For certain conditions, the VA presumes a connection between your illness and your military service. This legal presumption can make it significantly easier to win your disability claim—if you meet the right criteria.
To qualify, your condition must appear on the VA’s approved list and manifest to a compensable degree—typically within one year of discharge. If your diagnosis appeared later, strong medical evidence and a legal strategy are essential.
In this video, Accredited Veterans Disability Attorney Marc Whitehead explains how veterans can qualify for benefits using the VA’s list of Presumptive Chronic and Tropical Diseases. From Parkinson’s disease and tuberculosis to tropical illnesses like dysentery or yellow fever, the VA has outlined specific conditions that may be service connected without needing to prove direct causation.
