When a Veteran develops a disability because of his or her service, the negative ramifications can be severe. Service-connected disabilities can affect a Veteran’s ability to work, to perform household chores, and to engage in activities that he or she once enjoyed. But perhaps the most serious ramification of a service-connected condition is that it can often lead to the development of another disability, or it can worsen an already existing disability. Due to this unfortunate reality, secondary service connection claims are prevalent before the VA. This webinar will teach advocates how to spot secondary service connection claims and how to effectively advocate for these claims.

This recorded webinar will cover:
• The basic rules for establishing secondary service connection
• How to evaluate the adequacy of a medical opinion in a secondary service connection claim
• Special considerations when a condition is aggravated by a service-connected condition
• The interplay between physical conditions and mental conditions in these types of claims
• The role medication, drug and alcohol abuse, and obesity plays in secondary service connection claims