VA Secondary Conditions Tool
Most veterans are only rated for their primary condition. Secondary conditions disabilities caused or worsened by a service-connected condition can significantly increase your combined rating and monthly pay. Pick your primary condition to see what you may be missing.
Select the condition you are already service-connected for and want to build secondary claims from.
Select your primary condition on the left to see which secondary conditions may apply to your situation.
How secondary conditions work
When the VA rates your disabilities, it does not just look at each condition in isolation. If a service-connected condition caused, or significantly worsened, another health problem, that second condition can be rated as secondary. Each additional rating is combined using the VA's whole-person formula, which increases your combined rating and monthly pay.
The most important thing most veterans do not know: there is no limit to how many secondary conditions you can claim. A veteran with PTSD might also claim sleep apnea (secondary to PTSD), hypertension (secondary to PTSD), migraines (secondary to PTSD), and erectile dysfunction (SMC-K, secondary to PTSD medication). Each adds to the combined rating.
What you need for a secondary claim
For most secondary conditions you need a nexus letter from a physician that states the secondary condition is "at least as likely as not" caused or aggravated by your primary service-connected condition. Some conditions have well-established connections (like sleep apnea secondary to PTSD) where a simple letter noting the connection is often sufficient. Others require more supporting evidence.
SMC-K: often the most overlooked
Special Monthly Compensation K (SMC-K) pays an additional $139.87/month on top of your regular rating for loss of use of a creative organ. Erectile dysfunction caused by a service-connected condition or its medication qualifies. It applies at any rating level, even 10%, and is one of the most commonly missed VA benefits. No separate rating percentage is assigned; it simply adds the monthly amount.
Can I claim a secondary condition if I was already denied for it?
Yes. A previous denial for a condition does not prevent you from filing it as a secondary claim. The basis of the claim is different: rather than arguing direct service connection, you are arguing that the condition was caused or worsened by your already-established service-connected disability. File a Supplemental Claim citing the secondary connection and include a nexus letter.
What if my primary and secondary condition are both mental health?
The VA does not always rate two mental health conditions separately. If they are judged to be "inextricably intertwined," the VA will rate them together under one diagnostic code. However, if they are demonstrably distinct (for example, a veteran with both PTSD from combat and a separate major depressive disorder), separate ratings are possible. An accredited claims agent can advise on the right approach for your situation.
How much can a secondary condition add to my monthly pay?
It depends on your current combined rating and the rating of the secondary condition. If you are currently at 70% and add a 50% sleep apnea rating, your new combined rating would be 85%, which rounds to 90%, adding roughly $553/month. Use our VA disability calculator to model the exact impact of adding a secondary condition to your current ratings.
Related tools
VA Disability Calculator
Add all your ratings, including secondary conditions, to see your combined monthly pay.
CalculateBenefits Checker
Find other VA benefits your rating unlocks beyond disability compensation.
CheckTDIU Eligibility
If your conditions prevent work, TDIU may pay at 100% even if your combined rating is lower.
CheckBack Pay Calculator
See how much the VA may owe you retroactively if your secondary claim is approved.
Calculate