Range reflects minimum and maximum plausible ratings contingent on C&P exam findings. Actual award depends on examiner determinations.
Key findings
A 2016 IED blast in Helmand Province is the anchor event driving the majority of claims — directly responsible for the documented lumbar fracture, TBI, and bilateral hearing loss. The TBI and sleep apnea claims represent the highest-value opportunities, with sleep apnea alone potentially rated at 50% if CPAP is required. Combined with tinnitus at 10% and hearing loss at 10–30%, the auditory claims alone could represent a significant portion of the final rating.
Service-connected claims
Lumbar spine fracture with chronic low back pain
DC 5235 · 38 CFR §4.71a
L3 compression fracture sustained in IED blast (Oct 2016), documented continuously across three commands with X-ray, CT, and MRI imaging all on file. Persistent pain rated 6/10 at separation physical. Treated with physical therapy, naproxen, and cyclobenzaprine throughout remainder of service. The clear in-service event, imaging corroboration, and unbroken continuity of care make this a direct service connection under 38 CFR §3.303. Rating will depend on range of motion measured at C&P exam.
The following criteria will be evaluated during your Compensation & Pension (C&P) examination.
40%Evaluation criteria
Forward flexion of the lumbar spine 30 degrees or less
Favorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine
20%Evaluation criteria
Forward flexion of the lumbar spine greater than 30 degrees but not greater than 60 degrees
The combined range of motion of the thoracolumbar spine not greater than 120 degrees
Muscle spasm or guarding severe enough to result in an abnormal gait or abnormal spinal contour
10%Evaluation criteria
Forward flexion of the lumbar spine greater than 60 degrees but not greater than 85 degrees
Combined range of motion of the thoracolumbar spine greater than 120 degrees but not greater than 235 degrees
Muscle spasm, guarding, or localized tenderness not resulting in abnormal gait or abnormal spinal contour
Vertebral fracture with loss of 50 percent or more of the height of the vertebral body
Traumatic brain injury (mild TBI) with residual headaches
DC 8045 · 38 CFR §4.124a
Diagnosed with mild TBI following loss of consciousness at blast site. Neuropsychological evaluation at Camp Pendleton confirmed deficits in processing speed and working memory. Persistent headaches documented at 3–4 per week in follow-up notes through separation. No prior head injury documented at accession physical. Rating is determined by the most severe facet across 10 neurological domains evaluated at the C&P exam.
Direct §3.303 — blast-related LOCBlast event in medical record (Oct 2016)Neuropsychology evaluation (Feb 2017)Cognitive deficits on standardized testingHeadache medication prescribed
The following criteria will be evaluated during your Compensation & Pension (C&P) examination.
70%Evaluation criteria
Occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood, due to such symptoms as: persistent near-continuous headache affecting the ability to concentrate
Chronic cognitive impairment affecting reliability or productivity
Intermittent inability to perform activities of daily living
40%Evaluation criteria
Occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to such symptoms as: flattened affect; circumstantial, circumlocutory, or stereotyped speech
Disturbances of motivation and mood; difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships
Headaches occurring more than once per week, prostrating attacks averaging one in two months over the last several months
10%Evaluation criteria
Mild or transient symptoms which decrease work efficiency only during periods of significant stress
Headaches with characteristic prostrating attacks averaging one in two months over the last several months
Tinnitus
DC 6260 · 38 CFR §4.87
Tinnitus reported at post-deployment health reassessment following 2016 deployment and again at separation physical. MOS 0311 Infantry Rifleman involves continuous exposure to weapons fire, explosives, and heavy vehicle noise — a qualifying occupational noise exposure. Combined with the IED blast acoustic trauma, this is among the most consistently granted VA claims for combat infantry veterans. Tinnitus is assigned a single fixed rating of 10% as a standalone condition.
Direct §3.303 — acoustic trauma, MOS 0311Post-deployment PDHRA documentationReported at separation physical (2020)IED blast — acoustic trauma
The following criteria will be evaluated during your Compensation & Pension (C&P) examination.
10%Evaluation criteria
Recurrent tinnitus — this is the only rating available for tinnitus as a standalone condition under DC 6260. The maximum evaluation is 10 percent, whether the condition is unilateral or bilateral.
Sleep apnea (obstructive)
DC 6847 · 38 CFR §4.97
Referred to sleep clinic prior to separation with Epworth Sleepiness Scale score of 19/24 (severe). Witnessed apneic events documented by provider. Home sleep study ordered confirmed OSA requiring CPAP. If CPAP use is verified at C&P exam, VA assigns a fixed 50% rating — making this the single highest-value claim in this record. Can also be argued as secondary to TBI under 38 CFR §3.310.
Direct §3.303 / Secondary §3.310 to TBIEpworth score 19/24 (severe)Sleep study confirming OSACPAP prescribed at separation
The following criteria will be evaluated during your Compensation & Pension (C&P) examination.
100%Evaluation criteria
Chronic respiratory failure with carbon dioxide retention or cor pulmonale, or; requires tracheostomy
50%Evaluation criteria
Requires use of breathing assistance device such as continuous airway pressure (CPAP) machine