VA Disability for 11C (Indirect Fire Infantryman (Mortarman))

Typical exposures for 11C

These are the general hazards that came with the job. Your own exposure depends on your units, deployments, and duties.

• Hazardous noise

  Weapons fire, engines, aircraft, generators, or machinery at levels linked to tinnitus and hearing loss.

• Blast and overpressure

  Explosions, artillery, breaching, and demolitions. Repeated blast exposure is tied to concussion, headaches, and hearing damage.

• Combat and traumatic stress

  Firefights, casualties, mass-casualty care, and sustained threat, the kind of experience behind PTSD and depression claims.

• Heavy loads and impact

  Rucks, body armor, lifting, carrying patients or ammunition, and hard landings that wear on the back, knees, and feet.

• Burn pits and airborne hazards

  Smoke and fine particulate from open-air burn pits, dust, and sand during Southwest Asia and post-9/11 deployments. About this exposure →

Conditions commonly associated with 11C

Veterans who held this job commonly claim the conditions below. Each still needs a current diagnosis and evidence linking it to your service.

• TinnitusDC 6260Frequently claimed

  Mortar fire, close proximity to tube

• Hearing lossDC 6100Frequently claimed

  Repetitive mortar blasts without adequate protection

• PTSDDC 9411Frequently claimed

  Combat operations, forward observer duties

• Lumbosacral/cervical strainDC 5237Frequently claimed

  Carrying mortar base plate (45 lbs), tube, rounds

• Knee, limitation of flexionDC 5260Frequently claimed

  Heavy loads, kneeling to fire mortar systems

• Migraine headachesDC 8100Also commonly claimed

  Blast overpressure from mortar fire, TBI

• Ankle, limited motionDC 5271Also commonly claimed

  Uneven terrain, ruck marches, and obstacle-course training throughout service

• Foot injuries, otherDC 5284Also commonly claimed

  Boots, marching, long days on feet, cumulative across any military role