Birth Defects like Spina Bifida (Served in Vietnam, Thailand, or in the near DMZ during Vietnam War Era).Asbestos (Worked in certain military jobs).Agent Orange (Served in Vietnam or Korea during the Vietnam War Era).For example, during the post-9/11 Wars of Iraq and Afghanistan 97.2% of veterans studied who experienced Chronic Multisymptom Illness had been exposed to toxic materials.īecause of this, the VA will grant benefits (many of them presumed, depending on your time of service) for a number of recognized exposures to hazardous chemicals and materials. There are a number of different chemical exposures that veterans may have experienced during their time in the military, leading to a large number of health issues including cancer. It is possible to be rated up to 100% for TBI and the residual issues it can cause.Ĭhemical exposure is often presumed by the VA #13. In recent years the VA has made moves to better recognize the complexity of TBI and has made it easier to have claims for it accepted. Other possible residual symptoms can include trouble focusing, sleep issues, social awkwardness, memory loss, and many, many more.īecause the list is so long it is recommended that if you suffered any trauma to the head, at all, during your time of service, and have experienced a different quality of life since you should look for a diagnosis. There are many side effects and symptoms of TBI, including various mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and even PTSD. Therefore it can be assumed that the true number of veterans who have experienced TBI is much higher.
TBI can be difficult to diagnose, especially if it isn’t caught almost immediately after the injury occurs. Obviously, this translates to mean that hundreds of thousands of veterans have suffered this condition. Since the year 2000 the DOD (Department of Defense) has recorded 413,858 service members that were diagnosed with TBI.
If you believe you suffer from sleep apnea, you can learn more about how to win a claim for it HERE. In fact, the use of a CPAP machine is not even considered for your diagnosis without the study! The VA will need a diagnosis that includes a study of your sleeping pattern. It is possible to receive a rating of 0%, 30%, 50% or 100% for sleep apnea. This pause can last at least 10 seconds and occurs when the muscles in the back of the throat fail to keep the airway open. Obstructive sleep apnea is the condition where breathing is briefly and repeatedly interrupted during sleep. In fact, nearly 20% of veterans suffer from this condition! Sleep apnea is four times more likely to affect a veteran than other Americans. Asthma (and other respiratory conditions)