Disability Research, Veterans / 11.03.2026

VA Disability Claims: Know This Before Filing In 2023, nearly 2.3 million veterans held a service-connected disability rating of 70 percent or higher, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. At the same time, millions of former service members had no service-connected rating at all. That contrast highlights an important truth about VA disability claims: the system is complex, but it is navigable when veterans understand what the VA evaluates and how medical evidence drives decisions. Before filing, it is critical to understand how VA disability claims are structured, what documentation is required, and how ratings are assigned. The process is not based on personal statements alone. It is built on documented medical findings, regulatory criteria, and a clearly established connection to military service.
Author Interviews, Disability Research, Exercise - Fitness, Pain Research / 21.01.2025

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_66034" align="alignleft" width="133"]Cheryl A. Krause-Parello, PhD, RN, FAANAssociate Vice President for Research Associate Executive Director & Faculty Fellow Institute for Human Health and Disease Intervention (I-HEALTH) Director, C-P.A.W.W. Canines Providing Assistance to Wounded Warriors® Health Research Initiative for Veterans Professor (Secondary), Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing Florida Atlantic University Dr. Cheryl Krause-Parello[/caption] Cheryl A. Krause-Parello, PhD, RN, FAAN Associate Vice President for Research Associate Executive Director & Faculty Fellow Institute for Human Health and Disease Intervention (I-HEALTH) Director, C-P.A.W.W. Canines Providing Assistance to Wounded Warriors® Health Research Initiative for Veterans Professor (Secondary), Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing Florida Atlantic University MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: Chronic pain, especially chronic low back pain, is a significant issue for U.S. military veterans, affecting 40–70% of this population and often leading to disability. Veterans experience higher rates of chronic pain than civilians, with back pain being the most prevalent type. Younger veterans and those from recent conflicts report more severe pain, while older veterans frequently face persistent chronic pain. Complicating factors include comorbid conditions such as PTSD, traumatic brain injury, and behavioral disorders, as well as an increased reliance on opioids, which pose risks of addiction and overdose. This underscores the need for nonpharmacological interventions like qigong, a traditional Chinese practice combining movement, breathing, and meditation, to address the biopsychosocial challenges of chronic low back pain.