Secondary VA Claims: Getting Rated for Conditions Caused by Other Conditions

The short version

A secondary claim asks the VA to service-connect a new condition because a disability you already have rated caused it or made it worse. You do not have to connect the new condition to your service on its own. You connect it to the disability the VA already rated, usually with a medical opinion. You file it the same way you filed your first claim.

Source: VA.gov

What is a secondary service-connected condition?

It is a condition caused or aggravated by a disability the VA already service-connected. The VA calls this a secondary claim, and you can file one to get more disability benefits for the new condition. The key difference from a first claim: you are not proving the new condition started in service. You are proving your rated disability led to it.

Source: VA.gov

How does the service-connection chain work?

The chain runs from a rated disability to a new one. First you have a disability the VA already connected to your service, like a knee you wrecked on ruck marches. Over time that injury changes how you move, and a new problem shows up. If a medical professional can link the new problem to the rated one, the VA can service-connect the new condition as secondary. The original disability is the anchor, and the new one rides on that link.

Source: VA.gov

What are common examples the VA gives?

The VA lists two clear ones. You develop arthritis caused by a service-connected knee injury from active duty. Or you develop heart disease caused by high blood pressure the VA already connected to your service. In both, the second condition is not tied to service by itself. It is tied to the first, rated condition.

Source: VA.gov

What evidence does a secondary claim need?

Generally three things. One, a current condition shown by medical evidence, not just how you feel. Two, a disability the VA already service-connected. Three, evidence that the rated disability caused or aggravated the new condition. That third piece is usually a medical opinion, sometimes called a nexus statement, from a provider who explains the link. Your service treatment records and VA medical records can support it.

Source: VA.gov

How do you file a secondary claim?

You file it like a standard disability claim, online at VA.gov or on VA Form 21-526EZ. List the new condition and name the service-connected disability you are linking it to. The VA may schedule a claim exam, often called a C and P exam, to check the connection. A VA-accredited representative can help you frame the link before you file.

Source: VA.gov

Does a secondary condition raise your combined rating?

It can. A secondary condition that gets service-connected receives its own rating, and that rating combines with your existing ratings. The VA does not simply add ratings together. It uses combined-ratings math, so a new rating may move your combined total less than the number suggests. Our guide on how VA math works walks through it.

Source: VA.gov

Do I need to prove the secondary condition started in service?

No. You connect it to a disability the VA already service-connected, not to service directly.

What is a nexus opinion?

It is a statement from a medical professional that links your new condition to your rated disability and explains why. It often decides a secondary claim.

Can a mental health condition be secondary?

It can. A mental health condition tied to a service-connected physical disability may qualify if the medical evidence supports the link.

Does aggravation count, or only causation?

Both can count. If your rated disability made a non-service-connected condition worse, that can support a secondary claim.

Is there a deadline to file a secondary claim?

You can file when the secondary condition appears. Filing sooner can matter for your effective date and back pay.

Do I have to pay someone to file?

No. VA-accredited Veterans Service Organizations help at no cost. Be cautious of anyone charging large fees to file a first claim.

Where to get help

• Military OneSource: free counseling and referrals, 800-342-9647.
• Your installation legal assistance office for records and claim questions.
• A VA-accredited Veterans Service Organization (VSO), which helps file claims at no cost.
• VA.gov for claim status, forms, and secure messaging.

Verification Notes

• The two named examples (arthritis from a knee injury, heart disease from hypertension) come directly from VA.gov and were re-verified on July 22, 2026.
• Combined-ratings math is set by VA regulation. Confirm current figures on VA.gov before relying on any specific combined total.
• The points on mental-health conditions and aggravation describe general VA practice. Confirm your situation with a VA-accredited representative.

Sources & links

• VA: Types of disability claims and when to file
• VA: Evidence needed for your disability claim
• VA: How to file a VA disability claim
• VA: About VA disability ratings
• VA: Get help from an accredited representative

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