VA Law Explorer
Secondary service connection
Secondary conditions at the Board
How often the Board of Veterans' Appeals granted a condition claimed as caused or aggravated by another service-connected disability (38 CFR 3.310), grouped by that disability.
Secondary to PTSD
- Major depressive disorder305 · 62.0% granted
- Migraine1,732 · 37.1% granted
- Sleep apnea11,479 · 31.7% granted
- Erectile dysfunction1,645 · 30.3% granted
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)1,237 · 25.3% granted
- Irritable colon syndrome (spastic colitis mucous colitis)380 · 24.2% granted
- Diabetes mellitus551 · 20.3% granted
- Hypertension3,194 · 16.5% granted
Secondary to a back condition
- Paralysis of sciatic nerve325 · 57.8% granted
- Radiculopathy1,181 · 49.9% granted
- Major depressive disorder770 · 47.4% granted
- Paralysis of sciatic nerve or external popliteal nerve2,436 · 38.7% granted
- Sleep apnea1,166 · 38.2% granted
- Ulnar nerve paralysis628 · 34.6% granted
- Peripheral nerve conditions307 · 32.2% granted
- Peripheral nerve disorders1,204 · 27.8% granted
- Erectile dysfunction619 · 27.6% granted
- Degenerative arthritis of the spine679 · 23.7% granted
- Urinary incontinence408 · 22.8% granted
- Hypertension330 · 20.0% granted
- Migraine347 · 18.7% granted
- Hip impairment1,856 · 13.6% granted
- Knee conditions2,083 · 12.3% granted
- Ankle impairment322 · 11.2% granted
- Cervical spine limitation of motion1,553 · 8.8% granted
- Shoulder impairment647 · 7.3% granted
- Foot impairment354 · 6.2% granted
Secondary to a knee condition
- Major depressive disorder512 · 49.4% granted
- Sleep apnea983 · 46.2% granted
- Osteoarthritis535 · 34.2% granted
- Degenerative arthritis of the spine2,449 · 24.1% granted
- Intervertebral disc syndrome1,760 · 19.7% granted
- Hip impairment2,665 · 19.0% granted
- Ankle impairment952 · 15.2% granted
- Shoulder impairment426 · 15.0% granted
- Cervical spine limitation of motion396 · 10.6% granted
- Thoracolumbar or lumbar spine limitation of motion636 · 8.6% granted
- Foot impairment445 · 8.3% granted
Secondary to diabetes
- Peripheral arterial occlusive disease (buerger's disease)335 · 37.3% granted
- Retinal dystrophy (including retinitis pigmentosa macular degeneration)416 · 37.0% granted
- Peripheral nerve disorders3,602 · 33.6% granted
- Kidney disease906 · 26.5% granted
- Erectile dysfunction1,811 · 25.8% granted
- Sleep apnea994 · 23.0% granted
- Cataract extraction372 · 22.6% granted
- Hypertension2,809 · 15.2% granted
- Glaucoma482 · 10.6% granted
Secondary to a psychiatric disorder
- Migraine1,181 · 41.2% granted
- Sleep apnea4,474 · 33.1% granted
- Erectile dysfunction1,061 · 31.9% granted
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)591 · 25.4% granted
- Diabetes mellitus418 · 21.3% granted
- Hypertension1,487 · 20.1% granted
Secondary to an ankle condition
- Degenerative arthritis of the spine590 · 27.1% granted
- Hip impairment596 · 19.3% granted
- Knee conditions1,562 · 18.2% granted
- Intervertebral disc syndrome353 · 16.1% granted
Secondary to tinnitus
- Major depressive disorder384 · 43.0% granted
- Migraine1,013 · 31.9% granted
- Sleep apnea632 · 20.7% granted
- Hearing loss396 · 13.6% granted
- Peripheral vestibular disorders579 · 12.6% granted
Secondary to hypertension
- Kidney disease528 · 37.1% granted
- Erectile dysfunction648 · 36.7% granted
- Migraine346 · 23.7% granted
- Sleep apnea692 · 14.6% granted
- Diabetes mellitus467 · 14.6% granted
Secondary to a neck (cervical spine) condition
- Ulnar nerve paralysis658 · 40.6% granted
- Migraine628 · 34.9% granted
- Shoulder impairment373 · 10.7% granted
Secondary to hearing loss
- Tinnitus1,454 · 65.6% granted
Secondary to flat feet
- Knee conditions738 · 24.3% granted
- Degenerative arthritis of the spine364 · 23.1% granted
- Ankle impairment308 · 18.5% granted
Secondary to sleep apnea
- Hypertension511 · 25.4% granted
Secondary to TBI
- Migraine481 · 35.8% granted
How to read these numbers
- Each rate is the share of decisions in which the Board granted that secondary issue. Within each group, conditions are listed from highest to lowest grant rate.
- Lists pairs with at least 300 decisions from 2018 to today. The primary disability is read from the decision text and grouped by name.
Research any secondary claim
Ask about any pair, read the nexus opinions the Board relied on, and export a research memo.
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