I Told Myself I Didn't Deserve Any Benefits

The lie veterans tell themselves

One of the biggest barriers to getting a fair VA disability rating is not paperwork or regulations — it is what veterans tell themselves. Neil Anderson knows this firsthand.

“I told myself I didn’t deserve any benefits. I just kind of believed that lie.”

This is not an uncommon story. Many veterans minimize their own conditions, comparing themselves to others who “had it worse” or convincing themselves that what they are dealing with is just part of life after the military. The result is that they either never file a claim or they stop short of claiming everything they are entitled to.

From 70% to 100%

Neil had a 70% combined rating but was not pursuing the additional conditions that could increase it. Whether it was the belief that he did not deserve more or simply not knowing what else could be claimed, the result was the same — he was leaving benefits on the table.

Once he started looking into the conditions he had been living with and understanding how they connected to his service, the picture changed dramatically.

“I never thought I’d get a 100% VA rating, but here I am.”

Going from 70% to 100% is not just a number change. It can mean the difference between partial compensation and full benefits — including potential access to CHAMPVA for dependents, property tax exemptions, and other state and federal benefits that come with a total disability rating.

What this means for other veterans

If you are sitting at a rating and telling yourself it is “good enough” or that you do not deserve more, consider whether that belief is based on the actual regulations — or on a story you are telling yourself.

The VA rates conditions based on how they affect your daily life and ability to work. If you have conditions that are connected to your service and they are affecting you, you have every right to file for them. That is not gaming the system. That is using a benefit you earned.

Neil’s story was originally shared through VA Claims Insider. Quoted with attribution for educational purposes.