WingmanOpen the free toolsWingmanOpen the free toolsIf the VA already service-connected your hip condition (also called hip pain, hip strain, hip arthritis, hip labral tear), it can cause or worsen other conditions that are ratable on their own. These "secondary" claims are where many veterans leave money on the table. Below is what a service-connected hip condition commonly leads to, why, and what evidence each one takes.
A secondary claim only works if the primary condition (hip condition) is already service-connected, and you have a nexus — a doctor's opinion that it is "at least as likely as not" the cause. More on nexus letters →
Favoring a painful hip overloads the opposite hip and both knees over time, accelerating joint wear (overcompensation).
What you'd need: Imaging/exam of the affected joint and a nexus opinion attributing it to the altered gait from the service-connected hip.
A limp and uneven pelvis alignment from a hip disability place abnormal load on the lumbar spine.
What you'd need: Imaging/exam of the back plus a nexus opinion tying it to the gait/pelvic changes from the hip condition.