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Coast Guard · Aircraft Maintenance / Ordnance
This profile summarizes the typical exposure environment, common VA disability claim signals, evidence to gather, and C&P exam preparation notes for veterans who served as a Coast Guard Avionics Electrical Technician (Rating AET). It is a discovery reference — not a diagnosis, not a claim filing, and not legal advice.
The exposure environment most commonly associated with this role is jet/rotor noise, solvents, hydraulic fluid, among others. These exposures map to specific VA presumptive frameworks, audiology criteria, and musculoskeletal rating doctrine described under 38 C.F.R. Parts 3 and 4.
Veterans in this role frequently file or receive evaluations for the following service-connected conditions. This list is not exhaustive and does not replace a personal medical evaluation.
The following secondary conditions warrant review when the underlying primary condition is service-connected.
The following records are typically the most probative evidence to support claims for veterans in this occupational specialty. FOIA requests for service treatment records, personnel records, and unit-level documentation should be prioritized before filing.
Document chemicals, fuel, flightline time, engine run exposure, overhead work, repetitive tasks, and continuity of skin/respiratory/MSK symptoms.
Bring documentation that establishes frequency, severity, and chronicity of symptoms. Examiners record what they observe — being clear, factual, and complete about how the condition affects daily life is essential.
38 CFR § 4.87 DC 6260 — Tinnitus. 10%: Recurrent tinnitus. This is both the minimum and maximum schedular rating. Smith v. Nicholson, 451 F.3d 1344 (Fed. Cir. 2006) confirmed that 10% is the maximum regardless of whether tinnitus is unilateral or bilateral. Tinnitus is the single…
38 CFR §§ 4.85-4.86 DC 6100 — Hearing Loss. Rated through a purely mechanical formula: controlled speech discrimination testing (Maryland CNC) and puretone audiometry produce Roman numeral designations (I-XI) via Table VI. The two ears designations are cross-referenced in Table V…
Public Law 117-168 — PACT Act (Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act, signed August 10, 2022). Expands VA healthcare and benefits for veterans exposed to toxic substances. Key provisions: Burn pit exposure (post-9/11 SW Asia/Afghanistan): concedes toxic exposure for all vet…
38 CFR § 4.114 DC 7346 — GERD (rated by analogy under Hiatal Hernia). 10%: Two or more symptoms for the 30% level but of lesser severity. 30%: Persistently recurrent epigastric distress with dysphagia, pyrosis, and regurgitation, accompanied by substernal/arm/shoulder pain, produ…
Citations updated when 38 C.F.R. or M21-1 doctrine changes.
Public-source core occupation. Validate current status before production deployment.
Other roles with the most similar exposure profile, computed from the 6-axis exposure vector — not just career family.