🇺🇸 VA Disability Max

Marines · MOS / AFSC / Rating Profile

0331 — Machine Gunner

Heavy weapons — significantly elevated noise + lead exposure beyond standard infantry. Most claim heavy hearing loss/tinnitus.

Documented exposures for 0331

  • Hazardous noise
  • Lead (weapons / ranges)
  • Burn pits (PACT Act)
  • Particulate matter (sand/dust)
  • Blast overpressure / TBI
  • Gulf War / SW Asia

Exposure tags are drawn from 38 CFR §3.307, §3.309, §3.317, the PACT Act, and VA Public Health publications. Individual deployment history may broaden the list — use the personalizer below to layer service eras on top.

Presumptive claims this MOS may unlock (21)

  • Tinnitus
    DC 6260 · 38 CFR § 4.87 + §3.385

    Flat 10% — easiest VA claim to win and the most commonly missed if vet doesn't realize it's ratable.

    Hazardous noise
    Guide →
  • Sensorineural Hearing Loss
    DC 6100 · 38 CFR § 4.85 + §3.385

    Even mild bilateral loss often rates 0% but service-connected status enables secondary tinnitus and protects against future degradation.

    Hazardous noise
  • Hypertension
    DC 7101 · M21-1 IV.ii.2.C

    Chronic lead exposure (small arms instructors, indoor ranges) maps to hypertension.

    Lead (weapons / ranges)
    Guide →
  • Kidney dysfunction
    M21-1 IV.ii.2.C
    Lead (weapons / ranges)
  • Peripheral neuropathy
    M21-1 IV.ii.2.C
    Lead (weapons / ranges)
  • Asthma diagnosed after service
    DC 6602 · PACT Act §403 / 38 CFR §3.320

    PACT Act made this presumptive for SW Asia / Afghanistan deployments. Massively under-claimed pre-2022.

    Burn pits (PACT Act)
    Guide →
  • Chronic rhinitis / sinusitis
    PACT Act §403

    "Constrictive bronchiolitis" and chronic rhinitis are both on the PACT Act list.

    Burn pits (PACT Act)
    Guide →
  • Constrictive bronchiolitis
    PACT Act §403
    Burn pits (PACT Act)
  • Pulmonary hypertension
    PACT Act §403
    Burn pits (PACT Act)
  • Glioblastoma + select brain cancers
    PACT Act §403
    Burn pits (PACT Act)
  • Lymphomas of any type
    PACT Act §403
    Burn pits (PACT Act)
  • Same list as burn_pits — overlapping PACT Act coverage
    PACT Act §403
    Particulate matter (sand/dust)
  • TBI residuals
    DC 8045 · 38 CFR §4.124a

    Combat / blast exposure makes nexus straightforward — most missed because veterans don't realize sub-concussive blast counts.

    Blast overpressure / TBI
    Guide →
  • PTSD secondary to TBI
    DC 9411 · 38 CFR §3.310
    Blast overpressure / TBI
    Guide →
  • Migraines secondary to TBI
    DC 8100 · 38 CFR §3.310
    Blast overpressure / TBI
    Guide →
  • Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
    38 CFR §3.317(a)(2)(i)(B)(1)
    Gulf War / SW Asia
  • Fibromyalgia
    38 CFR §3.317(a)(2)(i)(B)(2)
    Gulf War / SW Asia
  • IBS / functional GI disorder
    DC 7319 · 38 CFR §3.317(a)(2)(i)(B)(3)
    Gulf War / SW Asia
    Guide →
  • Undiagnosed muscle / joint pain
    38 CFR §3.317(a)(2)(ii)

    Use §3.317 when conventional diagnostics return no clear etiology.

    Gulf War / SW Asia
  • Undiagnosed sleep disturbances
    38 CFR §3.317(a)(2)(ii)
    Gulf War / SW Asia
  • Undiagnosed neurological symptoms
    38 CFR §3.317(a)(2)(ii)
    Gulf War / SW Asia

Layer your service era for a fuller list

This page shows the exposures tied to 0331 alone. Deployments (Vietnam, Gulf War, OIF/OEF) and stations (Camp Lejeune) add presumptives on top. Run the full personalizer to combine both:

Open the Missed Claims Personalizer →

Educational content only. This list reflects publicly documented exposure patterns for 0331 and the VA presumptive framework — not legal or medical advice. Consult a VA-accredited representative for help filing. Source data: 38 CFR Part 3, PACT Act, VA M21-1, and VA Public Health.