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
- Sleep apnea11,186 · 32.1% granted
- Hypertension2,879 · 17.0% granted
- Migraine1,673 · 37.7% granted
- Erectile dysfunction1,551 · 30.9% granted
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)1,173 · 26.3% granted
- Diabetes mellitus526 · 20.7% granted
- Irritable colon syndrome (spastic colitis mucous colitis)364 · 24.7% granted
Secondary to a back condition
- Paralysis of sciatic nerve or external popliteal nerve2,359 · 39.4% granted
- Knee conditions1,917 · 12.4% granted
- Hip impairment1,724 · 14.0% granted
- Cervical spine limitation of motion1,455 · 9.1% granted
- Radiculopathy1,160 · 50.3% granted
- Sleep apnea1,133 · 38.7% granted
- Peripheral nerve disorders1,081 · 29.0% granted
- Major depressive disorder685 · 49.3% granted
- Degenerative arthritis of the spine641 · 24.5% granted
- Ulnar nerve paralysis617 · 35.2% granted
- Shoulder impairment604 · 7.5% granted
- Erectile dysfunction580 · 29.3% granted
- Urinary incontinence376 · 23.4% granted
- Foot impairment329 · 6.7% granted
- Migraine325 · 19.4% granted
- Hypertension312 · 20.5% granted
- Ankle impairment303 · 11.9% granted
Secondary to a knee condition
- Hip impairment2,481 · 19.4% granted
- Degenerative arthritis of the spine2,227 · 24.7% granted
- Intervertebral disc syndrome1,655 · 20.4% granted
- Sleep apnea972 · 46.7% granted
- Ankle impairment880 · 15.5% granted
- Thoracolumbar or lumbar spine limitation of motion594 · 9.3% granted
- Osteoarthritis491 · 34.6% granted
- Major depressive disorder472 · 51.7% granted
- Foot impairment420 · 8.1% granted
- Shoulder impairment397 · 15.1% granted
- Cervical spine limitation of motion372 · 11.3% granted
Secondary to diabetes
- Peripheral nerve disorders3,354 · 34.1% granted
- Hypertension2,421 · 16.3% granted
- Erectile dysfunction1,631 · 26.7% granted
- Sleep apnea937 · 23.9% granted
- Kidney disease839 · 27.3% granted
- Glaucoma446 · 11.4% granted
- Retinal dystrophy (including retinitis pigmentosa macular degeneration)379 · 38.8% granted
- Cataract extraction339 · 23.3% granted
- Peripheral arterial occlusive disease (buerger's disease)310 · 38.7% granted
Secondary to a psychiatric disorder
- Sleep apnea4,392 · 33.5% granted
- Hypertension1,411 · 20.7% granted
- Migraine1,154 · 41.7% granted
- Erectile dysfunction1,031 · 32.3% granted
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)570 · 26.0% granted
- Diabetes mellitus406 · 21.7% granted
Secondary to tinnitus
- Migraine1,001 · 32.0% granted
- Sleep apnea627 · 20.9% granted
- Peripheral vestibular disorders546 · 12.6% granted
- Hearing loss371 · 13.7% granted
- Major depressive disorder356 · 43.0% granted
Secondary to an ankle condition
- Knee conditions1,451 · 18.9% granted
- Hip impairment560 · 19.8% granted
- Degenerative arthritis of the spine544 · 27.9% granted
- Intervertebral disc syndrome338 · 15.7% granted
Secondary to hypertension
- Sleep apnea654 · 15.1% granted
- Erectile dysfunction613 · 37.0% granted
- Kidney disease510 · 37.3% granted
- Diabetes mellitus434 · 15.0% granted
- Migraine332 · 24.1% granted
Secondary to a neck (cervical spine) condition
- Ulnar nerve paralysis650 · 40.8% granted
- Migraine583 · 35.2% granted
- Shoulder impairment347 · 10.7% granted
Secondary to hearing loss
- Tinnitus1,373 · 65.7% granted
Secondary to flat feet
- Knee conditions683 · 25.3% granted
- Degenerative arthritis of the spine333 · 24.3% granted
Secondary to sleep apnea
- Hypertension488 · 25.4% granted
Secondary to TBI
- Migraine462 · 36.1% granted
How to read these numbers
- Each rate is the share of decisions in which the Board granted that secondary issue.
- 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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