Service Connection Types: Direct vs. Secondary

Direct service connection links a disability to a specific event or exposure during active military service, while secondary service connection applies when an already service-connected condition causes or aggravates a separate disability not directly tied to service.

Knowing the difference is critical for maximizing a VA rating, and AI can help veterans identify secondary conditions they may have overlooked, research qualifying medical relationships, and structure claims that clearly articulate both pathways to the VA adjudicator.