Looking for Expert-Level VA Claim Answers?📱Call Us Now! 737-295-2226
One Army Veteran’s Path from 10% to 100% VA Disability
Army Veteran Randy Hitt’s story is a testament to the value of persistence, the importance of expert-level support, and the drive to never give up—even when the odds are stacked against you.
Like many veterans, Randy’s path to a 100% VA disability rating was filled with challenges, setbacks, and moments where he wanted to quit.
But thanks to the support and Elite coaching provided by the VA Claims Insider Elite Program, Randy turned his struggles into success, increasing his VA rating from 10% to 100%.
Table of Contents
Joining the Army
Randy joined the Army on his 17th birthday, just months after the Vietnam War ended. His initial plan to become a heavy equipment operator was thwarted because he didn’t have a driver’s license—and the Army willingly ushered him to the infantry instead.
Randy didn’t fully realize what he was getting into at the time. He was just a 17-year-old kid. By the time he did understand, he felt angry and betrayed.
“I had a chip on my shoulder the whole time I was in,” Randy recalls. “In my mind, they had taken advantage of me two seconds after I swore my allegiance to the country.”
Over the next 23 months, Randy’s anger increased, his behavior worsened, and his performance in the Army declined. After an honorable discharge from service nearly two years later, Randy struggled to find his footing.
Within three weeks of his discharge, he was arrested.
Over the next year, he was arrested three more times. He didn’t understand why at the time but later realized that his struggles were rooted in the trauma he experienced during service.
For decades, Randy was underrated and unaware of the VA disability benefits available to him.
Joining the VA Claims Insider Elite Program
The turning point in his VA disability journey came when he spoke to his nephew, also an Army Veteran, who asked if Randy had ever filed VA claims for his conditions. That conversation led Randy to explore further the connection between his military service and ongoing issues.
Navigating the VA Disability Claims Process
Before long, Randy joined the Elite Membership Program at VA Claims Insider and teamed up with his Elite Coach.
Randy soon filed VA claims for tinnitus and PTSD. However, due to COVID, the building housing his military records was closed for nearly 18 months. The delay stalled his claims and left Randy frustrated and confused.
Eventually, Randy’s tinnitus claim was approved due to his infantry MOS—but his PTSD claim was denied.
Unwilling to quit, Randy submitted additional evidence from his arrest records from his time immediately after his discharge. This led him to a 50% VA disability rating for mental health, which later increased to 70%.
With the guidance of his Elite Veteran Coach, Randy soon discovered that many of his other conditions—like his GERD and migraines—might also be connected to his service via secondary service connection.
Before long, Randy received a 10% GERD rating and a 50% migraine rating for his headaches.
The Final Hurdle: Service Connecting Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea proved to be the final hurdle between him and a 100% VA disability rating.
“That should have been the easy one because I had all my ducks in a row on that one,” Randy says, “but what kept happening was because I moved to Florida from Idaho three years ago, the VA was only seeing my records from my three years in Florida and kept making a rating decision based only on that and not the years of records I had from Idaho.”
Randy was discouraged by the denial—but he wasn’t done.
“I felt like I’d been working so hard, and nothing was happening,” he admits. “But my coach kept me focused. I didn’t want to give up, but I didn’t see any way.”
Finally, Randy’s hard work paid off, and he was able to service connect his sleep apnea for 50%, which boosted him to a 100% combined VA disability rating.
A Life-Changing Experience
Randy is incredibly thankful for the coaching and support he received from VA Claims Insider. His story is a powerful reminder that with persistence, the proper support, and the willingness to keep pushing forward, you can get the VA rating, compensation, and benefits you deserve.
“Working with VA Claims Insider has just been the best thing. I would still be stuck at 10%. I would have given up.”
—Elite Member Randy Hitt
If you’re a veteran like Randy and struggling to navigate the VA disability process, there’s hope. The Elite coaching, support, and resources of the Elite Membership Program at VA Claims Insider can make all the difference in getting the VA compensation and benefits YOU DESERVE.
Want Expert-Level Support With Your VA Claim? WE GOT YOUR SIX!
How does VA Claims Insider help veterans?
We make the confusing and frustrating VA claim process EASY through our 8-step proprietary system and one-on-one coaching; we’re the VA Claim EXPERTS you can trust, and YOU are never alone in this fight against the VA!
You’ll also receive VA disability expert Brian Reese’s SEM Method Blueprint—a proven formula that has helped over 25,000 veterans win their VA disability claims faster:
Strategy + Education + Medical Evidence = VA Rating and Compensation You Deserve FASTER!
Start today and unlock an exceptional level of service you deserve for serving our country:
- You’ll hear from a VA Claim Expert over email within 15 minutes of signing up today.
- You’ll hear from your Veteran Coach team within 24 hours of all inquiries during normal business days/hours.
- Our terms are simple: IF WE DON’T WIN, YOU DON’T PAY. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain!
Click the red button below to start the process of winning your VA claim right now:
About VA Claims Insider
- VA Claims Insider is the #1 most trusted name in VA disability claims.
- Work directly with a VA claims coach who can help lead you to VA claim victory.
- 25,000+ disabled veterans served in our membership programs since 2016.
- 30% average rating increase for veterans who complete our #1 rated Elite program.
- 4.7/5.0 average rating out of 5,500+ total reviews; over 4,500 5-star reviews.
About the Author
Eric Webb
Eric has written and worked in the field of Veterans Disability since 2020 and enjoys writing educational content for the veteran population. His prior work has been published in the Official Journal of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). He holds a Degree in Health and Exercise Science.
