Secondary Condition Claim · VASRD 5019
Bursitis Secondary to Sacroiliac Injury and Weakness
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 Bursitis when it develops after Sacroiliac Injury and Weakness.
Why Bursitis Is Linked to Sacroiliac Injury and Weakness
Altered movement stresses the hip area.
Primary condition · VASRD 5236
Sacroiliac Injury and Weakness
The sacroiliac joints connect the base of the spine to the pelvis, and injury or weakness there can cause chronic lower back and hip pain, especially with lifting, twisting, or prolonged standing. It's commonly linked to lifting injuries or repetitive strain from carrying gear during service.
Secondary condition · VASRD 5019
Bursitis
Bursitis is inflammation of a bursa — one of the fluid-filled sacs that cushion tendons and muscles where they pass over bone — most often at the shoulder, hip, elbow or knee, causing pain and painful, restricted motion. DC 5019 has no percentages of its own: it is rated as degenerative arthritis, on limitation of motion of the affected joint.
Bursitis VA Rating Tiers
The VA rates Bursitis the same way whether it's claimed directly or as secondary to Sacroiliac Injury and Weakness — severity of Bursitis itself determines the percentage.
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 10% | Per joint, when motion is limited but not enough to rate on its own |
| 0% | Service-connected, but no compensable joint limitation |
Example combined rating
20% Sacroiliac Injury and Weakness + 10% Bursitis = 28%
The VA combines ratings with Table I of 38 CFR 4.25, not simple addition — 20% and 10% combine to 28%, not 30%. These figures are illustrative; your actual rating for each condition depends on your own evaluation.
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Evidence for a Bursitis Secondary Claim
- •Goniometer range-of-motion measurements, in degrees, for the affected joint — this is the only thing DC 5019 rates, and a compensable evaluation depends on comparing it against that joint's own diagnostic code.
- •Examination findings recording objective painful motion, swelling or muscle spasm, which is the confirmation DC 5003 requires before the per-joint 10 percent can be assigned.
- •Imaging (ultrasound or MRI) showing bursal thickening or effusion, and any aspiration or injection records, which establish the diagnosis.
- •A separate measurement for every joint involved, since each major joint or minor joint group with noncompensable limitation of motion carries its own 10 percent, combined rather than added.
Common questions about Bursitis secondary to Sacroiliac Injury and Weakness
- Can Bursitis be service-connected as secondary to Sacroiliac Injury and Weakness?
- 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. Altered movement stresses the hip area. You'll need a current Bursitis diagnosis and a medical nexus opinion linking it to your service-connected Sacroiliac Injury…
- What VA rating can I get for Bursitis as a secondary condition?
- Bursitis is rated under VASRD diagnostic code 5019 using the same criteria whether it's a direct or secondary claim: possible ratings are 10%, 0%. The rating depends on the severity of Bursitis itself, not on the severity of Sacroiliac Injury and Weakness.
- How does a secondary Bursitis claim affect my combined VA rating?
- The VA doesn't add ratings together. Using the official combined-ratings formula (38 CFR 4.25): a 20% rating for Sacroiliac Injury and Weakness combined with a 10% rating for Bursitis (example figures) produces a combined rating of 28%, not 30%. Approving Bursitis as secondary still typically raises your overall combi…
- What evidence do I need to service-connect Bursitis as secondary to Sacroiliac Injury and Weakness?
- Strong evidence for the underlying Bursitis diagnosis includes: Goniometer range-of-motion measurements, in degrees, for the affected joint — this is the only thing DC 5019 rates, and a compensable evaluation depends on comparing it against that joint's own diagnostic code.; Examination findings recording objective pa…
Primary condition
Full Sacroiliac Injury and Weakness guide
Secondary condition
Full Bursitis guide
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