Secondary Conditions That Can Increase Your VA Disability Rating

When a veteran has or develops a disabling medical condition due to their military service, they may qualify for VA disability benefits for that condition. However, service-connected conditions can sometimes cause additional medical conditions or aggravate preexisting, non-service-connected conditions. In those cases, veterans may file VA claims to include these “secondary conditions” in their disability ratings. But how can a secondary condition increase a veteran’s VA disability rating?

Understanding Secondary Conditions

In the VA system, a “secondary condition” refers to a veteran’s medical condition caused or aggravated by the veteran’s other service-connected condition (the “primary condition’). For example, a veteran may develop arthritis in their remaining leg due to overuse or unusual gait caused by walking with a prosthetic on the other leg. Or a veteran may develop insomnia due to anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder. 

The VA may recognize a veteran’s secondary condition if they can present sufficient compelling medical evidence to prove to a reasonable degree of medical certainty that their primary condition caused the secondary condition or aggravated (worsened) a preexisting condition, turning it into a secondary condition. A secondary condition can increase a veteran’s VA disability rating when the VA combines the veteran’s secondary condition with their primary condition. 

Common Secondary Conditions That Can Increase Your Rating

Common examples of medical conditions that may qualify as secondary conditions include:

• Sleep apnea: Can occur due to traumatic brain injuries, post-traumatic stress disorder, or weight gain caused by medication taken to treat a primary condition
• Radiculopathy: A nerve condition that can occur due to spinal injuries or degenerative back changes
• Anxiety/depression: Can develop as a secondary condition due to chronic pain, physical limitations, or severe disfigurement (i.e., burns, amputations)
• Migraines: Can result from traumatic brain injuries or post-traumatic stress disorder
• Hypertension (high blood pressure): Can occur due to anxiety, medication-triggered weight gain, or service-connected diabetes
• GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease): May occur as a side effect of medications or due to anxiety

How to File a Claim for a Secondary Condition

A veteran with a secondary condition can incorporate that condition into their disability rating by filing a new or supplemental claim that presents evidence linking the veteran’s secondary condition with their primary service-connected condition. In many cases, veterans will need nexus letters from medical professionals to explain how the medical record demonstrates a connection between a veteran’s primary and secondary conditions. 

Why Secondary Conditions Matter

Secondary conditions matter for disabled veterans, as adding one to a veteran’s claim can increase their VA disability rating. Unfortunately, many veterans overlook secondary conditions caused by their primary condition. When a veteran has two more conditions, the VA uses a chart to calculate the combined disability rating of those conditions. For example, suppose a veteran has a primary condition with a rating of 50 percent and later identifies a secondary condition rated at 30 percent. In that case, the veteran will have a combined rating of 65 percent, which the VA rounds up to 70 percent. Thus, the secondary condition can increase a veteran’s monthly disability compensation payments from the 50 percent level to the 70 percent level. An increased disability rating may also allow veterans to access additional benefits or programs, such as Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability, housing assistance, or low- or no-cost healthcare from the VA. 

Contact a VA Disability Lawyer Today

If you develop a secondary condition due to a primary service-connected health condition, you may qualify for increased VA disability benefits. Contact Veterans Benefits Law Group today for a free, no-obligation consultation with a knowledgeable VA disability benefits attorney to learn more about the importance of secondary conditions for your case.