MARINES · JOB CODE 7051
Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Specialist Your military role & VA condition guide
The work you did is a place to start. Explore conditions associated with your role, understand what each guide covers, and take your research one step at a time.
Explore this role’s conditionsFree · No account needed
Your 7051 research, ready to revisit
Email yourself the conditions associated with 7051 (Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Specialist) and links to their guides, ready for your next research session.
Marines
YOUR STARTING POINT
Connect your role to your research.
This guide brings together conditions associated with 7051 (Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Specialist). Start with a topic that relates to your experience, then follow its guide for more detail.
Find a familiar topic
Browse the conditions or narrow them down by body system.
Look a little closer
Preview the evidence covered in each guide.
Take a useful next step
Read the full guide and organize the records you already have.
Conditions are grouped by occupational exposures and physical demands. These are research connections, not statistics about claim frequency or approval.
ALSO KNOWN AS
FOLLOW WHAT’S RELEVANT TO YOU
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
Malignant Neoplasms of the Respiratory System
DC 6819 is the respiratory system's cancer code, and it pays one evaluation: 100 percent. Its whole criterion is its own title — neoplasms, malignant, any specified part of respiratory system exclusive of skin growths — so site, stage and treatment do not move the percentage while the code applies. Two rules decide everything around it. The note ends the 100 percent not when treatment ends but at a mandatory VA examination six months after treatment is discontinued, and where there has been no local recurrence or metastasis the rating is then built on the residuals. And 38 CFR 4.96(a) says that where there is lung or pleural involvement a DC 6819 evaluation is not combined with the other respiratory codes: one rating is assigned, under whichever code reflects the predominant disability.
Read the condition guidePreview the guide
Evidence covered in the guide
- A pathology report naming the malignancy and the part of the respiratory system it arose in. DC 6819's single criterion is the presence of a malignant neoplasm of that system, so the diagnosis is the whole of what the 100 percent rests on.
- Treatment records with dates — surgery, radiation, antineoplastic chemotherapy, or other therapeutic procedure. The note runs the 100 percent beyond the cessation of treatment and starts a six-month clock from discontinuance, so the date treatment stopped is the date that matters.
- The report of the mandatory VA examination six months after treatment is discontinued, which the note makes the basis for the rating from that point.
Rhinitis, Allergic or Vasomotor
Allergic or vasomotor rhinitis causes chronic nasal congestion, runniness, and sneezing, either from allergens or from a non-allergic sensitivity to irritants like temperature changes or strong smells. The VA rating is based specifically on nasal airflow obstruction and the presence of nasal polyps, not on the severity of sneezing or congestion alone.
Read the condition guidePreview the guide
Evidence covered in the guide
- ENT evaluation notes specifically documenting nasal obstruction findings or the presence of polyps.
- A CT scan, which can confirm polyps or structural nasal blockage.
- Allergy test results, useful for establishing the allergic subtype and its chronic nature.
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.
Read the condition guidePreview the guide
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.
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.
Read the condition guidePreview the guide
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.
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.
Read the condition guidePreview the guide
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.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
PTSD is a mental health issue caused by a traumatic event, leading to flashbacks, anxiety, or nightmares.
Read the condition guidePreview the guide
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
Migraine
Severe recurring headaches that may include nausea, light sensitivity, and inability to function.
Read the condition guidePreview the guide
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
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.
Read the condition guidePreview the guide
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.
Read the condition guidePreview the guide
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.
GIVE YOUR RESEARCH A HOME
Put your service story in one place.
You don’t need every document to start exploring. Use this checklist to organize what you know and the records you already have.
Check off what you’ve gathered. Progress stays on this page until you leave or refresh.
A FEW HELPFUL ANSWERS
Questions about the 7051 guide
What do the conditions in this guide represent?
They are conditions grouped with 7051 (Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Specialist) 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.
On the App Store
Getting out? Keep track of what’s next.
Outbound turns your separation or retirement date into a timeline for healthcare, VA claim windows, documents, and more. Works offline, no account.