Common Secondary Service-Connected Conditions

What are common secondary service-connected conditions? To begin, it helps to define the terms. The Department of Veterans Affairs breaks down medical claims into specific categories including secondary service-connected claims.

Categories of Medical Claims

• Original claims: the claims Veterans make initially
• Increased claims: the adjustments filed by Veterans who feel they are due more compensation than originally awarded
• New claims: the claims that are submitted later to request added benefits or related action on an existing claim
• Secondary service-connected disability claim — a claim for a new disability linked to a condition already claimed
• Special claims: a claim for special needs related to an existing disability
• Supplemental claims: a claim providing new evidence for a claim that was denied

This article focuses on secondary service-connected disability claims, which the VA official site explains, allowing you to request more benefits “for a new disability that’s linked to a service-connected disability you already have.”

Our guide on how to apply for VA disability pay walks you through the full claims process if you need a refresher before filing your secondary claim.

Justifying the Claim

What circumstances qualify for such claims? That will depend on the medical condition, but common examples include cases where a service member has a service-connected knee or elbow joint injury that develops arthritis later. That arthritis is a secondary condition that should be reviewed by the VA and compensated where appropriate.

Another example is if you were diagnosed with high blood pressure while on active duty and later developed complications from it, you may be entitled to further review and/or compensation. Additional secondary condition ratings can significantly increase your monthly compensation, see current VA disability rates to understand what each additional percentage point means in dollars.

If You Think You Need To File A Claim For A Service-Connected Condition

In short, any condition already rated by the VA that is now showing new issues may be compensable. It will be up to the Department of Veterans Affairs to determine whether or not such additional compensation is warranted and by how much. Reviews of your condition do not happen automatically, so you will need to initiate the claim to have your case looked at by the VA.

Identifying Common Secondary Service-Connected Conditions

Secondary conditions can be tricky to identify because many of them are associated with more than one primary disability, not just one specific condition. Don’t rule out a secondary claim just because you haven’t yet found a direct link between the secondary condition and your existing disability. That connection may exist even if it isn’t immediately obvious.

For example, neuritis (also known as sciatica) isn’t caused by just one type of injury, it can stem from multiple primary conditions. Similarly, erectile dysfunction may have a physical cause, a psychological one, or both, depending on circumstances.

Some secondary conditions are tied to specific primary diagnoses, like hypertension secondary to PTSD, while others like nerve damage or arthritis can develop as a result of a wide range of service-connected disabilities. Common secondary service-connected conditions include but are not limited to:

• Secondary conditions related to traumatic brain injuries
• Sciatic nerve damage and sciatic nerve neuritis
• Erectile dysfunction
• Median nerve damage (paralysis)
• External popliteal nerve damage
• Arteriosclerotic heart disease
• Arteriosclerosis obliterans
• Hypertensive vascular disease
• Hypertension secondary to PTSD
• Renal involvement in systemic diseases
• Degenerative spinal arthritis
• Peripheral neuropathy secondary to Type 2 diabetes
• Radiculopathy secondary to back disabilities
• Depression secondary to Parkinson’s disease or cancer

Making Your Claim

Filing a claim for any one of these common conditions or those not found on the list above is a lot like developing your original VA claim–you will need to gather and submit evidence including documentation from civilian medical providers and buddy letters about how your condition has affected your quality of life. You will need to make sure you know about any additional forms or paperwork required to submit this type of claim to the VA.

The important thing to remember about all of these common conditions is that when filing a secondary claim, you are not trying to establish that the secondary condition — which can include anything on the list above and much more — occurred while serving in the military.

The entire point of the secondary service-connected conditions designation is that these medical issues resulted from a VA-rated disability you are already recognized as having which is now creating more issues. Use our VA disability calculator to estimate how a secondary condition rating could affect your combined monthly compensation.

You Don’t Have to Explore Your Options Alone

Some Veterans turn to law offices specializing in VA claims to get assistance with creating a “bulletproof” VA claim. This is a decision only the Veteran can make, but it’s a good idea to review your claim package with someone, whether that person is a Veteran Service Officer or service organization staffer.

It’s a very good idea in these cases to enlist the help of a Veteran Service Organization that can work with the VA on your behalf if you feel overwhelmed by the process or aren’t sure where to start. You can view this directory of VSOs to find one close to you. You can also call the VA to get advice. The VA staff can help navigate this process if you prefer to deal with them directly.

Once your secondary condition claim is approved and your compensation is adjusted, check VA disability pay dates to know exactly when to expect your updated payment.