Military Occupational Specialty (MOS). Naval Enlisted Classification (NEC). In every military branch and between officers and enlisted, a slew of different job codes exist with their own sets of benefits, responsibilities and risks. As you transition to a civilian lifestyle, you may notice that the rigors of your previous duty have begun to catch up with you. Veterans Affairs (VA) claims can be difficult without targeted medical evidence, but a look at your occupational risks and assistance from the presumptive condition claim system can help you get closer to VA compensation

Presumptive Claims For Unclear Causes

Not all injuries or conditions come with a big scar, missing limb or other obvious trauma. Some problems may be from joint, muscle or nerve irritation, and the symptoms may not be visible to medical examiners. Mental conditions can be difficult to process as well, but presumptive claims can help you with a difficult claim or appeal.

A presumptive condition claim (detailed in this PDF document from the VA) can push for compensation when you have symptoms that are reasonable for your duty. This means that if your job code was regularly involved with a chemical agent such as Agent Orange and you happen to show some symptoms of exposure, you can push for compensation even if there isn't a direct connection to your condition and the exposure.

Such problems exist because it may take years for complications to develop. It's just as easy to blame your condition on a civilian job, civilian lifestyle or even genetics. With a presumptive claim, you can push for assistance by taking a deeper look into your career.

Many presumptive claims may not have a broad selection of facts as their support. Some may still be theoretical, but if it's plausible, a presumptive claim can cover it. If you have hearing loss because of dealing with mortars or alarms, a presumptive claim may approve you simply because of the nature of your job. If you don't show any signs of hearing loss, but feel that you have some form of hearing damage, a presumptive claim can help you explore your problem and offer an explanation that the VA can debate.

Job-Specific Presumptive Claims

Head pains, joint problems and general mobility issues may need a presumptive claim if you've been out of the military for a few years. All veterans can push for compensation under those conditions, but there are a few conditions that are specific to certain job codes.

Military personnel working with radio equipment and communications radiation may be locked in an ongoing debate over whether Radio Frequency (RF) exposure at certain frequencies can cause cancer or infertility (as listed in this radio frequency abstract from NCBI).

Sailors, Marines and miscellaneous attached service-members could have been exposed to asbestos as late as 1991. A higher risk of exposure belongs to personnel who were ordered to remove asbestos during early investigations of asbestos toxicity, such as veteran Hull Technicians (HTs) aiding ship repair companies in removal of asbestos or those around the ship's hull during removal. 

The connections are often complex, and your unknown symptoms could hold the key to helping others as well as securing your compensation. Contact a personal injury attorney, such as the Hensley Law Team, and discuss your career carefully, leaving no experience unexplored as you think of possible causes for your condition.

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