WingmanOpen the free toolsWingmanOpen the free toolsIf the VA already service-connected your ptsd (also called PTSD, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression), 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 ptsd commonly leads to, why, and what evidence each one takes.
A secondary claim only works if the primary condition (ptsd) 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 →
The VA recognizes that PTSD can cause or worsen sleep apnea through disrupted sleep architecture, weight gain from psych meds, and chronic hyperarousal. This is one of the most commonly won secondary claims and the one vets most often miss.
What you'd need: A sleep study (polysomnography) confirming apnea, plus a nexus opinion (often a private doctor) stating the PTSD 'at least as likely as not' caused or aggravated the apnea. Bring your CPAP prescription if you have one.
PTSD/depression and the SSRIs used to treat them are well-documented causes of ED. Even though ED itself is usually rated 0%, service connection unlocks extra tax-free money (SMC-K) for loss of use of a creative organ.
What you'd need: A diagnosis of ED, a list of your psych medications, and a nexus opinion linking the ED to the PTSD or its medication. No percentage rating needed to get SMC-K.
Chronic stress and anxiety raise stomach acid, and many PTSD medications (SSRIs) irritate the digestive tract, so the VA will grant GERD secondary to PTSD when the link is documented.
What you'd need: A GERD diagnosis (often an EGD/endoscopy or GI note), your medication list, and a nexus opinion tying reflux to the psych condition or its meds.
Chronic PTSD-related hyperarousal and stress hormones can raise blood pressure over time; the VA recognizes hypertension secondary to PTSD, though it is more contested than the sleep-apnea link.
What you'd need: Repeated documented blood pressure readings and a diagnosis, plus a nexus opinion connecting the hypertension to sustained PTSD-related stress. Commonly granted but not guaranteed.
PTSD and chronic anxiety are recognized triggers for tension and migraine headaches. When headaches are frequent and prostrating they carry their own rating on top of the mental health rating.
What you'd need: A headache diagnosis with a documented pattern of prostrating attacks (a headache log helps), and a nexus opinion linking them to the mental health condition.