Service-connected conditions are health conditions that occur as a result of an injury or illness that happened during a veteran's time in military service. Some are more common than others – and many have an impact on weight gain, especially over long-term periods of time. In this blog, we'll go over common service-connected conditions that typically can affect weight gain, and also cover some general information on how medical conditions can lead to weight gain.
Here's what veterans need to know about how service-connected conditions can impact weight gain, plus what that means for a VA disability benefits claim:
How physical and mental health conditions can lead to weight gain
Both physical and mental health conditions can lead to weight gain for different reasons:
Stress hormones. When a veteran experiences an injury in service or develops a chronic condition as a result, stress hormones such as cortisol can spike – which has been proven to cause physiological changes in the body that can lead to weight gain.
Physical limitations. Injuries can limit a veteran's ability to maintain a healthy exercise routine. An injury can also cause altered body mechanics, leading to other aches and ailments within the body if it goes untreated. This can make the road to recovery difficult.
Increased caloric intake. Some mental health conditions, including substance use disorders (SUDs) can lead to increased caloric intake. Depression, anxiety, and traumatic experiences can all lead to binge eating which causes weight gain.
Common service-connected conditions that lead to weight gain
The following conditions and health areas are typically the service-connected conditions that we see causing the most weight gain for secondary service connection:
Orthopedic conditions. In our experience, orthopedic conditions are the number one example of service-connected conditions causing weight gain in veterans. Orthopedic conditions refer to the musculoskeletal system, which can include combat injuries.
Mental health conditions. Mental health conditions (such as depression, anxiety, PTSD) are often service-connected and can lead to weight gain due to heightened levels of stress hormones such as cortisol, along with overeating.
Certain medications can cause weight gain as well. Steroids like prednisone are what we commonly see causing weight gain in veterans who have service-connected connections.
Can I get VA disability benefits for weight gain due to a service-connected condition?
The VA does not view service-connected obesity as a condition, unfortunately. However, it's commonly used as an intermediate step that causes a new condition. If the service-connected condition led to obesity and then the development of a new condition, it can be considered service-connected.
Most treatment notes talk about recommendations for patients – however, it's not often that questions are asked about why the patient has trouble doing certain actions. Bring up these things to your doctor for better documentation of limitations due to your service-connected condition and secondary conditions, such as weight gain.
Medical documentation that makes a difference
Get a Nexus Letter, DBQ, or a chart review to fuel your VA disability benefits claim. Prove your condition to the VA and save time, money, and energy by working with us. We take care of the complicated paperwork so that you can file your claim with ease and confidence. Start now with a chart review or view our other services here.
