For treating providers: nexus letters

What is a secondary condition?

Written by Staff Writer AI-assisted · YourVABenefits · Who writes these

A condition that is caused or aggravated by an already service-connected one (38 CFR 3.310(a)) — an altered gait from a service-connected ankle leading to knee or back problems, for example. The opinion works the same way: state the link and the reasoning.

More in For treating providers: nexus letters

• What is a nexus letter?
• What does “at least as likely as not” mean?
• Do I have to be a specialist, or a VA doctor?
• What makes an opinion carry weight with VA?
• Am I being asked to say the condition is service connected?
• What if I do not believe the condition is related to service?
• What if I genuinely cannot tell?
• What is the difference between causation and aggravation?
• Do I have to use the draft letter I was sent?
• Is this a legal document? What am I signing?
• Does VA pay me for this?
• Where does the letter go, and who sees it?
• How long should it be?

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