous medication.

At 10%, the Veteran will still likely have a High GAF Score, but it will likely not be as high as a Veteran who is service connected at 0%.

*Please note that this is just a general guideline, and it is subject to change. The above illustrates a typical 10% rating.

If you are interested in filing a claim for PTSD in relation to VA Disability Compensation, or if you have been denied, and would like the help of an attorney to file in appeal, call our offices at 1-877-526-3457. Find out more information at our website, www.fight4vets.com

What is Individual Unemployability in regards to the VA?

If you are a Veteran who is currently service connected for a disability through the VA, chances are you have heard the term "Individual Unemployabilty." Often refereed to by the abbreviation IU, Individual Unemployability is, according to the VA, a part of VA’s disability compensation program that allows VA to pay certain veterans compensation at the 100% rate, even though VA has not rated their service-connected disabilities at the total level.

You may also be asking, "How does one qualify for Individual Unemployability through the VA?" According to the VA Website, a Veteran must meet the following criteria:

A veteran must be unable to maintain substantially gainful employment as a result of his/her service-connected disabilities. Additionally, a veteran must have:

• One service-connected disability ratable at 60 percent or more, OR

• Two or more service-connected disabilities, at least one disability ratable at 40 percent or more with a combined rating of 70 percent or more.

In the following hypothetical example, a Veteran would qualify for Individual Unemployability: If the Veteran was Service connected at 50% for PTSD, and 20% for hearing loss, he would qualify for Individual Unemployability. (As a note, his service connected disabilities must make him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment)

For more information on this subject, or if you would like legal representation for your VA Disability Claim, feel free to contact our office for a free phone consultation: 1-877-526-3457

How Does the VA Determine a 0% Rating for Service Connected PTSD?

The following blog is the first in a series of blogs describing the VA Departments criteria for rating PTSD Service Connection. As we mentioned in our previous blog:

PTSD is a disorder that the VA can grant a Veteran between zero and one hundred percent for service connected compensation. Unlike some issues that peak at ten percent, or thirty percent, a Veteran can get service connected compensation up to one hundred percent for PTSD.

Today we will look at what qualifies for a 0% rating on PTSD through the VA. If a Veteran is granted a 0% rating on Service Connected PTSD, he will likely have a high Global Assessment Functioning Scale Score, or GAF Score. (We will explain more about GAF scores in a future blog.)

Further, a Veteran with a 0% rating will likely show the following symptoms:

A mental condition has been formally diagnosed by a doctor, but symptoms are not severe enough to either to interfere with occupational and social functioning or to require continuous medication.*

*Please note that this is just a general guideline, and it is subject to change. The above illustrates a typical 0% rating.

If you are interested in filing a claim for PTSD in relation to VA Disability Compensation, or if you have been denied, and would like the help of an attorney to file in appeal, call our offices at 1-877-526-3457. Find out more information at our website, www.fight4vets.com