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Female Sexual Arousal Disorder (FSAD) as a Secondary Condition to PTSD: What Women Veterans Should Know
Female sexual arousal disorder (FSAD) involves ongoing inability to become or difficulty in becoming physically aroused during sexual activity. Unfortunately, female veterans who suffer from this condition don’t always recognize that it is a medical issue. That can prevent the veteran from receiving medical treatment and mean they don’t seek out VA benefits that might be available.
It also means that the VA doesn’t have comprehensive information about the condition, its possible service connections, and how common it is among women who served in the military.
What are the Symptoms of Female Sexual Arousal Disorder?
Here’s how the VA’s Gynecological Conditions Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ) describes FSAD: “Female Sexual Arousal Disorder (FSAD) refers to the continual or recurrent physical inability of a woman to accomplish or maintain an ample lubrication-swelling reaction during sexual intercourse.”
Some common symptoms include insufficient vaginal lubrication, decreased sensitivity, reduced sexual desire and inability to maintain arousal. The VA reports that this condition is commonly caused by decreased blood flow to the genital area, though there are other possible causes.
Can I Get a VA Disability Rating for FSAD?
It is possible to get a VA disability rating for FSAD, either as a service-connected condition or as a VA secondary condition. The scheduled VA disability rating for FSAD is 0%, which means there is typically no monthly monetary benefit associated with the rating. Still, it is often worth pursuing the rating for two reasons:
- Even a 0% disability rating entitles you to VA healthcare for the service-connected or secondary-connected condition
- Some veterans who receive a disability rating for female sexual arousal disorder are eligible for special monthly compensation (SMC) even at a 0% rating
What is a VA Secondary Condition?
A secondary-connected condition is a condition that wasn’t triggered directly by an incident or exposure during military service. Instead, the secondary condition is connected to a service-connected condition, or to treatment for a service-connected condition.
When is FSAD a Secondary Condition?
FSAD may be secondarily connected to military service in a number of ways. Note that this is not a comprehensive list, just some of the most common types of secondary connection.
- FSAD may be secondary to military sexual trauma (MST), with or without PTSD or other attendant mental health conditions.
- FSAD may be secondary to PTSD, whether caused by MST or some other in-service event, due to disruptions of the sympathetic nervous system.
- FSAD may be secondary to depression or other mental health conditions treated with SSRIs or SNRIs, as these drugs can cause sexual dysfunction.
- FSAD may be secondary to gynecological conditions that cause physiological changes that can lead to difficulty becoming aroused.
PTSD is one of the most common primary conditions connected to FSAD, in part because PTSD is so prevalent among veterans. In 2025, more than 1.7 million veterans were receiving VA disability benefits for PTSD. More than 92,000 of them were new recipients in 2025.
PTSD is a complex condition and it can be difficult to know which symptoms may be directly connected to PTSD or may be secondary conditions. It is important to fully discuss your issues and concerns with your doctors to understand the connections, both for your health and to protect your VA disability claim.
How Does a Secondary Condition Impact VA Disability Benefits?
If you already have a VA disability rating for one of the conditions listed above or another condition that may open the door to a secondary connection for FSAD, you may wonder whether it’s worth pursuing–especially if you are already receiving monetary benefits based on the primary-connected condition.
The primary reason for pursuing the additional rating is that it may qualify the veteran for the special monthly compensation mentioned above. SMC-K, which is awarded for “loss of use of a creative organ,” provides a small monthly add-on to VA disability benefits. In 2026, it’s $139.87/month. Note that “loss of use” does not require physical loss of or damage to the organ; loss of function is sufficient.
A veteran with a disability rating of 0% for FSAD and no other disability rating can receive the special monthly compensation. If the veteran has a higher disability rating and therefore receives monthly monetary benefits, the veteran can receive the $139.87/month on top of their regular VA disability benefits.
How to Build a Strong Claim for VA Disability for FSAD
First, you will need a well-documented diagnosis of female sexual arousal disorder. This can be difficult for some veterans because many don’t identify lack of arousal as a medical issue. And, some veterans consider their sexuality a private matter that they aren’t comfortable discussing with medical professionals–especially those who have suffered some type of sexual trauma.
Next, the veteran will have to prove that the FSAD is service-connected or secondarily connected to a condition like PTSD. This can require a variety of documentation, including:
- Records showing the onset of the FSAD symptoms, such as medical documentation
- Medical records showing symptoms over time and any attempted treatment
- Related diagnoses and medical records, if you are pursuing a rating for a secondary condition
- Records establishing the event that caused the condition or the primary condition it is connected to, such as sexual abuse during military service
- Statements from others who have useful information, such as a fellow servicemember who was present when the in-service incident occurred
- A letter from a qualified medical professional (called a nexus letter) explaining why it is at least as likely as not that the condition is service-connected or secondarily connected
An Experienced VA Disability Advocate Can Help
At Veterans Help Group, we understand how complicated and stressful VA disability claims can be. That’s especially true when your condition involves mental health issues or “invisible” conditions like FSAB. Our advocates have the knowledge and experience to guide you through the process and help you assemble the strongest claim possible. To learn more about how we can help, call 855-855-8992 or CLICK HERE for a free case evaluation.
Frequently Asked Questions
If the rating is 0%, what’s the point of filing?
Two things come with it that the percentage doesn’t show. A 0% service-connected rating gets you VA healthcare for that condition, including treatment and specialist referrals you’d otherwise pay for. And it opens the door to SMC-K, which is real money every month. There’s also a narrow exception on the rating itself: VA rates FSAD at 0% under Diagnostic Code 7632 unless there’s actual physical damage to the genitals, in which case it’s rated under the codes for the damaged parts, which can be compensable.
Will the VA award SMC-K automatically once FSAD is service-connected?
Don’t count on it. VA is supposed to consider SMC whenever the evidence supports it, but it’s one of the most frequently missed benefits, and FSAD claims are handled inconsistently. Some adjudicators read “loss of use of a creative organ” narrowly and look for evidence of lost reproductive function. Name SMC-K explicitly in your claim, and make sure your medical evidence addresses loss of function rather than just symptoms.
Can I still claim this if I never reported the assault?
Yes. MST claims are governed by a relaxed evidentiary standard under 38 CFR 3.304(f)(5), which lets you corroborate the event with evidence from outside your service records. The Federal Circuit held in AZ v. Shinseki that VA can’t treat the absence of a report as evidence the assault didn’t happen. What counts as a “marker” is broad: a sudden drop in performance evaluations, a transfer request, a disciplinary action, substance use, treatment for anxiety or depression with no identified cause, an STD test, or statements from people who noticed you change.
Does adding FSAD change my combined disability rating?
No. A 0% rating adds nothing to the combined percentage calculation, so your overall rating and your base monthly compensation stay exactly where they are. SMC-K is a flat add-on paid on top, currently $139.87 a month in 2026, and like all VA compensation it isn’t taxable. It also stacks. A veteran can hold up to three SMC-K awards at once for separate qualifying losses.
What if I also have a non-service-connected cause, like menopause or diabetes?
That doesn’t automatically sink the claim. The standard is whether the service-connected condition caused the FSAD or made it worse, not whether it’s the only cause. Aggravation is a recognized route to secondary service connection under 38 CFR 3.310(b). A nexus letter that addresses the other contributing factors directly and still concludes the PTSD or the medication is at least as likely as not a cause is far stronger than one that ignores them.
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