Service Connection

How does the VA decide whether to service connect a veterans disabilities?

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) uses a specific process to decide whether to grant service connection for a veteran's disability. Service connection means that the VA has determined that a veteran's disability is related to his or her military service.

To grant service connection, the VA must determine that:

• The veteran's disability is a current disability

• The veteran's military service involved an event, injury, or illness

• There is a medical nexus, or link, between the veteran's current disability and the event, injury, or illness that occurred during military service

In determining whether to grant service connection, the VA will consider all of the evidence in the veteran's claim, including the veteran's military records, medical records, and statements from the veteran and any lay witnesses. The VA will also consider the opinions of medical or other experts, as needed.

If the VA determines that service connection is warranted, it will assign a disability rating to the veteran's disability, which reflects the severity of the disability and the impact it has on the veteran's ability to work and function. The disability rating is used to determine the amount of monthly disability compensation the veteran will receive.