The chronic pain affecting many veterans filing VA disability claims can be debilitating and frustrating.

What can be even more frustrating is the challenge of securing disability benefits for constant pain and the many other conditions associated with it.

To receive compensation for constant pain, veterans should understand how the VA addresses chronic pain disability claims and seek assistance with their claims, if necessary. 

What Is Chronic Pain According to the VA? 

The VA disability claims rating process refers to pain as being chronic when it has been present for six months or longer.

Chronic pain for which a veteran may make disability claims usually starts with an initial injury or sickness and then continues on for long periods, many times even manifesting into a variety of other symptoms.

When chronic pain is accompanied by other symptoms or conditions, the veteran is said to be experiencing chronic pain syndrome.

Depending on the service connection, the severity of the pain, and the additional symptoms it causes, veterans may be able to file disability claims for constant pain or their associated pain conditions. 

What Other Conditions May Be Related To Chronic Pain?

The VA finds that veterans experiencing constant pain frequently start experiencing other conditions that are secondary to their pain, such as: 

• Depression and/or Anxiety
• Sleep Impairment and/or Reduced Activity
• Mood Swings and Irritability
• Social Withdrawal and Relationship Problems
• Cognitive and Memory Impairment
• Suicidal Ideation
• Substance Abuse
• Hopelessness and Helplessness

How Is Chronic Pain Rated for VA Disability Claims?

As obvious as chronic pain may be to the veteran experiencing it, filing successful VA disability claims for that pain can be challenging.

First, the veteran submitting a chronic pain disability claim must establish a service connection with the onset of their pain, whether it began while they were in service, after their service ended, or their pain is caused due to aggravating another condition while in service.

Then, the veteran must gather as much evidence as they can to support not just their chronic pain, but also any associated conditions since the VA does not have a specific diagnostic code for chronic pain, meaning there is no rating specifically for chronic pain.

Instead, veterans must file for VA disability claims by seeking ratings for the original injury that caused the pain, plus the other conditions resulting from that pain.

Collectively, the various ratings of primary and secondary conditions and the degree to which they affect a veteran’s life add up to a total rating that provides a certain level of VA benefits. 

Seek Help From A Disability Claims Expert When Dealing With Chronic Pain

Dealing with constant pain that never subsides can be extremely taxing for any veteran suffering from a service-connected condition.

Although it is possible to submit VA disability claims for chronic and ongoing pain, the claims process for doing so is not so straightforward.

Veterans experiencing chronic, constant pain should seek help from a VA disability claims expert familiar with chronic pain submissions.

With an experienced assessment of the service-connected conditions that have led to their pain, plus the secondary conditions that have developed because of it, it is possible to receive disability benefits for constant pain with a combined disability rating.

Need Help With VA Disability Claims for Chronic Pain in Texas? 

Contact the VA Claims Experts at True Vet Solutions!

Call 888-802-1549 To Speak With A Representative Today!