Conditions the VA won't approve for service-connection: What veterans should know

Before you start gathering information and records to build a case for earning VA disability benefits, it's important to know which conditions are actually eligible for approval. There are certain types of conditions that the VA simply won't approve, no matter how many types of documentation you submit.

Veterans can save a lot of time, money, and frustration by getting informed ahead of time before starting their claim filing process – we see it over and over again.

In this blog, we'll review several types of conditions and procedures that cannot ever be eligible for service-connection by the VA.

Here's what veterans should know about conditions that aren't eligible for service-connection:

Elective procedures

Elective procedures are non-emergency medical procedures that may improve quality of life, but are not medically necessary to save someone's life. Cosmetic procedures, such as certain types of breast reductions, are included in this category.

Other types of elective procedures include:

• Cosmetic breast reductions

• Laser eye surgery

• Kidney donations

• Vasectomies

According to the VA's M21-1, however: "Unusual or unanticipated outcomes resulting in an actually disabling condition that arise as a result of an in-service elective procedure may be subject to SC."

Subclinical conditions

Subclinical conditions refer to conditions that do not have any current diagnosed symptoms or functional impairment. So, while there might be some indication of them through medical testing, they are not yet clinically apparent. It's possible that as the condition progresses, it may become clinically apparent (cause symptoms and impairment).

Examples of subclinical conditions include pre-diabetes and pre-hypertension – basically, conditions that might make doctors say "if you keep this up, you will develop this". Doctors watch these medical metrics, but won't necessarily prescribe a medication yet since the clinical criteria have not yet been met fully for the condition.

Abnormal laboratory findings

The VA states that abnormal laboratory results, even if they become a diagnosis, are not disabilities that are eligible for VA disability benefits. Examples of these abnormal lab findings could include: elevated blood sugar, hyperlipidemia, elevated triglycerides, or elevated cholesterol.

So, you can't submit a claim just because your lab results show an abnormal element – but you can use the information as supporting evidence for a condition that is actually service-connectable. 

One example of this is with diabetes: while "elevated blood sugar" isn't service-connectable, diabetes is. In the VA's words: "Development could substantiate that elevated blood sugar readings in service represented the onset of diabetes first diagnosed after service or that diabetes may have been diagnosed in a presumptive period."

Obesity

The VA does not grant service-connection for obesity on its own, but it's possible that obesity can be considered a contributing factor for another service-connected condition. So, obesity can be used as an intermediate step in a secondary claim.

Learn more about the difference between direct service-connected and secondary service-connected conditions here.

Are you preparing a VA claim for a service-connectable condition?

We're here to support your claim with expert crafted medical documentation. With your medical story and our expertise, we'll set up your claim for success. We help veterans prove their conditions to the VA through Nexus Letters, DBQs, and other additional services to boost your claim.

Ready to begin? Start by signing up for a Medical Evidence Assessment (every veteran starts here). You can also view other services here.