Military service often requires service members to carry and lift heavy loads, jump, run, and pivot during training and combat. It’s not unusual for veterans to have back pain after active duty. In that event, the veteran should apply for an increased rating claim related to the original disability. A worsening of the original disabling condition is not a secondary claim. It’s important to note that a secondary claim must be for a new disability caused by a prior disability. Over time, the veteran will also develop a problem in the good knee. We have also seen many cases where a disability to one knee causes the veteran to favor the good knee, placing abnormal stress on the good knee. In fact, it is common for altered gait due to pain in the feet, ankles, or knees to eventually alter the body mechanics of the spine, resulting in low back problems. In addition, veterans can file secondary claims for each additional disability caused by the original disability.įor example, the veteran with a knee injury can file a secondary claim for arthritis of the hip and later file another secondary claim for arthritis of the ankle or low back. There isn’t a time limit on secondary claims. Veterans can file a secondary claim whenever an additional disability appears. If the veteran can demonstrate that the original disability caused lower back problems, the VA might award secondary benefits due to disability from the knee arthritis. This altered way of walking eventually caused a problem in the veteran’s low back. Perhaps the veteran changed how they walk to compensate for pain and weakness in the injured knee. For example, a veteran with a disability due to a knee injury may develop arthritis over time. When this happens, a veteran might need greater levels of assistance from the VA.įiling for an additional disability caused by the first disability is known as making a secondary claim. One chronic health condition can lead to additional conditions that increase a veteran’s state of disability. The VA also recognizes that disabilities can have a domino effect. If the veteran can prove that service-related activities aggravated the old injury, the VA will assign an original disability rating to the injury. However, military service might have caused the knee to degenerate from wear and tear, leading to joint damage similar to that of a veteran who sustained the original injury during service. The injury healed enough that it did not disqualify the veteran from service. For example, a veteran might have had a knee injury from playing sports in high school. The VA would rate that as a disability caused by military service.Ī pre-existing condition aggravated by military service is also considered a disability by the VA. The veteran no longer has full use of the knee, limiting their ability to work or conduct typical daily life activities. Veterans must demonstrate a connection between military service and their current state of health.įor example, a veteran might have sustained a significant knee injury during active duty. The original claim is the most straightforward determination of disability. The VA considers the first disability claim a veteran files as the starting point for all future disability ratings. The secondary disability claims process is similar to filing an original disability claim, but instead of proving that military service caused a disability, the veteran must show that the original disability led to the secondary disability. In this case, veterans can also apply for secondary disability benefits. But some veterans don’t realize that chronic back problems can lead to additional disabilities in the future. If back pain prevents veterans from working, they may be eligible for VA disability benefits. Others develop back problems years after experiencing ongoing spinal stress during military service. Some veterans leave service knowing their injuries will result in long-term back pain. For veterans, back pain is a leading cause of disability.īack issues can begin with a traumatic injury or may creep up over time. Many times, back pain becomes an ongoing part of their lives. Nearly a quarter of adults will have episodes of back pain at some point. Back pain is the most common cause of chronic pain among adults.
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