Last month, the VA \u201cgot one right\u201d. Sorta.<\/p>\n
Specifically, the DVA\u2019s General Counsel ruled that obesity is not<\/u> considered a service-connected disability. <\/p>\n
Yeah, that\u2019s pretty much a \u201cno-brainer\u201d. But there\u2019s a reason I said the VA “sorta” got it right.<\/p>\n
Though obesity alone<\/i> cannot under VA rules be determined a service-connected disability, it can apparently be what the VA calls an \u201cextra-schedular rating\u201d under certain circumstances. That means that being obese can, under select circumstances, raise<\/u> an individual\u2019s VA disability rating higher than it otherwise would be \u2013 and thus increase their disability compensation.<\/p>\n
This last is IMO BS. While many of us daily fight the \u201cbattle of the (waistline) bulge\u201d, that\u2019s no one\u2019s fault but our own. There are simple solutions that absolutely, positively do<\/u> work: eat and\/or drink less, exercise more, or a combination of both. We just choose not to do so. <\/p>\n
Military.com has an article from a few weeks ago detailing this decision. It\u2019s brief, and can be found here<\/i><\/a> if you\u2019re interested. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"