ARMY · JOB CODE 56M
Chaplain Assistant Your military role & VA condition guide
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YOUR STARTING POINT
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This guide brings together conditions associated with 56M (Chaplain Assistant). Start with a topic that relates to your experience, then follow its guide for more detail.
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Conditions are grouped by occupational exposures and physical demands. These are research connections, not statistics about claim frequency or approval.
ALSO KNOWN AS
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Conditions to explore.
Choose a body system, search for a condition, or open a preview. Each full guide explains its rating criteria and evidence in more detail.
7 of 7 conditions
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
PTSD is a mental health issue caused by a traumatic event, leading to flashbacks, anxiety, or nightmares.
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Evidence covered in the guide
- Formal PTSD diagnosis from a VA or private psychiatrist
- C&P exam results showing PTSD symptoms
- Buddy statements confirming trauma or symptoms
Sleep Apnea Syndromes
Sleep apnea is a disorder where breathing repeatedly stops or becomes shallow during sleep, fragmenting rest and often leading to loud snoring, daytime fatigue, and difficulty concentrating. Left untreated, it's also linked to higher blood pressure and heart strain, which is part of why the VA rates it based on treatment need rather than just the diagnosis.
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Evidence covered in the guide
- A polysomnography (sleep study) confirming the diagnosis - this is the evidence the rating schedule specifically requires.
- A CPAP prescription along with compliance or usage reports, since device use is what supports the 50% tier.
- Medical notes describing sleep-related symptoms like loud snoring, witnessed breathing pauses, or excessive daytime sleepiness.
Lumbosacral or Cervical Strain
A strain or sprain of the muscles and ligaments supporting the neck or lower back, causing pain, stiffness, and reduced range of motion — often from lifting, impact, or repetitive strain during service.
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Evidence covered in the guide
- C&P or orthopedic exam showing measured loss of range of motion, muscle spasm, or guarding
- Service treatment records documenting the in-service injury, incident, or repetitive strain
- Buddy statements or personnel records corroborating the in-service event (e.g., heavy lifting, vehicle accident, parachute jumps)
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
GAD is a mental health condition marked by persistent, excessive worry about daily activities.
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Evidence covered in the guide
- DSM-5 diagnosis from VA or private psychiatrist
- VA C&P exam with documentation of impairment
- Personal statement outlining impact on life
Major Depressive Disorder
Major depressive disorder is rated under DC 9434 by how far it impairs your work and social functioning, not by the diagnosis and not by counting symptoms. The code states no criteria of its own: 38 CFR 4.130 lists it in the schedule of mental disorders and its Note 2 directs that every code from 9201 to 9440 be evaluated under one General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders, which runs 100, 70, 50, 30, 10 and 0 percent. Each tier of that formula reads “due to such symptoms as”, so the symptoms it lists are examples of a level of impairment rather than a checklist that earns a percentage on its own.
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Evidence covered in the guide
- Treatment records covering a span of time rather than one appointment. 38 CFR 4.126(a) names five things to be considered — frequency, severity and duration of symptoms, length of remissions, and capacity for adjustment during remission — and none of them is visible in a single visit.
- A DSM-5-conforming diagnosis that the findings on the examination report actually support. Under 38 CFR 4.125(a) a report that fails either test goes back to the examiner rather than forward to a decision.
- Evidence of occupational impairment in its own right: attendance records, performance reviews, written warnings, reduced hours, jobs left. 38 CFR 4.126(b) permits social impairment to be considered and forbids an evaluation resting on it alone.
Median Nerve Paralysis
Damage to the median nerve causing weakness, pain, or paralysis in the hand.
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Evidence covered in the guide
- Nerve conduction study results confirming the location and severity of the nerve damage.
- Grip strength comparison between the affected and unaffected hand.
- Evidence of occupational impact, such as difficulty performing fine motor tasks required for work.
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
GERD is stomach acid and stomach contents flowing back up into the esophagus, causing heartburn, regurgitation and chest discomfort. DC 7206 has its own criteria table, and what that table measures is not how often heartburn occurs — every step is written around a documented esophageal stricture causing dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) and the treatment that stricture requires. Note (1) requires the findings to be documented by barium swallow, computerized tomography, or esophagogastroduodenoscopy.
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Evidence covered in the guide
- A barium swallow, computerized tomography, or esophagogastroduodenoscopy report confirming the stricture — Note (1) names these three studies specifically.
- Dated procedure records for every dilatation, including any performed using steroids, plus placement or operative reports for an esophageal stent, surgical correction, or a percutaneous esophago-gastrointestinal tube (PEG tube).
- Prescription records showing daily medication taken to control dysphagia, which is what the 10 percent row is written around.
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A FEW HELPFUL ANSWERS
Questions about the 56M guide
What do the conditions in this guide represent?
They are conditions grouped with 56M (Chaplain Assistant) by the role’s occupational exposures and physical demands. Use them as a starting point for research. The list does not rank conditions by claim frequency or VA approval rates.
Where can I find rating levels and evidence guidance?
Open a condition preview for a quick look, or follow its guide link for the published rating criteria, an evidence checklist, and available exam guidance.
What if I served in more than one role?
You can explore a guide for each of your military jobs. Use the military job directory to search another code, job title, or branch, and keep notes on the experiences you want to discuss.
What if my condition is not listed here?
This is a curated starting point. The condition library has additional guides you can search by name, body system, or diagnostic code.
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