MARINES · JOB CODE 6591
Aviation Ordnance Chief Your military role & VA condition guide
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This guide brings together conditions associated with 6591 (Aviation Ordnance Chief). 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.
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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.
9 of 9 conditions
Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Hearing loss caused by damage to the inner ear or auditory nerve, making it hard to hear clearly or distinguish words.
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Evidence covered in the guide
- A VA-compliant audiogram including Maryland CNC speech discrimination testing, performed by a state-licensed audiologist without hearing aids.
- Evidence of in-service noise exposure, such as an MOS with a recognized high noise profile or documented acoustic trauma.
- Lay statements from coworkers or family describing communication difficulty.
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.
Degenerative Arthritis
Degenerative arthritis (osteoarthritis) is the gradual breakdown of the cartilage that cushions a joint, producing pain, stiffness, swelling and reduced motion. DC 5003 is not primarily a ladder of its own: the schedule rates degenerative arthritis established by X-ray "on the basis of limitation of motion under the appropriate diagnostic codes for the specific joint or joints involved", so most evaluations come from the affected joint's own code and DC 5003 supplies a floor.
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Evidence covered in the guide
- X-rays or an MRI confirming joint degeneration in each affected joint - this is the evidence the rating schedule is built around.
- A doctor's notes describing joint pain, swelling, and specific functional limitations, not just general 'joint pain,' in both your own words and your provider's clinical observations.
- Documentation of any incapacitating episodes or flare-ups, since these are what can raise a claim from the 10% to the 20% tier.
Migraine
Severe recurring headaches that may include nausea, light sensitivity, and inability to function.
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Evidence covered in the guide
- Neurology consult with detailed migraine history
- Headache diary showing frequency and impact
- Employer or family statements about missed work or functional episodes
Muscle Hernia
A muscle hernia is a bulge of muscle tissue pushing through a tear or weak spot in the fascia that sheathes the muscle, usually visible or palpable at the site and most often following a specific strain, trauma or surgery.
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Evidence covered in the guide
- Imaging (ultrasound or MRI) confirming the herniation.
- An orthopedic or surgical consult evaluating the hernia's severity.
- Medical records documenting the original injury.
Paralysis of the Sciatic Nerve
Damage to the sciatic nerve that causes leg weakness, pain, or paralysis.
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Evidence covered in the guide
- EMG or nerve conduction study showing sciatic involvement
- Neurologist report describing motor/sensory deficits
- Functional assessment showing gait or mobility loss
Scars Without Underlying Soft Tissue Damage (Not of the Head, Face, or Neck)
DC 7802 covers burn scars, and scars from any other cause, that are not on the head, face, or neck and that are not associated with underlying soft tissue damage. It is the counterpart to DC 7801, and the difference between the two codes is that association — not the burn origin, and not how superficial the scar looks. This code offers one evaluation only: 10 percent, and only where the scar or scars cover an area of 144 square inches (929 sq. cm.) or greater.
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Evidence covered in the guide
- A measured area for each scar, in square inches or square centimeters, from the exam or a dermatology note.
- A statement in the record that the scar is not associated with underlying soft tissue damage, which is the finding that assigns it to DC 7802 rather than DC 7801.
- Photographs showing each scar and where it sits on the body, so the affected zones under Note (1) can be identified.
Bronchiectasis
A condition where airways in the lungs become permanently widened, leading to mucus buildup and infections.
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Evidence covered in the guide
- A CT scan showing bronchial dilation, the imaging finding that confirms the diagnosis.
- Pulmonary function test (PFT) results.
- A documented history of antibiotic treatment for lung infections.
Scars, Unstable or Painful
DC 7804 evaluates scars that are unstable, painful, or both, and it rates them by count — how many scars qualify, not their size, location, or appearance. Note (1) defines an unstable scar as one where, for any reason, there is frequent loss of covering of skin over the scar. A painful scar and an unstable scar count the same toward the tier, and where a single scar is both, Note (2) adds 10 percent on top.
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Evidence covered in the guide
- Exam or treatment notes that identify each scar separately and state, for each one, whether it is painful on examination, unstable, or both.
- Wound-care or dermatology records covering the occasions when a scar lost its covering of skin, since Note (1) makes the frequency of that loss the test for instability.
- Photographs of each scar with its location, taken at more than one point in time where instability is at issue.
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A FEW HELPFUL ANSWERS
Questions about the 6591 guide
What do the conditions in this guide represent?
They are conditions grouped with 6591 (Aviation Ordnance Chief) 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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