Case Study: How an Air Force Veteran Used the PACT Act to Increase His VA Rating From 0% to 60%

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Editor’s note: This VA disability case study is based on a real VA Claims Insider Elite Member experience. Certain identifying details have been withheld to protect the veteran’s privacy.

Overview

By 2014, Air Force veteran Jeffery had given up entirely on VA disability benefits. After years of unexplained respiratory problems, multiple specialist visits, endless tests, and denied claims, he walked away from the process. Friends urged him to try again. His response was simple: “I felt it was kind of late in the game for claims.” 

But it wasn’t too late. 

After the passage of the PACT Act and with the right approach, Jeffery reopened his case. Less than five months after joining the VA Claims Insider Elite Program in August 2022, his VA disability rating increased from 0% to 60%—using a strategy built around service connection, secondary conditions, and newly expanded presumptive protections. 

Case Summary

• Veteran: Air Force veteran Jeffery 

• Service: 25-year career, 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron (SR-71, U-2, TR-1 programs), deployed to Iraq in 2005 

• Exposure: Burn pits at Kirkuk Air Base—”worked and slept and ate around the burn pits 24/7″ 

• Starting VA Rating: 0% (initially denied, gave up in 2014) 

• Breakthrough: PACT Act granted 0% service connection for allergic rhinitis, unlocking secondary claims 

• Current VA Rating: 60% (achieved in under 5 months) 

• Key Challenge: Years of unexplained symptoms, multiple specialists, no clear diagnosis, prior denials 

• Key Strategy: Leveraged 0% service connection to file for secondary conditions (sleep apnea, tinnitus) 

The Challenge: Burn Pit Exposure and Years Without Answers

Jeffery grew up in Chicago, Illinois, and joined the Air Force in 1978. He began his 25-year military career in the 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron, where he worked supply for the SR-71, U-2, and TR-1 strategic reconnaissance programs. 

From there, Jeffery crossed over into air transportation and was stationed at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama. By the late ’90s, he was at Little Rock Air Force Base in Arkansas. His service took him around the world—including frequent travel to the Philippines, Korea, Japan, Germany, the UAE, and Turkey. 

Just before retiring in 2005, Jeffery was deployed to Iraq. 

It was there that his health trajectory changed. 

“We were bombarded by burn pits. We worked and slept and ate around the burn pits 24/7,” he said. “And everybody that was at Kirkuk Air Base was complaining about the air around us.” 

Before that deployment, Jeffery had no history of respiratory problems. After returning to the United States, unexplained symptoms began to take hold. 

Life After Service: Chronic Symptoms and Denied Claims

After returning from his deployment, Jeffery began to experience respiratory problems. Unexplainable cold symptoms, sneezing, and chest and sinus congestion became a daily struggle. He didn’t understand why he was experiencing these issues, and over-the-counter medications didn’t seem to help. 

“I still don’t have a definitive explanation for why I have respiratory problems,” Jeffery said. 

Seeking answers, he turned to the VA. VA doctors performed several tests, including sinus and chest X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans. Nobody could determine a valid reason for his problems. 

Jeffery then went to an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist. He saw a pulmonologist and a respiratory specialist—all within the VA system. He was prescribed various medications in an effort to provide some relief, but they still couldn’t pinpoint the cause. 

Around the same time, Jeffery was also having issues sleeping, so his primary care physician recommended a VA sleep study. Jeffery was diagnosed with sleep apnea and given a CPAP machine. 

The problem was that he couldn’t use the machine due to his congestion and respiratory issues. 

After filing VA disability claims and being denied, Jeffery eventually gave up. By 2014, he had stopped pursuing benefits altogether. 

“I felt it was kind of late in the game for claims,” he said. 

The Solution: Rebuilding a Claim Under the PACT Act

When some of Jeffery’s friends encouraged him to look into his VA claims again, he initially hesitated. But eventually, he decided to take another look—this time armed with better information and support. 

Jeffery researched online and came across the VA Claims Insider Elite Program. After enrolling, he worked directly with his Veteran Coach to rebuild his claim strategy from the ground up. 

Jeffery and his Veteran Coach got together and strategized how he could approach going back and putting in a fully developed claim. 

A key turning point came after the passage of the PACT Act. After the approval of the PACT Act, Jeffery received a 0% VA rating for allergic rhinitis—a presumptive condition tied to burn pit exposure. 

While a 0% VA rating might seem insignificant, it changed everything. 

With the 0% rating, Jeffery could utilize his service connection and file for his secondary conditions, such as sleep apnea and tinnitus—conditions that had long affected his daily life but were never properly connected to service. 

The Results: From 0% to 60% in Less Than Five Months

In less than five months, Jeffery increased his VA disability rating from 0% to 60%. 

The result validated years of unexplained symptoms and confirmed that his health issues were real, service-connected, and deserving of compensation. 

More importantly, the process gave Jeffery confidence and clarity he hadn’t experienced in years. 

“VA Claims Insider provides insight into how the process works,” he said. “And the more I worked with them, the more confident I was about what I needed for my specific case.” 

Jeffery praises the Elite Program’s process and is grateful for the support and education he received from his Veteran Coach. 

A New Chapter: Progress, Confidence, and Momentum

Jeffery understands that his journey isn’t over—but he now has clarity, direction, and momentum. 

Instead of seeing prior denials as the end of the road, he now sees them as part of a longer process—one that requires the right timing, evidence, and strategy. 

His case demonstrates how new legislation, paired with the right roadmap, can reopen doors that veterans thought were permanently closed. What seemed “too late” in 2014 became possible years later—not because the facts changed, but because the law and the strategy did. 

Note: Certain identifying details have been withheld to respect the privacy of the veteran and their family. 

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Key Takeaways for Other Veterans

Burn pit exposure can cause long-term health effects that take years to diagnose. Jeffery developed chronic respiratory problems after exposure at Kirkuk Air Base, where he and others “worked and slept and ate around the burn pits 24/7.” Even after extensive VA testing and multiple specialists, he still doesn’t have a definitive explanation—but he now has service connection. 

Prior VA denials do not mean your case is over—especially after changes like the PACT Act. Jeffery gave up in 2014, believing it was “too late.” The PACT Act reopened his case and established the service connection he needed. Legislative changes can fundamentally alter what’s possible. 

A 0% VA rating still establishes service connection and can unlock secondary claims. Jeffery’s 0% allergic rhinitis rating seemed minor, but it was the foundation that allowed him to file for sleep apnea and tinnitus as secondary conditions. Don’t dismiss a 0% rating—it’s often the key that unlocks everything else. 

Secondary conditions often drive meaningful VA rating increases. Jeffery’s jump from 0% to 60% came from secondary claims. Sleep apnea, for example, couldn’t be directly service-connected—but once allergic rhinitis was established, it could be linked via secondary service connection. 

A fully developed claim strategy can make the difference between denial and approval. Working with his Veteran Coach, Jeffery strategized how to approach his claim differently than before. The education and step-by-step structure gave him confidence about what he needed for his specific case. 

It’s not too late—even if you gave up years ago. Jeffery walked away in 2014. He rejoined the fight nearly a decade later and went from 0% to 60% in under five months. If you’ve given up on your VA benefits, the landscape may have changed in ways that make pursuing them worthwhile again. 

It’s NEVER Too Late to Increase Your VA Rating.

If you’ve been denied or walked away before, your strategy—not your symptoms—may need to change.

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