Download Our Free Guide to Secondary Conditions and VA Disability Benefits
PTSD may affect much more than your mental health. Over time, the stress, disrupted sleep, medications, and other effects of PTSD can contribute to additional physical and psychological conditions.
Many Veterans do not realize that these conditions may qualify as secondary service-connected disabilities—and could affect their overall VA disability rating.
Our free guide, Are You Missing Out on Vital VA Benefits for Secondary Conditions to PTSD?, explains what secondary conditions are, which health problems are commonly associated with PTSD, and what evidence the VA may require.
Complete the short form on this page to receive immediate access to this guide at no cost.
PTSD Can Affect Your Health in Unexpected Ways
Military service may have exposed you to combat, life-threatening missions, a serious training accident, military sexual trauma, or other traumatic events. For some Veterans, those experiences lead to PTSD.
But PTSD doesn't always exist on its own.
The ongoing stress and emotional strain associated with PTSD can contribute to other medical and mental health conditions. Some may develop gradually and may not become noticeable until years after PTSD was diagnosed or connected to military service.
These additional conditions can affect your ability to sleep, work, maintain relationships, and manage everyday activities. Yet many Veterans never consider whether those health problems could be connected to their PTSD.
Could Your Other Health Problems Be Connected to PTSD?
The guide discusses several conditions that may be associated with PTSD, including:
- Migraine and tension headaches
- Teeth grinding and jaw disorders
- Insomnia
- Sleep apnea
- High blood pressure
- Heart disease
- GERD and other gastrointestinal conditions
- Anxiety disorders
- Sexual dysfunction
- Medical complications related to substance abuse
Having one of these conditions does not automatically establish a secondary service connection. The VA generally requires medical evidence showing that the condition was caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability.
This free guide explains what that means and how Veterans can begin documenting the connection.
What You'll Learn From This Free Guide
What a Secondary Service-Connected Condition Is. Learn how a new condition may qualify when it develops because of—or is aggravated by—an already service-connected disability such as PTSD.
Why Medical Documentation Matters. Understand why a formal diagnosis, treatment records, testing, and other medical evidence can be essential to presenting the VA with a complete picture of your health.
How a Medical Nexus Can Support a Claim. The guide explains the purpose of a medical nexus opinion and how it may help connect a secondary condition to service-connected PTSD.
Additional Evidence That May Strengthen a Claim. Learn about supporting materials such as:
- Disability Benefits Questionnaires
- Personal statements
- Buddy letters
- Medical treatment records
- Statements describing the condition's effect on work and daily life
When to File a Secondary Claim. The guide discusses the relationship between primary and secondary claims, as well as the potential importance of preserving an effective date through an Intent to File.
How the VA Combines Disability Ratings. VA disability percentages are not simply added together. The guide provides an easy-to-follow explanation of “VA Math” and how an additional rating may affect a Veteran’s combined disability rating.
What to Expect During a C&P Exam. Learn what an examiner may evaluate, what to bring, how to discuss your symptoms honestly, and what steps to take after the exam.
Filing a Secondary Claim Is Not Automatic
The VA does not approve a secondary condition simply because a Veteran has both PTSD and another health problem.
A Veteran will generally need evidence of:
- A diagnosed secondary condition
- An existing service-connected disability
- A medical connection between the two conditions.
Without clear medical and supporting evidence, the VA may not understand the full extent of how PTSD and related conditions affect your health, employment, and daily functioning.
This guide can help you recognize the issues that may need to be documented before submitting a claim or challenging a denial.
Your C&P Exam Could Have a Major Impact on Your Claim
Veterans who file claims for conditions secondary to PTSD may be scheduled for a Compensation and Pension examination.
During the exam, the medical examiner may evaluate:
- Whether a recognized medical relationship exists between PTSD and the secondary condition
- The severity of the secondary condition
- How the condition affects work and daily activities
- Whether PTSD caused or aggravated the condition
- Current treatment, medications, and side effects
Your guide includes practical recommendations for preparing for the exam, communicating clearly, avoiding common mistakes, and documenting what happened afterward.
Is Your PTSD or Secondary Condition Preventing You From Working?
Some Veterans may be unable to maintain substantially gainful employment because of PTSD, a secondary condition, or the combined effects of multiple service-connected disabilities.
In certain circumstances, Total Disability Based on Individual Unemployability, commonly called TDIU, may allow an eligible Veteran to receive compensation at the 100% rate even when the combined schedular rating is below 100%.
The guide introduces this issue and explains why detailed evidence about a Veteran’s ability to work may be important.
Don't Overlook a Condition That May Affect Your VA Benefits
You served your country. You should have clear information about the benefits process and the evidence the VA may consider.
Download this guide to better understand:
- Which conditions may be secondary to PTSD
- How secondary service connection works
- What documentation may be needed
- How the VA evaluates and rates additional disabilities
- How to prepare for a possible C&P exam
- What options may be available after a denial
Download Your Free Copy Today
Complete the short form to download Are You Missing Out on Vital VA Benefits for Secondary Conditions to PTSD?
There is no cost and no obligation—just practical information created to help Veterans make more informed decisions about their VA disability claims.
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