Is this normal? (FYI I’m very impatient)

No, it is not normal for a Desert Storm/Iraqi Freedom veteran with multiple chronic conditions to remain at a 10% rating for decades, and your impatience is justified; this typically indicates that claims were improperly developed, service connection was not established, or ratings were incorrectly assigned under the Schedule for Rating Disabilities. For new claims, you must establish three elements per **38 CFR 3.303**: a current diagnosis, an in-service event or injury, and a medical nexus linking the two. For mental health conditions like PTSD, use **38 CFR 4.130** (Diagnostic Codes 9400-9435), which bases ratings on occupational and social impairment, not just a diagnosis. If the VA previously denied claims, you likely need to appeal; consider a Higher-Level Review (HLR) if you believe there was a clear duty-to-assist error in gathering evidence, or file a Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence, which could include a private nexus opinion. For already service-connected conditions that have worsened, file for an increased rating; under **DeLuca v. Brown**, you can argue for a higher rating based on functional loss during flare-ups. Actionable next steps: 1) Obtain and review his entire VA claims file (C-file) via a FOIA request to identify past errors; 2) Secure current, specific diagnoses and private medical nexus opinions addressing his in-service events (e.g., burn pit exposure, combat); 3) For each condition, compare his symptoms directly to the rating criteria in **38 CFR Part 4**; 4) Submit an intent to file immediately to preserve an earlier effective date, then gather evidence and submit a fully developed claim. *Disclaimer: This is educational information for claims strategy and not legal, medical, or official VA advice.*