The VA claims decision-making process has lots of warts, but existing law and policy already exist to address your concerns about how VA disabilities are processed and awarded. My opinion is that the larger concern is the lack of continuity between a veteran's health records from DoD to VA. That's another discussion.
Keep in mind that the military lets folks in with pre-existing medical and/or psychological issues, and exacerbation of those issues can also result in a claim.
Section B. Determining Service Connection - benefits.va.gov
"I would say on scenarios where it's possible but not conclusive that the service causes the injury, then err on the side of assuming it did,..."
"I just wish we could remove the benefits for scenarios like I described earlier, which I believe frequently stem from "always on duty, therefore anything is service related."
Keep in mind that the military lets folks in with pre-existing medical and/or psychological issues, and exacerbation of those issues can also result in a claim.
Section B. Determining Service Connection - benefits.va.gov
"I would say on scenarios where it's possible but not conclusive that the service causes the injury, then err on the side of assuming it did,..."
- DoD has ultimate discretion about who they allow to serve (think MEPS) and with what medical conditions, and I don't expect VA to be disconnected with those same allowed front-end conditions. VA is, in fact, required by law to err on the side of the veteran claimant: The [VA] shall consider all information and lay and medical evidence of record in a case before the [VA] with respect to benefits under laws administered by the [VA]. When there is an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence regarding any issue material to the determination of a matter, the [VA] shall give the benefit of the doubt to the claimant.
"I just wish we could remove the benefits for scenarios like I described earlier, which I believe frequently stem from "always on duty, therefore anything is service related."
- I do not know all of the diseases/disabilities that absolutely exclude one from service, but I believe each service makes different choices (annually, if not more frequently based on need) about those that will or will not preclude service. From a VA claims policy perspective regarding disability benefits, it doesn't matter. VA is obligated by law to grant disability if the disability was incurred in, aggravated by, service.
- For each disability evaluation, a VA examiner confirms or denies service connection, writing a medical opinion stating whether the disability is "at least as likely as not" (a 50% chance) incurred in or aggravated by service.