“Did you know that the medicine you take for a service-connected disability could qualify you for additional VA benefits?
“Many veterans need prescription medications to manage their health conditions. While these medications can be life-changing, they can also come with serious side effects. If those side effects become chronic and lead to more health problems, you may qualify for additional VA compensation, usually through a secondary service connection.
“My name is Melissa Rapolla [née Alexander], and I’m a VA disability attorney with Woods & Woods. In this video, I’m going to talk about some of the medications most commonly associated with VA disability claims, how to qualify for additional benefits for side effects, and what to keep in mind if you’re considering filing a claim.”
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How to service connect medication side effects
“There are two ways medication side effects can qualify you for VA benefits, but the most common way is through secondary service connection. Veterans can get secondary service connection for any condition caused by an existing service-connected disability.
“In other words, you might qualify for secondary benefits if you’re taking medication for a service-connected condition and side effects from that medication cause a new health problem.
“Here’s one example: If you’re taking medicine like ibuprofen for your service-connected arthritis, and this leads to stomach ulcers, you may qualify for VA disability for your ulcers.
“Another example is taking anti-depressants for your PTSD and then developing sexual dysfunction. You could be owed secondary VA benefits for erectile dysfunction or a similar condition.
“You may also be able to service connect medication side effects through a direct service connection, but it’s much less common.
“A direct service connection would apply if you were taking a medication prescribed to you during military service that ended up causing a long-term health problem.
“One well-known example of this is mefloquine, which is an anti-malarial medication many Gulf War veterans were required to take. It’s been linked to lasting neurological and mental health symptoms in some veterans.
“While direct service connection for side effects is possible, it’s much less likely. So today I’m going to focus on medication side effects that may be service connected on a secondary basis.”
Common medication side effects
“Every medication carries risk, but some can be more serious than others. Some of the medication side effects we see most commonly here at the firm are related to things like immunosuppressants and antidepressants.
“Immunosuppressants work by doing exactly what their name implies: they suppress your immune system. So even though they might be effective at treating autoimmune disease, they can also increase your risk of certain complications related to your weakened immune system.
“Taking these drugs sometimes leads to serious infections, high blood pressure, diabetes, and other issues.
“Similarly, antidepressants can be effective for our veterans with mental health concerns, but they can also cause disabling side effects.
“Lots of veterans with service-connected conditions like PTSD take anti-depressants to help manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life.
“For many, the life-changing or even life-saving benefits are worth the potential risks. But it’s important to know that there are veterans who experience adverse effects from these drugs, like headaches, dizziness, and sexual dysfunction.
“If this happens to you, you may have a case for a secondary service connection.”
“This list of medications and their side effects isn’t exhaustive. We’ve talked to other veterans taking other prescription and non-prescription medications that cause chronic headaches, stomach issues, liver and kidney damage, and a number of other problems.
“Many of them have been eligible for secondary service connections, and it’s important for veterans to know this is possible.”
Service connection by aggravation for medication side effects
“We’ve discussed different medications that may lead to new symptoms or conditions. But what about when veterans take medication to treat one service-connected health problem, and it ends up worsening another one?
“Let’s say you have service-connected type two diabetes and mild kidney disease, and your doctor prescribes you medicine to manage your diabetes. Over time, you notice your kidney disease is worsening, and you figure out it’s because of your diabetes treatment.
“This could be a case for what’s called service connection by aggravation. The VA considers a disability to be aggravated if your military service or another direct or secondary service-connected condition worsens a different health issue or even a preexisting disability you had before enlisting.”
Medication side effects and Special Monthly Compensation (SMC)
“I also want to mention a little bit about how medication side effects could qualify you for Special Monthly Compensation, or SMC.
“SMC is a type of disability compensation designed for certain conditions that are more severe than the Schedule of Ratings accounts for, as well as certain combinations of disabilities that create extra difficulty for veterans.
“There are several types of SMC, but the example I’m going to use is SMC-K. As I mentioned before, one common side effect of certain antidepressants is sexual dysfunction.
“So, if you’re taking an antidepressant for a service-connected mental health condition and it causes erectile dysfunction, you may qualify for SMC-K. SMC-K is available to veterans with specific needs, including those who have lost or lost the use of a reproductive organ due to a condition like ED.
“This is just one example of how medication side effects could qualify you for SMC, and it’s one my team sees a lot, but there are other ways to qualify.
“If you want to learn more about SMC, check out our video or blog post on it.”
Filing a VA claim for medication side effects
“If you think a medication you’re taking for a service-connected condition is causing a new condition or worsening a preexisting one, the first thing you should do is talk to your doctor. You can see if they believe there’s a connection. Also, keep in mind you should never stop taking a medication without talking to your doctor first.
“I’d also recommend that you document what you’re experiencing. Keep track of the medicine you’re taking, your symptoms and when they start it, how often they occur, and how severe they are.
“We recommend journaling to clients all the time at my firm. It’s easy to walk into the doctor’s office and start to forget these details when you’re put on the spot, so the more documentation you have, the easier it is for your doctor and ultimately the VA to connect your condition to the medication.”
I found Woods & Woods by accident. I reached out to them they treated me like I was the only client. They went over every single document and helped get missing documents. I was fighting the VA for over 15 years. In about 9 months Woods & Woods got their attention. I believe that with their help I saw amazing results in less than 2 years. Woods & Woods saved me. I tell other Veterans about them every chance I get, then I tell them my experience.
J.S., a veteran in Texas
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How Woods & Woods can help
“Medication side effects are often overlooked, but they can have a major impact on your health and quality of life. If you are prescribed medication for service-connected disability that has caused a new problem or worsened an existing one, you may be entitled to additional VA disability compensation.”
Call us today for your free, confidential case evaluation. You won’t pay us unless we win your claim.
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Melissa Alexander
Melissa is a National Guard veteran who deployed to Afghanistan in 2009 before later deciding to pursue a law degree. She joined our team in 2022.
