EDUCATIONAL TOOL ONLY. Not legal or medical advice. Not affiliated with the VA.
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ARMY MEDICAL DEPT
68W Combat Medic Specialist
U.S. Army
Equivalent: HM (Navy Hospital Corpsman), 4N0 (USAF Aerospace Medical Technician)
The 68W Combat Medic serves as the primary healthcare provider at the point of injury on the battlefield. Duties include emergency medical treatment under fire, litter carries, prolonged field care, and sustained operations in austere environments. Combat medics are exposed to the same hazards as infantry plus additional occupational hazards from patient care, blood-borne pathogen exposure, and the unique psychological trauma of treating severely wounded and dying service members.
OCCUPATIONAL HAZARDS & PHYSICAL DEMANDS
-Carrying standard combat load (60+ lbs) PLUS medical equipment (aid bag 30-40 lbs)
-Litter carries of wounded personnel (200+ lbs deadweight) over rough terrain
-Kneeling/crouching for extended periods while treating casualties under fire
-Same blast, noise, and environmental exposure as infantry
-Blood-borne pathogen exposure (needle sticks, open wound contact)
-Chemical exposure from medical supplies and decontamination agents
-Extreme sustained sleep deprivation during mass casualty events
-Repeated heavy lifting of patients, equipment, and supplies
SERVICE-CONNECTED CONDITIONS (10 MAPPED)
PTSDDC 9411
VERY HIGH
Typical Ratings: 50%, 70%, 100%
Combat medics experience unique moral injury stressor: treating severely wounded and dying service members, triage decisions, inability to save patients. Studies show combat medics have PTSD rates equal to or exceeding infantry. CIB/CAB/CMB concedes stressor.
38 C.F.R. 3.304(f)(2); 38 U.S.C. 1154(b)
Lumbar Spine (DDD/Strain)DC 5237-5243
VERY HIGH
Typical Ratings: 10%, 20%, 40%
Heavy combat load plus 30-40 lb aid bag. Litter carries with 200+ lb patients. Kneeling/bending to treat casualties on the ground. Identical exposure as infantry plus additional lifting demands.
38 C.F.R. 4.71a, DC 5237-5243
Knee Condition (Bilateral)DC 5003/5256-5263
VERY HIGH
Typical Ratings: 10%, 20%
Same as infantry: heavy load, extended patrolling, uneven terrain. Additional stress from kneeling to treat patients and litter carries.
38 C.F.R. 4.71a
Shoulder ConditionDC 5200-5203
HIGH
Typical Ratings: 10%, 20%, 30%
Litter carries put extreme load on shoulders. Aid bag carry. Overhead lifting of patients onto vehicles. Rotator cuff and labral injuries common.
38 C.F.R. 4.71a, DC 5200-5203
TinnitusDC 6260
HIGH
Typical Ratings: 10%
Same weapons fire and blast exposure as infantry. 68Ws operate alongside combat units.
38 C.F.R. 4.87, DC 6260
Hearing LossDC 6100
HIGH
Typical Ratings: 0%, 10%
Same noise exposure profile as infantry. Often rated 0% but service-connected.
38 C.F.R. 4.85, DC 6100
Depression / Anxiety (Secondary to PTSD)DC 9434/9413
HIGH
Typical Ratings: 30%, 50%, 70%
Moral injury from inability to save patients, survivor guilt, and sustained traumatic exposure. Note: only one mental health rating unless clearly distinct conditions.
38 C.F.R. 4.130
Cervical SpineDC 5237-5243
MODERATE
Typical Ratings: 10%, 20%
Helmet/NVG weight, litter carry posture, looking down at patients during treatment in awkward positions.
38 C.F.R. 4.71a
Carpal Tunnel / WristDC 8515
MODERATE
Typical Ratings: 10%, 30%
Repetitive hand motions from IV insertions, wound treatment, splinting, and documentation. Median nerve compression rated under DC 8515.
38 C.F.R. 4.124a, DC 8515
Sleep ApneaDC 6847
MODERATE
Typical Ratings: 0%, 30%, 50%
Secondary to PTSD. Weight gain from psychotropic medications. Sleep disruption patterns established during prolonged field care operations.
38 C.F.R. 4.97, DC 6847
TYPICAL RATING CONSTELLATION
A deployed 68W commonly has: PTSD (70%), lumbar spine (20%), bilateral knee (10% each), shoulder (20%), tinnitus (10%), hearing loss (0%), cervical spine (10%). Combined: 80-90%+ before bilateral factor and secondaries.
KEY CLAIM TIP
68W PTSD claims are among the strongest in the military. The unique moral injury of treating dying soldiers creates a stressor profile that even exceeds typical infantry exposure. Document specific patient care incidents if possible, but remember -- CIB/CAB/CMB concedes the stressor. Focus on current severity.
EDUCATIONAL TOOL ONLY. NOT LEGAL OR MEDICAL ADVICE.
CLAIM RECON 2026