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Secondary Condition Claim · VASRD 7119

Peripheral Vascular Disease Secondary to Peripheral Vascular Disease

A condition caused or aggravated by an already service-connected disability can be granted its own service connection as a secondary condition under 38 CFR § 3.310. Here's how that works for Peripheral Vascular Disease when it develops after Peripheral Vascular Disease.

Why Peripheral Vascular Disease Is Linked to Peripheral Vascular Disease

Severe ischemia if untreated

Primary condition · VASRD 7121

Peripheral Vascular Disease

Peripheral vascular disease reduces blood flow to the arms or legs from narrowed arteries, causing pain, coldness, or in severe cases, tissue damage. This code is presumptively connected to Agent Orange exposure for veterans who served in Vietnam, along the Korean DMZ, or at certain Thailand perimeter bases - a distinct advantage over claiming general circulatory symptoms without that service history.

Secondary condition · VASRD 7119

Peripheral Vascular Disease

A circulation disorder causing reduced blood flow, especially in the legs.

Peripheral Vascular Disease VA Rating Tiers

The VA rates Peripheral Vascular Disease the same way whether it's claimed directly or as secondary to Peripheral Vascular Disease — severity of Peripheral Vascular Disease itself determines the percentage.

RatingCriteria
20%Intermittent claudication with ankle/brachial index of 0.9 or less.
40%Ankle/brachial index of 0.7 or less or symptoms after walking 25-100 meters.
60%Ankle/brachial index of 0.5 or less or symptoms after walking less than 25 meters.
100%Ischemic limb pain at rest or tissue loss.

Example combined rating

40% Peripheral Vascular Disease + 40% Peripheral Vascular Disease = 64%

The VA combines ratings with Table I of 38 CFR 4.25, not simple addition — 40% and 40% combine to 64%, not 80%. These figures are illustrative; your actual rating for each condition depends on your own evaluation.

Evidence for a Peripheral Vascular Disease Secondary Claim

  • Vascular imaging showing arterial narrowing or blockage.
  • Ankle-brachial index test results, the specific measurement this rating depends on.
  • Doppler ultrasound studies of blood flow in the legs.

Common questions about Peripheral Vascular Disease secondary to Peripheral Vascular Disease

Can Peripheral Vascular Disease be service-connected as secondary to Peripheral Vascular Disease?
Yes. Under 38 CFR § 3.310, a condition that is caused or aggravated by an already service-connected disability can be granted secondary service connection. Severe ischemia if untreated You'll need a current Peripheral Vascular Disease diagnosis and a medical nexus opinion linking it to your service-connected Periphera…
What VA rating can I get for Peripheral Vascular Disease as a secondary condition?
Peripheral Vascular Disease is rated under VASRD diagnostic code 7119 using the same criteria whether it's a direct or secondary claim: possible ratings are 20%, 40%, 60%, 100%. The rating depends on the severity of Peripheral Vascular Disease itself, not on the severity of Peripheral Vascular Disease.
How does a secondary Peripheral Vascular Disease claim affect my combined VA rating?
The VA doesn't add ratings together. Using the official combined-ratings formula (38 CFR 4.25): a 40% rating for Peripheral Vascular Disease combined with a 40% rating for Peripheral Vascular Disease (example figures) produces a combined rating of 64%, not 80%. Approving Peripheral Vascular Disease as secondary still…
What evidence do I need to service-connect Peripheral Vascular Disease as secondary to Peripheral Vascular Disease?
Strong evidence for the underlying Peripheral Vascular Disease diagnosis includes: Vascular imaging showing arterial narrowing or blockage.; Ankle-brachial index test results, the specific measurement this rating depends on.; Doppler ultrasound studies of blood flow in the legs.. For the secondary link itself, a nexus…

Primary condition

Full Peripheral Vascular Disease guide

Secondary condition

Full Peripheral Vascular Disease guide

Estimate your combined rating

See how Peripheral Vascular Disease and Peripheral Vascular Disease combine with the rest of your service-connected conditions using the official VA combined-ratings formula.

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