There’s a well-worn phrase in the world of addiction recovery: “chasing the dragon.” It describes the relentless pursuit of a feeling that once was but may never be again. In the world of VA benefits, some Veterans fall into a similar cycle—not with substances, but with disability ratings.
Many Veterans with a service-connected disability rating become singularly focused on reaching that elusive 100% mark. It’s understandable. Compensation at the 100% level can be life changing. But too often, Veterans pursue that goal without fully understanding how the system works—or what’s even possible based on their service and medical history.
First and foremost, every VA disability claim is built on three foundational elements: (1) a current medical diagnosis, (2) an in-service event or exposure, and (3) a nexus—meaning a link— between the two. Without all three, there’s no claim. This applies whether you’re applying for an initial rating, a new condition, or an increase. It also applies whether you’re at 0% or 90%.
Service connection is the foundation. Without it, there is no rating—compensable or otherwise.
Veterans sometimes focus on the rating percentage instead of the service connection itself, but that’s putting the cart before the dragon.
There’s also the unique creature known as “VA math.” When Veterans get a new rating, it doesn’t simply add up like 70% + 20% = 90%. It’s calculated using a diminishing scale. A 90% rating is statistically harder to reach than it sounds, and to move from 90% to 100%, you often need at least one new single condition rated at 50% or higher.
Some claims just don’t make it, no matter how compelling the story—or how helpful the neighbor’s advice seemed. Not all Veterans are eligible for 100%, and no CVSO has a magic wand. We can only submit claims that meet the legal and ethical standards required by law. That means identifying valid claims supported by evidence—not unsupported assumptions.
At the end of the day, our role as County Veterans Service Officers is to give you honest feedback, help you navigate the process, and make sure your claim is solid before we send it off. We can’t chase the dragon, but we can help you build a path to the benefits you’ve earned.
Questions? Call us. Let’s work the problem together—one claim at a time.
Brad Anderson and Melissa Crandall are the Lake County Veterans Service Officers and can be reached at 218.834.8326 or cvso@co.lake.mn.us
Karen Christianson is the Cook County Veterans Service Officer and can be reached at 218.387.3639, or karen.christianson@co.cook.mn.us
