Source: SC
Seeing “NANA” stamped on your Medical Board findings can feel like a complete dead end. It’s an abbreviation that has caused genuine confusion and, unfortunately, some veterans simply giving up on a claim they were actually still entitled to. This guide explains exactly what a NANA disability pension finding really means — and why it’s not the complete rejection many assume it is.
What Does NANA Actually Stand For?
NANA refers to the condition of being “neither attributable to nor aggravated by” military service. In plain terms, it means the Medical Board has concluded that your disability or condition isn’t connected to, and wasn’t made worse by, your time in service — essentially, that it would likely have happened regardless of your military career.
The Common Misunderstanding: NANA Doesn’t Automatically Mean Zero
Pension
Here’s the crucial point many veterans miss: a NANA finding rules out disability pension specifically, but it does not automatically mean you get nothing. If you were invalided out of service — meaning a Medical Board found you medically unfit for further duty — you may still be entitled to Invalid Pension, based simply on the years of service you completed, regardless of the NANA classification.
Invalid Pension: The Safety Net Behind a NANA Finding
Invalid Pension exists precisely for this situation — it recognises that even though your specific disability isn’t considered service-connected, you’re still being medically retired from service earlier than you otherwise would have been, and your years of genuine service still count for something.
Can a NANA Finding Itself Be Challenged?
Yes, and this is equally important. A NANA classification isn’t automatically correct just because a Medical Board issued it. Courts have repeatedly held that a bare, unreasoned NANA conclusion — without proper, specific reasoning connecting the medical evidence to the finding — is not legally sufficient to deny disability pension. If your NANA finding lacks genuine, evidence-based reasoning, this is a recognised, successfully argued basis for challenge.
The Presumption of Sound Health Still Applies
Even with a NANA label attached, the broader legal principle that you’re presumed to have been in sound health at entry (if no condition was recorded at enrolment) still applies. This means the burden remains substantially on the department to properly justify the NANA finding with real reasoning — not simply state it as a conclusion.
Common Grounds Used to Support (Often Incorrectly) a NANA Finding
Departments have historically relied on reasoning like:
- Labelling a condition a “lifestyle disease” without individualised analysis
- Citing a peace station posting as automatically ruling out attributability
- A general, unexplained statement that the condition is “constitutional” or unrelated to service
Each of these, standing alone without proper individualised reasoning, has been successfully challenged in court.
Step 1: Don’t Assume a NANA Finding Ends Your Claim
Even accepting a NANA classification at face value, check whether you were invalided out — this alone may entitle you to Invalid Pension based on your service.
Step 2: Examine the Reasoning Behind the NANA Finding Itself
Request the complete Medical Board proceedings and assess whether the NANA conclusion is properly, specifically reasoned, or whether it’s essentially a bare assertion.
Step 3: Pursue Both Angles Where Appropriate
In many NANA case eligibility situations, it makes sense to simultaneously pursue Invalid Pension as a fallback while also challenging the NANA finding itself if the reasoning appears genuinely inadequate.
Final Thoughts
A NANA finding is a specific, limited legal conclusion — not a total rejection. Between the possibility of Invalid Pension and the possibility of successfully challenging an improperly reasoned NANA finding itself, veterans facing this classification have real, meaningful options that shouldn’t be overlooked.
If you want help with your specific situation, get in touch with ESM Corner’s Legal Help team for guidance tailored to your case.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What does NANA mean?
A1: NANA stands for “Neither Attributable to Nor Aggravated by” military service, meaning the Medical Board has found your disability unconnected to, and not worsened by, your service.
Q2: Does a NANA finding mean I get no pension at all?
A2: Not necessarily. It rules out disability pension specifically, but if you were invalided out of service, you may still be entitled to Invalid Pension based on your years of service.
Q3: Can a NANA finding itself be challenged?
A3: Yes. Courts have held that a bare, unreasoned NANA conclusion, without proper evidence-based reasoning, is not legally sufficient to deny disability pension.
Q4: Does the presumption of sound health still help me even with a NANA finding?
A4: Yes, if no condition was recorded at your enrolment, this presumption still applies, meaning the department needs proper reasoning to support the NANA conclusion, not just assert it.
Q5: What’s the difference between Invalid Pension and disability pension in a NANA case?
A5: Disability pension requires the condition to be service-connected; Invalid Pension applies specifically where the condition is NANA but you’re still being medically retired, based on your years of service rendered.
Q6: Should I challenge the NANA finding, apply for Invalid Pension, or both?
A6: In many cases, it makes sense to pursue Invalid Pension as a fallback while also challenging the NANA finding itself if its reasoning appears genuinely inadequate. Meta Title Kit
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