TL;DR
What You Need to Know
- Secondary service-connection is granted for certain cardiovascular conditions after lower limb amputation
- Qualifying amputations include 1 leg at/above the knee OR both legs at/above the ankles
- Covered conditions are coronary artery disease, heart disease, and hypertension
- Conditions must start AFTER the service-connected amputation to qualify
Medically speaking it is widely known that having amputations of your lower limbs will increase your risks of later developing other conditions later in life. In recognition of this; VA policy (M21 V.iii.5.1.f.) states that the rater is to grant Secondary service-connection for the following conditions assuming they started AFTER a service-connected amputation of 1 lower limb at or above the knee OR service-connected amputation of BOTH lower limbs at or above the ankles: