VA disability conditions

VA Disability Conditions by Body System

Name: VA Disability Conditions by Body System
Creator: Patriot Path Medical Team

The VA rates more than 800 conditions. They are not a random pile. They are sorted into the body systems of the VA’s rating schedule, 38 CFR Part 4. We built this page the same way, so you can start with the part of the body your condition affects and go from there.

Patriot Path handles the medical piece of the claim. Our physicians write nexus letters and independent medical opinions that connect your condition to your service. Any condition in the schedule. One flat fee of $1,500, and the first consultation is free.

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Start with your body system

Pick the system your condition falls under. Each guide covers the common conditions in that system, how the VA rates them, and how a nexus letter helps. More guides are going live as we build them out.

How the VA organizes conditions

Every ratable condition lives in one of these body systems. Inside each system, the VA gives each condition a four-digit diagnostic code. Sleep apnea is 6847. Tinnitus is 6260. The code tells the rater which rules to use.

Then the VA assigns a rating from 0% to 100%, in steps of 10. The percentage is meant to match how much the condition affects your daily life and your ability to work. Higher rating, higher monthly payment.

That is the whole map. Find your system, find your condition’s code, and you can see the exact rules the VA will use on your claim.

How a nexus letter fits, whatever your condition

Most denied claims are not denied because the veteran was not sick. They are denied because the link to service was not proven on paper.

Under 38 CFR 3.303, a service-connected claim needs three things to line up:

1.A current diagnosis. A doctor has diagnosed the condition now.
2.An in-service event or exposure. Something in your service that could have caused or worsened it.
3.A medical nexus. A qualified opinion that ties the two together.

That opinion has to clear a specific standard of proof: “at least as likely as not,” meaning a 50% or better chance the condition is tied to service. That standard comes from the benefit-of-the-doubt rule in 38 U.S.C. 5107(b), carried out in 38 CFR 3.102: when the evidence is about evenly balanced, the tie goes to the veteran.

A nexus letter is that third piece. It is a written medical opinion that connects your diagnosis to your service, in the language the VA is required to weigh. Our physicians review your records, cite the medical literature, and write the opinion to meet that standard.

See how our nexus letter process works →

Secondary conditions

One service-connected condition can cause another. That second condition can be rated too. It is called a secondary condition.

Sleep apnea caused by service-connected PTSD is a common example. So is depression that grows out of chronic pain. These claims are often missed, and they are a big part of what we do.

What if your condition is not listed?

The schedule does not name every possible condition, and it does not have to. When a condition is not listed, the VA rates it “by analogy,” using the closest listed condition in the same body system.

So even a rare or unusual condition has a path. If you are not sure where yours fits, ask us. We work across the whole schedule.

Frequently asked questions

How many conditions can the VA rate?

More than 800 are listed in 38 CFR Part 4, plus conditions that are rated by analogy. In practice, almost any diagnosed condition tied to service can be claimed.

How do I find my condition's VA rating?

Start with the body system above, then find the condition and its diagnostic code. The code points to the exact rating rules. Our guides put those rules in plain language.

What is a diagnostic code?

A four-digit number the VA assigns to each condition. It tells the rater which criteria to apply. Sleep apnea is 6847, for example.

Do I need a nexus letter for every condition?

No. Some conditions are presumptive, which means the VA already accepts the link to service. For most other claims, especially conditions diagnosed after discharge, a nexus letter is often the piece that decides it.

What if my condition is not on the VA's list?

It can still be rated by analogy, using the closest listed condition in the same body system. Being unlisted does not mean you cannot claim it.

Does Patriot Path cover my condition?

Yes. We write nexus letters and medical opinions for any condition in the VA rating schedule. If you are not sure yours qualifies, book a free consultation and we will tell you straight.

Not sure where your condition fits?

Let’s figure it out together. The first consultation is free, and we will tell you straight whether a nexus letter can help your claim.