Hyperlipidemia, commonly known as high cholesterol, is a medical condition defined by abnormally high levels of lipids, or fats, in the bloodstream. These lipids include low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and triglycerides, and their excessive accumulation is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Veterans often seek to understand if this diagnosis qualifies for disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) due to its long-term health implications. Eligibility for VA benefits is determined by the condition’s connection to military service and its role in causing more severe health issues.
Establishing Service Connection
The first step for any VA claim is establishing a service connection, or nexus, which legally links a current health condition to military service. Without this established relationship, a claim cannot be approved. The nexus is a medical opinion stating the veteran’s current condition is “at least as likely as not” due to their time in service.
There are three primary avenues for establishing this link. Direct Service Connection requires evidence of an in-service event, injury, or diagnosis, followed by continuous symptoms or a medical opinion linking the current condition directly to that event. Service Aggravation applies when a pre-existing condition was permanently worsened beyond its natural progression by active duty.
A third path, often more viable for high cholesterol, is the Presumptive Service Connection. This bypasses the need for an in-service event by linking the condition to specific military exposures. Although hyperlipidemia is generally not on any presumptive list, many associated conditions, such as Ischemic Heart Disease and Type 2 Diabetes, are presumptive for veterans exposed to Agent Orange. Establishing a service connection for one of these presumptive conditions allows the veteran to claim hyperlipidemia or its complications on a secondary basis.
Direct VA Rating for Hyperlipidemia
Many veterans are surprised that the VA does not provide a direct disability rating for high cholesterol alone. It is categorized as a laboratory finding, not a functional disability. VA regulations consider diagnoses of elevated cholesterol and triglycerides as test results that do not inherently impair a person’s earning capacity. This policy means a veteran with an isolated diagnosis of hyperlipidemia, even if severe, cannot receive a percentage rating.
This regulatory stance often causes confusion, as conditions frequently co-occurring with high cholesterol, like Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, are ratable. Diabetes is rated under Diagnostic Code 7913 based on management requirements and the severity of resulting complications. The distinction is that high cholesterol does not meet the legal definition of a disability for compensation purposes. Therefore, veterans must shift their focus from the blood test result to the physical damage the high cholesterol has caused.
Secondary Compensable Conditions
The most successful and financially significant path for veterans dealing with high cholesterol is to file a claim for Secondary Compensable Conditions. A secondary connection means a current, non-service-connected disability was caused or aggravated by a condition that is already service-connected. High cholesterol acts as a bridge to connect these severe, ratable conditions back to military service.
Uncontrolled hyperlipidemia contributes directly to the formation of atherosclerotic plaques, which narrow arteries throughout the body. This process leads to several highly compensable secondary conditions.
Common Secondary Conditions
Uncontrolled hyperlipidemia can lead to Coronary Artery Disease (CAD), which may result in a heart attack. Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) is another common condition, where plaque buildup occurs in the extremities, causing pain and circulatory issues in the legs. If plaques break off and travel to the brain, they can cause a stroke or Transient Ischemic Attacks (TIAs), which are rated under neurological diagnostic codes.
To succeed with a secondary claim, a veteran must provide medical evidence, typically a doctor’s opinion. This evidence must clearly link the service-connected primary condition to the development of hyperlipidemia, and also link the hyperlipidemia to the resulting secondary condition. For example, if required medications for a service-connected mental health condition caused hyperlipidemia, any resulting stroke could be claimed as secondary. This strategy allows the VA to rate the severe, functionally disabling result of the high cholesterol.