Common Secondary Service-Connected Conditions to Depression

Common Secondary Service-Connected Conditions to Depression

Depression is common among veterans and can have a lifelong impact. Often, depression goes hand-in-hand with other conditions that can impact daily life and the ability to work. You don’t want to overlook conditions secondary to depression, as they may increase your disability rating–and, in turn, your veterans disability benefits. But, those connections aren’t always obvious. You may be surprised to learn how wide-ranging the conditions linked with depression are.

Conditions That May be Secondary to Depression

Some secondary service-connected conditions to depression are more easily recognized than others. For example, if you’re suffering from both anxiety and depression, you may assume that those conditions are likely connected. But, it may not be obvious to most people that sleep apnea can be secondary to depression. 

Some of the conditions most commonly connected to depression include: 

Of course, this isn’t a complete list. Other conditions that have been found to be secondary to depression include restless leg syndrome (RLS) and side effects of long-term medication for depression. These may range from gastrointestinal issues to seizures. 

You’ll see that some of these secondary service-connected conditions are mental health issues and others are not. The way a secondary service-connected condition is treated for disability rating purposes is different for mental health issues. In short, if you have a mental health disability rating for depression and establish a secondary condition such as anxiety–another mental health condition–you won’t receive a separate rating for that condition. Instead, your overall rating based on mental health conditions will be adjusted. 

However, if the secondary service-connected condition is sleep apnea or migraines, or another non-mental-health condition, the condition will receive a separate disability rating that will be factored in to determine your overall disability rating. 

Is Depression the Chicken or the Egg? 

One complication in VA disability claims relating to depression is that it’s not always clear which is the primary condition and which is secondary. If you’re not already rated for either condition, how you choose to present your application may impact both the likelihood of success and your overall disability rating. 

Veterans Help Group is Here for You

Whether you’re applying for VA disability benefits for the first time, or are already rated for depression and want to pursue a secondary service connection claim, we can help. 

Our experienced veterans disability advocates can help you assemble the most complete, effective claim for VA disability benefits. If you’ve already filed a claim and been denied, or you disagree with your disability rating, we can help with that, too. Ready to learn more? Contact us or call (855) 855-8992 today.

VA Benefits Explained

VA Benefits Explained

VA Benefits Explained Veterans disability benefits can provide much-needed financial support and...

More Articles

What Causes PTSD to be Triggered in Veterans?

In the past 15 years, the estimated number of veterans who have been diagnosed with PTSD currently numbers more than 500,000. As many as 60,000 of these veterans are Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans. Estimates show more than 20% to 30% of veterans...

Federal Court Addresses PTSD Stressors

A recent decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit confirms that VA must apply a generous standard when evaluating the lay testimony of veterans suffering from PTSD concerning their combat experiences and PTSD stressors. Sanchez-Navarro v....

Permanent and Total VA Disability Ratings for PTSD

What is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)? Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that develops in some people who have experienced a shocking, scary, or dangerous event. Symptoms of PTSD usually begin within three months of the...

Depression And Your VA Claim

Depression can negatively affect every aspect of your life: how you feel, think, sleep, function, and interact with others. According to the National Alliance on Mental Health Issues, about 14% of veterans suffer from depression. Depression is one of the most common...

FREE CASE EVALUATION 

"*" indicates required fields

Name*
Hidden
Hidden
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.