Tucker Law Group Attorneys Explain How Secondary Service Connection Can Give Veterans a Large Combined Rating

SAINT PETERSBURG, Fla. - March 9, 2021 - PRLog -- It is important for veterans with disabilities to understand how secondary service connection plays a role in their VA disability claims. The Tucker Law Group helps veterans across the country appeal claims denied by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Their VA disability lawyers guide clients through the process of understanding how a veteran can increase their rating using secondary service connection for conditions that result from already service connected conditions. This can lead to more money and benefits for the veteran and his or her family. Below, the attorneys explain how secondary service connections can give veterans a greater combined rating for their VA disability benefits.

Direct Service Connection and Secondary Service Connection

When a veteran applies for VA disability benefits, the VA first determines whether a new claim is related to military service by  direct service connection. This is a medical condition developed due to the veteran's time in the service. It could be anything from a knee injury to a disease or mental illness. To qualify for benefits, the veteran must clearly establish three things.

1. That they have a condition today which is severe enough for VA to rate; and
2. their condition started while they were in service or something that occurred in service started the process of developing the condition; and
3. There is a connection (or nexus) between service and the current condition (i.e. the vet's service caused the current condition or it first occurred while they were in service and the continuing condition today is the same condition).  This is usually done with a doctor's opinion.

It is also possible that a veteran's service may have aggravated a condition that existed before their service.  This type of direct service connection occurs when their time in the service made the pre-existing condition worse.

Sometimes, however, this direct service condition can cause a wide range of other problems. For example, a knee injury that changes the way a veteran walks can result in significant back pain and disability years down the road. In this example the back pain is what VA refers to  as a secondary condition. This secondary condition may also qualify for VA disability benefits. To do this, the veteran use a legal theory called secondary service connection.  The veteran still needs a nexus with a nexus, but the nexus opinion a doctor would provide would explain how the previously service connected condition (in the example above, the knee) caused the later condition (the back pain in our example).  Proving a secondary service connection claim can take a considerable amount of skill and legal experience.

Once secondary service connection is established, it will receive a rating. The higher the rating, the higher the combined rating. This can directly lead to increased benefits and compensation.

About Tucker Law Group

Attorney John V. Tucker at the Tucker Law Group has helped injured veterans with VA disability appeals for over 28 years. Tucker Law Group helps individuals nationwide with ERISA claims and VA disability claim appeals. To learn more about the firm and its services, visit its website.

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