Secondary service connection
Conditions secondary to a back condition
Veterans with service-connected a back condition often claim other conditions as caused or worsened by it. This page lists those conditions, what VA needs to grant them, and how they fared when veterans appealed to the Board of Veterans' Appeals.
What VA needs to grant a secondary claim
Secondary service connection means VA disability benefits for a condition caused or made worse by a disability that is already service connected (38 CFR 3.310). The claim needs three things:
- A current diagnosis of the secondary condition.
- A back condition is already service connected.
- Medical evidence linking them (a nexus opinion): the secondary condition was caused by a back condition (3.310(a)), or was made worse beyond its natural progress by it (aggravation, 3.310(b)).
VA's procedures for these claims are in M21-1 V.ii.2.D. When the evidence for and against is about even, VA must decide in the veteran's favor (38 CFR 3.102).
Conditions claimed secondary to a back condition
Conditions the Board decided at least 300 times as secondary to this disability, highest appeal grant rate first. Open one for the evidence and reasons behind the decisions.
- Paralysis of sciatic nerve secondary to a back condition325 decisions · 57.8% granted
- Radiculopathy secondary to a back condition1,181 decisions · 49.9% granted
- Major depressive disorder secondary to a back condition770 decisions · 47.4% granted
- Paralysis of sciatic nerve or external popliteal nerve secondary to a back condition2,436 decisions · 38.7% granted
- Sleep apnea secondary to a back condition1,166 decisions · 38.2% granted
- Ulnar nerve paralysis secondary to a back condition628 decisions · 34.6% granted
- Peripheral nerve conditions secondary to a back condition307 decisions · 32.2% granted
- Peripheral nerve disorders secondary to a back condition1,204 decisions · 27.8% granted
- Erectile dysfunction secondary to a back condition619 decisions · 27.6% granted
- Degenerative arthritis of the spine secondary to a back condition679 decisions · 23.7% granted
- Urinary incontinence secondary to a back condition408 decisions · 22.8% granted
- Hypertension secondary to a back condition330 decisions · 20.0% granted
- Migraine secondary to a back condition347 decisions · 18.7% granted
- Hip impairment secondary to a back condition1,856 decisions · 13.6% granted
- Knee conditions secondary to a back condition2,083 decisions · 12.3% granted
- Ankle impairment secondary to a back condition322 decisions · 11.2% granted
- Cervical spine limitation of motion secondary to a back condition1,553 decisions · 8.8% granted
- Shoulder impairment secondary to a back condition647 decisions · 7.3% granted
- Foot impairment secondary to a back condition354 decisions · 6.2% granted
Back conditions claimed secondary to other conditions
The other direction: a back condition claimed as caused or worsened by a different service-connected disability.
- Degenerative arthritis of the spine secondary to an ankle condition590 decisions · 27.1% granted
- Degenerative arthritis of the spine secondary to a knee condition2,449 decisions · 24.1% granted
- Degenerative arthritis of the spine secondary to flat feet364 decisions · 23.1% granted
- Intervertebral disc syndrome secondary to a knee condition1,760 decisions · 19.7% granted
- Intervertebral disc syndrome secondary to an ankle condition353 decisions · 16.1% granted
- Thoracolumbar or lumbar spine limitation of motion secondary to a knee condition636 decisions · 8.6% granted
Rules that apply to secondary claims
- 38 CFR 3.310
Secondary service connection and aggravation
Read it in VA Law Explorer - M21-1 V.ii.2.D
Secondary service connection and aggravation of non-service-connected disabilities
Read it in VA Law Explorer - 38 CFR 3.102
Reasonable doubt (benefit of the doubt)
Read it in VA Law Explorer
Research your secondary case
Narrow by year, judge, evidence or secondary condition, read the decisions, and export a research memo.