Types of Service Connection

1. Direct Service Connection
2. Secondary Service Connection
3. Aggravated Service Connection
4. Presumptive Service Connection
5. Section 1151 Claim Service Connection

• Direct Service Connection
  Established when the disability is either the direct result of military service, is the result of some incident/event/disease suffered while in the service, or was a disability simply diagnosed/treated during the service. The veteran's service medical records or personnel records should show that the condition began during service or was the result of some incident/event/disease suffered in service. In the absense of military records to support the claim, the use of buddy statements, private treatment records, and etc. is acceptable.

• Secondary Service Connection
  This may be established for a condition which is the direct result of a recognized service connected disability. This includes the “side effects” or complications of treatment for a service connected disability.

• Service Connection by aggravation
  A preexisting disability which is aggravated by service can also be granted service connection. The disability must have become permanently worse, and the worsening was not due to the normal progression of the disability. For example: the veteran had knee surgery prior to service, but was found medically qualified for enlistment. During military service, the veteran stared to have knee problems due to the physical stress placed on the knee. The permanent worsening of knee symptoms can be service connected based upon aggravation.

• Presumptive Service Connection
  Certain chronic diseases, tropical diseases, prisoner-of-war related diseases, diseases associated with exposure to certain herbicide agents, or diseases specific to radiation exposure can also be found service connected due to law, even if there was not diagnosis of the disease in service. Some conditions must manifest within a given time period, so it is important to be familiar with the law.

• 1151 Claims
  Service connection can be granted for a disease, injury or death; or aggravation of an existing disease or injury when it is the result of having submitted to a VA examination, medical or surgical treatment, hospitalization or the pursuit of a course of vocational rehabilitation and such treatment or vocational rehabilitation is the direct cause of the disability or death