VA Disability and Lipedema

This post is especially for military veterans who have been diagnosed with Lipedema after transitioning from the military or who have service-connected conditions that have gotten worse. Here are my helpful tips to get moving on increasing your disability rating.

As a veteran who separated from the military in 2016, I recently decided to explore adjusting my VA disability rating. While I can’t guarantee an increase (and technically could receive a decrease), I know that some of my service-connected conditions have worsened since separation. After encouragement from a close friend, I decided to pursue a reevaluation.

The Initial Steps

About a month ago, I met with a Veteran Service Organization (VSO) representative to transition my case from my previous VSO in another part of Virginia. During this meeting, we filed an “Intent to File” document, which establishes an effective date for any future determinations and potential compensation adjustments.

The Importance of Having Support

One crucial person in my journey has been a friend who works as a licensed clinical social worker with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). I met her during my first overseas duty assignment in Korea when we were roommates in the barracks. After leaving the Army, she married someone I consider a brother, who went through flight school with me. Her perspective is uniquely valuable as she understands veterans’ challenges from multiple angles: as a veteran herself, a military spouse, a mother, and a healthcare professional.

She’s been instrumental in helping me navigate the VA system, ensuring I received my initial disability rating and encouraging me to seek reevaluation when conditions worsened. She’s witnessed my journey with lipedema, even before my diagnosis, and understands the progression of my various service-connected conditions, including knee surgery and issues related to skin, eyes, joints, and mental health.

Understanding Veteran Service Organizations (VSOs)

VSOs provide invaluable services to veterans, service members, dependents, and survivors. They offer:

Assistance with VA claims
Community programming
Job fairs
Specialized support for specific veteran demographics
Training for accredited representatives

A crucial point about VSOs: while they receive funding from various sources (state, county, private, and federal grants), they never charge veterans for their services. This distinguishes them from some online organizations that may offer initial free resources but charge for additional help.

The Reevaluation Process

During my recent VSO appointment, I learned about Disability Benefit Questionnaires (DBQs). These publicly available forms correspond to specific disabilities and outline exactly what evaluators look for during reassessments. They’re incredibly useful for understanding potential progression indicators for your condition.

For example, in my case, switching from topical treatments to biologics for a skin condition indicated disease progression. Additionally, requiring knee surgery demonstrated worsening of another condition. These changes suggested that reevaluation might be appropriate.

Three Essential Tips for Filing a VA Claim Adjustment

Familiarize Yourself with VA.gov This is your source of truth. While other websites may offer good information, VA.gov must stay current as part of its mandate.
Review Your Entitlement Letter This document lists each of your claimed conditions and their associated percentages. Pay special attention to the language describing requirements for higher ratings.
Work with an Accredited VSO Representative They can assist with your intent to file, evidence gathering, and necessary paperwork – all at no cost.

Looking Ahead: The Lipedema Question

I’m still uncertain whether lipedema will be considered for coverage. While it’s a genetic disorder, the key question is whether military service exacerbated the condition. I haven’t found lipedema specifically listed in the DBQs, though it might fall under the lymphatic and venous disorders section. Although I had lipedema when joining the military, the VA also considers whether service conditions worsened the disorder.

I’ll continue to share updates about my VSO appointment outcomes and the VA’s final determination. This journey is ongoing, and I hope sharing my experience helps other veterans navigating similar situations.

Links you may find useful:

Public Disability Benefits Questionnaires (DBQs): ttps://www.benefits.va.gov/compensation/dbq_publicdbqs.asp

Official Department of Veterans Affairs Website: https://www.va.gov/

Title 38 (CFR) PART 4—SCHEDULE FOR RATING DISABILITIES: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-38…

Here’s a super helpful resource book on Lipedema treatment written by a knowledgeable CLT (affiliate link): https://amzn.to/3Cxr3ig