The rule
Under 38 CFR § 3.310, a disability is service-connected if it is proximately due to (caused by) or aggravated by (made worse by) a service-connected condition. For aggravation, VA compensates the degree of worsening beyond the condition's baseline.
What a secondary claim needs
- A current diagnosis of the secondary condition
- An existing service-connected condition (or one claimed at the same time)
- A medical opinion that the service-connected condition at least as likely as not caused or aggravated the secondary condition. Opinions that address both causation and aggravation are stronger.
Commonly claimed secondary relationships
| Service-connected condition | Possible secondary conditions |
|---|---|
| Knee, ankle, or foot conditions | Hip, back, or opposite-knee conditions from altered gait |
| Back or neck conditions | Radiculopathy (nerve pain, numbness) in the arms or legs, rated separately |
| PTSD and other mental health conditions | Sleep disturbances, erectile dysfunction from medications, hypertension (case-specific medical evidence needed) |
| Chronic pain treated with NSAIDs | GERD and other GI conditions |
| Diabetes mellitus type II | Peripheral neuropathy, kidney disease, erectile dysfunction, retinopathy |
| Tinnitus | Anxiety or depression in some cases |
These are examples, not guarantees. Each claim depends on your medical evidence. For more, read 10 common secondary conditions veterans miss.
We'll map out which secondary claims your evidence may support.
How we help
We review your rated conditions and medical history to spot secondary conditions that have never been claimed. We identify what a medical opinion (nexus letter) would need to address, including both causation and aggravation, and we file the claims with organized supporting evidence.
Official sources
38 CFR 3.310 · VA: Disability eligibility
This page is general information, not legal advice, and VA rules change. Last reviewed October 2026.