There is no deadline for filing a VA disability claim — you can file any time after discharge, even decades later, as long as you can show a current condition, an in-service event or injury, and a medical link (nexus) between them. Service treatment records showing a broken ankle with ruptured tendon and abdominal surgery are strong evidence for direct service connection on those specific issues, since the in-service event is already documented. Ankle instability, chronic pain, and diastasis recti-related abdominal weakness can be rated even without a dramatic imaging finding, because VA ratings for musculoskeletal conditions are often based on functional limitation (range of motion, pain on movement, incoordination) rather than solely on imaging.
For conditions without a firm diagnosis yet, such as back pain with normal imaging, tinnitus, migraines, and PTSD symptoms, the VA's Compensation & Pension (C&P) exam process is designed to establish or rule out a diagnosis independent of your prior civilian records. Tinnitus is frequently service-connected based on credible lay report alone, since it cannot be measured objectively. Migraines and back pain can be service-connected on direct or secondary bases (for example, insomnia and mental health symptoms secondary to chronic pain, per 38 CFR 3.310). PTSD requires a clinical diagnosis meeting DSM criteria, which the C&P psychologist or psychiatrist would determine at the exam — you do not need a prior diagnosis to file.
Official 2026 VA monthly compensation, including the 2.8% COLA increase.
Dependent add-ons start at a 30% rating. Child-only and dependent-parent rates: see the full 2026 pay chart.
| Rating | Monthly (2026, incl. 2.8% COLA) |
|---|---|
| 10% | $180.42 |
| 20% | $356.66 |
| 30% | $552.47 |
| 40% | $795.84 |
| 50% | $1,132.90 |
| 60% | $1,435.02 |
| 70% | $1,808.45 |
| 80% | $2,102.15 |
| 90% | $2,362.30 |
| 100% | $3,938.58 |
Does your rating decision hold up under a real audit?
Upload your decision letter and C&P exams — VetAid's analyzer reads the full file, checks every examiner statement word-for-word against your records, and shows which arguments for a higher rating actually hold. Free, and we never take a cut of your back pay.
Analyze my claim free →Filing itself does not require navigating insurance-style bureaucracy the way private health coverage does; it is a written claim (VA Form 21-526EZ) supported by evidence, and many veterans use an accredited Veterans Service Officer (VSO) from organizations like the DAV, VFW, or American Legion at no cost to handle paperwork, correspondence, and appeals if needed. Ratings can range from 0% to 100% depending on evidence and severity, and multiple conditions combine using VA's combined ratings table, so even several moderate conditions can add up meaningfully.
Because outcomes vary widely by evidence quality and specific condition, it's reasonable to expect uncertainty rather than a guaranteed high rating. The concrete next step is to file an Intent to File (VA Form 21-0966) to lock in an effective date, then work with a VSO to gather service treatment records and file the formal claim for each condition separately.
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