VA Disability Benefits for Bruxism: Secondary Service Connection

VA Disability Benefits for Bruxism: Secondary Service Connection

If you suffer from bruxism, you know that it can be much more serious than it sounds to someone who hasn’t experienced the condition. Persistently grinding or clenching your teeth can cause a variety of health issues, including facial pain, headaches, dislocation of the jaw, damage to the teeth, and more. 

Bruxism is often treatable, but there’s no overnight fix. So, you may be entitled to benefits in the short term, even as you seek and try out treatment options.

Qualifying for VA Disability Benefits for Bruxism

The VA doesn’t currently recognize a primary service connection for bruxism. However, bruxism may be caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability. In that situation, bruxism may be recognized as a secondary service-connected condition. That could mean an adjustment of your disability rating and additional disability benefits. 

However, that requires first establishing a primary service-connected disability that is more likely than not to cause or substantially aggravate the secondary service-connected condition.

Causes of Bruxism

Medical professionals aren’t always certain what causes bruxism. A number of variables and conditions are believed to cause or contribute to bruxism. Some of the most common include: 

• Anxiety
• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) 
• Parkinson’s Disease
• Night Terrors
• Dementia
• Certain psychiatric medications

You’ve probably noticed that several of the items on this list are relatively common primary service-connected conditions. In 2021, PTSD was one of the top five service-connected disabilities resulting in VA benefits. The condition was also one of the top ten conditions supporting new VA disability claims. 

Pursuing Benefits for a Secondary Service-Connected Disability

If you have been diagnosed with one of the conditions above or another condition that causes or contributes to bruxism, but do not have a disability rating based on that condition, your first step will be to establish the primary service-connected condition.

If you have a current VA disability rating based on one of the above conditions or another condition that can cause or contribute to bruxism, you may be eligible for additional benefits. But, simply having a condition that has been linked to bruxism won’t be sufficient to establish your claim. It will be up to you to show a connection between the primary condition and your bruxism. 

A Veterans Disability Advocate Can Help

Proving service-connection and then secondary service-connection can be complicated. And, the process can be all the more difficult to navigate if you are in pain, under stress, short on sleep, and otherwise suffering from the condition you’re seeking compensation for.

At Veterans Help Group, we put years of experience to work for you, helping de-stress the process and maximize your chances of a successful application or appeal. To learn more about how we can help, contact us now or call (855) 855-8992 right now.