What Are Common Secondary Conditions?
Veterans can receive benefits for disabilities which are caused by their service. But they can also receive compensation for any secondary condition which flows from their disability. Too often, veterans and their families overlook these secondary conditions, which means they do not receive the benefits they should. Call Empowerment Legal, PLLC, to speak with an experienced lawyer. Our law firm assists veterans when requesting VA benefits or when appealing a denial.
We Can Help Establish Secondary Conditions
There are many secondary conditions which qualify for benefits. The key is showing how they arise out of your service-related disability or how they are aggravated by it. Some of the most common include:
Back Pain/Injury
When a servicemember suffers a leg injury, then they often change how they walk to compensate. As a result, they end up injuring their back, which is a secondary condition caused by the leg injury.
Knee Injury
Knee injuries are common when a person suffers a foot or ankle disability. Again, they might compensate by changing their gait, which puts additional pressure on their knee. A common knee injury is arthritis, which can lead to chronic pain and limited movement.
Sleep Disorders or Insomnia
A service-related injury can aggravate or cause sleep disorders, in particular insomnia. A person who cannot sleep can suffer serious bodily impairments and ill health. The key is to connect your sleep problems to an in-service injury or event.
Sciatica
The sciatic nerve runs from the bottom of the spine through the buttocks. This nerve can become aggravated or pinched due to common service-related injuries, including back injuries or hip conditions. If you feel numbness in your legs, then you could have a sciatic nerve injury.
Depression
Someone who struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) could end up with depression as a secondary condition. Any type of mental health injury requires careful medical documentation to receive benefits.
How Our Firm Can Help
The above are only some of the most common secondary conditions which qualify for benefits. Contact our office to discuss a fuller list of all possible secondary conditions.
We can also assist with developing your claim. A key issue is whether your service-related disability has truly aggravated or caused the secondary condition. For example, you might be depressed, but the cause isn’t any bodily injury you suffered while serving in the armed forces. In that case, you cannot claim depression as a secondary condition for VA benefits.
Empowerment Legal excels at claim development. We help clients submit fully developed claims supported by adequate medical evidence. Our firm can coordinate with a medical provider to establish the necessary causal connection. If you overlook this step, then you can expect a claim to be denied.
Contact Our Office Today for a Consultation
Claim development is a detailed process which cannot be overlooked. At Empowerment Legal, we are proud to help veterans obtain all possible benefits. Call our law firm to speak with a Jacksonville other claim development lawyer about your service and any injuries or chronic conditions.