When can a veteran receive a secondary service connection?

A veteran can receive a secondary service connection when a disability is directly caused by an already service-connected condition. This means that if a veteran has been recognized for a service-connected disability and then develops another condition that is a direct result of the first, the new condition can be considered for service connection as secondary.

For instance, if a veteran is service-connected for a knee injury, and as a consequence of altering their gait to avoid pain, they develop a hip condition, that hip condition could be linked as a secondary service connection to the knee injury. The key aspect is establishing a clear causal relationship between the initial service-connected condition and the new disability, demonstrating that the second condition would not have occurred but for the first condition. This connection is crucial in the evaluation process for VA benefits, and it ensures that veterans receive the support they need as their health evolves due to prior service-related injuries or illnesses.