NAVY · JOB CODE AO
Aviation Ordnanceman Your military role & VA condition guide
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This guide brings together conditions associated with AO (Aviation Ordnanceman). 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
Tinnitus
Tinnitus means you hear ringing, buzzing, or hissing in your ears even when there’s no sound.
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Evidence covered in the guide
- Consistent reports of tinnitus in VA exams
- History of military noise exposure (e.g., flight line, artillery)
- C&P exam confirmation
Residuals of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
TBI results from head trauma and can cause lasting issues with memory, mood, sleep, and decision-making.
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Evidence covered in the guide
- VA TBI screening and exam results
- Neurologist evaluations
- Neurocognitive tests (e.g., memory, attention)
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)
Arm, Limitation of Motion
Difficulty or inability to raise the arm due to injury or joint damage.
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Evidence covered in the guide
- Range-of-motion test results specifically measuring how high the arm can be raised.
- Orthopedic evaluations documenting the underlying cause of the limitation.
Chronic Bronchitis
Inflammation of the bronchial tubes causing persistent cough and mucus production.
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Evidence covered in the guide
- VA or private pulmonologist diagnosis
- Pulmonary function test results
- C&P exam with respiratory symptoms documented
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.
Bursitis
Bursitis is inflammation of a bursa — one of the fluid-filled sacs that cushion tendons and muscles where they pass over bone — most often at the shoulder, hip, elbow or knee, causing pain and painful, restricted motion. DC 5019 has no percentages of its own: it is rated as degenerative arthritis, on limitation of motion of the affected joint.
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Evidence covered in the guide
- Goniometer range-of-motion measurements, in degrees, for the affected joint — this is the only thing DC 5019 rates, and a compensable evaluation depends on comparing it against that joint's own diagnostic code.
- Examination findings recording objective painful motion, swelling or muscle spasm, which is the confirmation DC 5003 requires before the per-joint 10 percent can be assigned.
- Imaging (ultrasound or MRI) showing bursal thickening or effusion, and any aspiration or injection records, which establish the diagnosis.
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A FEW HELPFUL ANSWERS
Questions about the AO guide
What do the conditions in this guide represent?
They are conditions grouped with AO (Aviation Ordnanceman) 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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