Top 5 Easiest VA Disability Claims to Get Approved in 2026 (And How to File Them Right)

By a veteran who’s been through the process — here’s what actually works.

If you’re getting out of the military — or you’ve been out and haven’t filed yet — you’re leaving money on the table. The VA disability system isn’t as complicated as people make it sound. But some claims are significantly easier to get approved than others.

I’ve been through the process myself. I’ve talked to hundreds of veterans who have too. These are the five claims that get approved the most consistently, with the least amount of pushback.

If you have any of these conditions, file today. Not tomorrow. Today.

1. Tinnitus (Ringing in the Ears)

VA Rating: 10% Approval Rate: One of the highest of any claim

If you were anywhere near loud equipment, weapons, aircraft, vehicles, or machinery — you probably have tinnitus. That constant ringing, buzzing, or hissing in your ears that you’ve learned to ignore? That’s a disability.

Here’s why it’s the easiest claim:

• It’s subjective. There’s no test that can prove or disprove you hear ringing. You tell them you hear it, and your MOS involved noise exposure. That’s usually enough.
• Almost every MOS qualifies. Infantry, artillery, aviation, motor pool, medical (yes, even hospitals are loud), communications — if you served, you were around noise.
• The C&P exam is simple. They’ll do a hearing test and ask you about the ringing. Describe when it started, how it affects your sleep, your concentration, your daily life.

Pro tip: Mention it at your separation physical. If it’s documented there, your claim is almost automatic. Even if you didn’t — file anyway. Your DD-214 and MOS are usually enough to establish noise exposure.

What you need to file:

• DD-214 showing your MOS
• A personal statement describing the ringing and when it started
• Buddy letters from fellow service members (optional but helpful)

2. Sleep Apnea

VA Rating: 50% (with CPAP machine) or 30% (without) Why it matters: This is a big rating for a very common condition

Sleep apnea is incredibly common among veterans. The stress, weight changes, irregular sleep schedules, and environmental exposures during service all contribute.

Here’s why it’s one of the easiest to get:

• If you snore loudly, wake up gasping, or feel exhausted no matter how much you sleep — you probably have it.
• A sleep study confirms it. Once you have a diagnosis, the claim becomes straightforward.
• 50% rating with a CPAP is almost automatic once diagnosed.

The key: Get a sleep study done. You can request one through your VA primary care doctor, or get one done privately. Once the study shows sleep apnea and you’re prescribed a CPAP, that 50% rating is yours.

How to connect it to service:

• Direct connection: you developed it during service
• Secondary connection: it’s caused by another service-connected condition (PTSD, weight gain from injuries, medications)
• Buddy letters from roommates/spouses who witnessed your snoring and breathing issues during or after service are powerful evidence

What you need to file:

• Sleep study results showing diagnosis
• CPAP prescription
• Personal statement explaining how it started during or because of service
• Buddy letters from anyone who’s witnessed your sleep issues

3. Mental Health (PTSD, Anxiety, Depression)

VA Rating: 10% to 100% depending on severity Most common ratings: 30%, 50%, or 70%

This is the one most veterans avoid filing because of stigma. Don’t be that person. Mental health claims have one of the highest approval rates, and they often result in significant ratings.

Here’s the reality:

• You don’t need a combat deployment. PTSD can come from training accidents, sexual trauma (MST), witnessing injuries, toxic leadership, or any traumatic event during service.
• Anxiety and depression count too. You don’t need a PTSD diagnosis specifically. Generalized anxiety, major depressive disorder, and adjustment disorder all qualify.
• The VA WANTS to approve these. There’s been a huge push to support veteran mental health. The system is more veteran-friendly for mental health claims than it’s ever been.

The C&P exam:

• You’ll talk to a psychologist or psychiatrist
• Be honest. Don’t downplay your symptoms.
• Talk about how it affects your work, relationships, sleep, motivation, and daily functioning
• If you have angry outbursts, difficulty concentrating, nightmares, hypervigilance, avoidance of crowds — SAY IT

What you need to file:

• Personal statement describing your stressor events and current symptoms
• Any treatment records (VA or private therapy)
• Buddy letters from family/friends describing changes they’ve observed in you
• If MST: you don’t need a police report. Changes in behavior, requests for transfer, or personal statements are accepted

Pro tip: Start seeing a therapist NOW, even before you file. Consistent treatment records strengthen your claim significantly. The VA offers free mental health services — use them.

