Secondary service connection
Conditions secondary to a psychiatric disorder
Veterans with service-connected a psychiatric disorder 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 psychiatric disorder is already service connected.
- Medical evidence linking them (a nexus opinion): the secondary condition was caused by a psychiatric disorder (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 psychiatric disorder
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.
- Migraine secondary to a psychiatric disorder1,181 decisions · 41.2% granted
- Sleep apnea secondary to a psychiatric disorder4,474 decisions · 33.1% granted
- Erectile dysfunction secondary to a psychiatric disorder1,061 decisions · 31.9% granted
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) secondary to a psychiatric disorder591 decisions · 25.4% granted
- Diabetes mellitus secondary to a psychiatric disorder418 decisions · 21.3% granted
- Hypertension secondary to a psychiatric disorder1,487 decisions · 20.1% granted
Psychiatric disorders claimed secondary to other conditions
The other direction: a psychiatric disorder claimed as caused or worsened by a different service-connected disability.
- Major depressive disorder secondary to PTSD305 decisions · 62.0% granted
- Major depressive disorder secondary to a knee condition512 decisions · 49.4% granted
- Major depressive disorder secondary to a back condition770 decisions · 47.4% granted
- Major depressive disorder secondary to tinnitus384 decisions · 43.0% 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.