VA Disability Benefits for Stroke
CCK Law: Our Vital Role in Veterans Law
A stroke occurs when blood flow to an area of the brain is cut off or reduced, depriving its tissue of necessary oxygen and nutrients. This can be caused by a blood clot obstructing the flow of blood to the brain, or by a blood vessel rupturing and preventing the flow of blood to the brain.
The effects of a stroke can vary depending on the area of the brain affected and how long it was deprived of blood flow. Some people are able to recover completely from a stroke, whereas others are left with permanent disabilities such as partial paralysis, difficulty speaking, memory loss, vision problems and more.
How VA Rates a Stroke
VA categorizes strokes under several different categories. An embolism of the blood vessels in the brain occurs when a blood clot that forms somewhere else in the body travels to the brain. A thrombosis of the blood vessels in the brain occurs when blood clots form in the brain’s blood vessels. A hemorrhage of the blood vessels in the brain occurs when a blood vessel in the brain ruptures.
Veterans who have a service-connected stroke are assigned a convalescent temporary and total disability rating for six months following their final treatment. Veterans are then reevaluated and assigned ratings based on their residual symptoms. For example, if a veteran suffers from partial paralysis due to a stroke, the veteran would receive a rating based on the level of paralysis.
A veteran’s rating for residual symptoms will be based on medical records or a Compensation and Pension (C&P) exam. If there are residual symptoms following a stroke and they are supported by medical findings, veterans will receive a minimum disability rating of 10 percent.
Presumptive Service Connection for Stroke
Veterans may be able to receive presumptive service connection for a stroke in some situations. This presumption can be especially beneficial when applying for VA disability benefits, as it can be difficult to prove the exact cause of a stroke. Some forms of stroke receive presumptive service connection if the veteran is at least 10 percent disabled due to the stroke within one year of discharge.
In addition, former prisoners of war receive presumptive service connection for strokes. This applies to any form of stroke for a prisoner of war who was in captivity for any length of time.