4. Flat Feet (Pes Planus) and Plantar Fasciitis

VA Rating: 10% to 50% (bilateral) Why it’s easy: Almost every veteran has foot problems

Years of rucking, running, standing on concrete, wearing military boots that weren’t designed for comfort — your feet took a beating. Flat feet and plantar fasciitis are among the most commonly approved claims.

• If your feet hurt in the morning when you step out of bed — that’s plantar fasciitis.
• If your arches have collapsed — that’s flat feet.
• Both are directly connected to the physical demands of service.

How to file:

• Get a current diagnosis from a podiatrist (VA or private)
• Your service treatment records showing any foot complaints help, but aren’t required
• Personal statement describing the pain and how it limits you (standing, walking, running, exercising)
• Photos of your feet showing collapsed arches can support flat feet claims

Pro tip: File for BOTH feet separately (bilateral). Bilateral flat feet at a moderate level gets you 30%. Add plantar fasciitis and you could be looking at 30–50% just from your feet.

What you need to file:

• Current diagnosis from a doctor
• Personal statement about foot pain and limitations
• Service treatment records if available
• Buddy letters from people who’ve seen you limping or heard you complain about foot pain

5. Back Pain (Lumbar Strain / Degenerative Disc Disease)

VA Rating: 10% to 40% typically Why it’s common: The military destroys your back

If you carried heavy gear, wore body armor, sat in military vehicles, slept on the ground, or did literally anything physical — your back took damage. Lumbar strain and degenerative disc disease are some of the most filed and approved claims.

• You don’t need a dramatic injury. Years of wear and tear counts. That’s called “repetitive stress.”
• Range of motion matters. The VA rates back conditions primarily on how far you can bend and twist. Limited range of motion = higher rating.
• Imaging helps. An X-ray or MRI showing disc issues, arthritis, or degeneration makes the claim much stronger.

The C&P exam:

• They’ll measure your range of motion with a goniometer
• Don’t be tough. Don’t push through pain to show full range. Stop where it hurts.
• Describe your worst days, not your best days
• Mention flare-ups — days where you can barely move

What you need to file:

• Current diagnosis (get imaging done — X-ray at minimum, MRI is better)
• Personal statement describing what caused it and how it affects daily life
• Service treatment records if you ever went to sick call for back pain
• Buddy letters from people who’ve witnessed your back issues

Pro tip: File for radiculopathy (nerve pain shooting down your legs) as a SECONDARY claim to your back. If you have any tingling, numbness, or shooting pain in your legs — that’s a separate rating on top of your back rating. Each leg can be rated separately.

The Strategy: Stack Your Ratings

Here’s where it gets powerful. The VA uses “VA math” — ratings don’t just add up, they combine. But stacking multiple conditions is how veterans get to 70%, 80%, 90%, and 100%.

Example stack using just these five claims:

ConditionRatingSleep Apnea (CPAP)50%PTSD50%Back Pain20%Flat Feet (bilateral)30%Tinnitus10%Combined VA Rating~90%

That’s roughly $2,200/month tax-free at 90%. At 100% it’s over $3,800/month.

And that’s before dependents. Add a spouse and kids and it goes up.

How to File (The Simple Version)

1. Go to va.gov → Sign in (create an account if needed)
2. Click “File a Claim”
3. Select “New Claim” → “Disability Compensation”
4. List each condition separately
5. Upload your evidence (personal statements, buddy letters, medical records)
6. Submit

Or call the VA at 1–800–827–1000 and they’ll walk you through it.

Even better: Find a free VSO (Veterans Service Organization) to help you file. They do this every day and know exactly how to word things. Try:

• DAV (Disabled American Veterans) — dav.org
• VFW — vfw.org
• American Legion — legion.org

They help for FREE. Seriously. Free.

Don’t Wait

Every month you don’t file is money you’re not getting. The VA can backdate your claim to the day you filed — but NOT before that. So if you wait 6 months to file, that’s 6 months of payments you’ll never get back.

File today. Start with whichever condition is most obvious. Add the others as you go. You earned these benefits. Use them.

This article is for informational purposes. I’m a veteran sharing my experience, not a lawyer or VA-accredited claims agent. For personalized help, contact a VSO or VA-accredited attorney.