Depression can negatively affect every aspect of your life: how you feel, think, sleep, function, and interact with others. According to the National Alliance on Mental Health Issues, about 14% of veterans suffer from depression. Depression is one of the most common conditions affecting veterans. Depression can be caused by a variety of circumstances; for […]
Veterans Disability Blog
2020 VA Pay Rates
If you receive disability benefits from the VA, you are going to see a slight change take effect on December 1st, 2019. This means you will receive the new pay rates in your January 2020 disability compensation payment. Veterans will see a 1.6% increase in monthly disability checks in 2020. Eligible veterans with a disability […]
What is Coronary Artery Disease?
Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is diagnosed when your coronary arteries (the major blood vessels that supply your heart with blood, oxygen, and nutrients) are damaged. Often this occurs because of plaque buildup, making your arteries hard, narrow, blocked or stretched, decreasing the blood flow through the arteries to your heart. CAD can cause chest pain, […]
What is Radiculopathy?
Radiculopathy, commonly known as a pinched nerve. It can cause sharp pain, weakness, loss of reflexes, or numbness throughout your spine and extremities. If you have both a service-connected back condition and radiculopathy you may be entitled disability benefits for your radiculopathy. What is a Secondary Condition? A secondary condition occurs when a service-connected condition, […]
What Is Sciatica And How Can It Affect Your Rating?
Sciatica occurs when the sciatic nerve is irritated, resulting in shooting pain, weakness, tingling, or burning through the buttocks and down one or both legs. Sciatica can also cause difficulty in walking and paralysis. Service Connection If you have a service-connected back condition, it is very likely that you can secondarily connect your sciatica. Sciatica […]
Need to Know for a Schizoaffective Disorder Claim
What is Schizoaffective Disorder? Schizoaffective disorder is a chronic mental health condition that is characterized by symptoms of schizophrenia and mood disorder. Some symptoms include hallucinations, delusions, mania, disorganized thinking, depression, poor appetite, changes in sleep patterns, agitation, lack of energy, loss of interest in usual activities, and guilt or self-blame. The wide span and […]