Episode 187: What is VA’s Presumption of Soundness for Disability Benefits Claims?

Unless otherwise noted, VA presumes that every veteran is healthy when they enter military service. This is called the presumption of soundness, meaning that every veteran shall be taken to have been in sound condition when examined, accepted, and enrolled for service. VA’s presumption of soundness can have an impact on VA disability claims. Essentially, if there is no clear and unmistakable evidence that the veteran’s condition predated service and there is no evidence of the condition on the veteran’s entrance exam, then the veteran should be presumed to be healthy upon entering service and afforded the presumption of soundness. To learn more about how the presumption of soundness can be helpful with VA disability claims, and how the presumption of soundness relates to conditions that are aggravated by military service, tune in to this episode.