What service connection means
Service connection is the link between a current diagnosed condition and something that happened during service. In practice a claim usually needs three things: a current diagnosis, an in-service event, illness or injury, and a medical opinion tying the two together.
Conditions can also be connected secondarily. A knee injury that changes how you walk and damages the other knee, or medication side effects, are common examples. Secondary claims are often missed.
How ratings work
Ratings run from 0 to 100 percent in ten point steps, and they describe how much a condition limits work and daily function. A 0 percent rating still matters: it records the service connection, so a later worsening can be increased.
Multiple ratings are not added together. VA combines them using a table, which is why two 50 percent ratings do not make 100 percent. Only VA can decide a rating, and no website or representative can promise one.
- Presumptive conditions, including many under the PACT Act, do not require you to prove the link yourself.
- Filing an intent to file can protect an earlier effective date while you gather evidence.
- A denial is not final. There are several review lanes, each with its own deadline.
Evidence that helps
Service treatment records, current medical records, and statements from people who knew you before and after service all carry weight. So does a consistent record of treatment over time.
Bring what you have to an accredited representative rather than waiting until the file feels complete. They will tell you what is missing.
Questions to bring to an accredited representative
County veteran service officers and VSO representatives help at no cost. Accredited attorneys and claims agents may charge fees in the limited situations allowed by law.
- Which of my conditions look service connected on the record I have now?
- Are any of my conditions presumptive under the PACT Act?
- Should I file an intent to file today to protect my effective date?
- Do I have possible secondary conditions I have not claimed?
- If I was denied before, which review lane fits my situation and what is the deadline?
Your next step
Official sources
Reviewed against these sources on September 22, 2026. Rules change. Confirm details with VA or an accredited representative before you act on them.
This guide is general education. It does not decide your eligibility, it is not legal or medical advice, and Helping The Brave is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
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