CRSC increase for a secondary condition?

[Mr. Adam]

Hello All,

I am currently working on getting a service-connected left shoulder injury I have to be deemed combat-related and eligible for CRSC. They have received my submission so I'm just waiting on their findings.

My right shoulder also has a service-connected rating. I believe my right shoulder condition is secondary to and was caused by the initial left shoulder injury and surgery. After the surgery on my left shoulder was performed I was left only being able to use my right and I believe the overuse led to the injury and eventual surgery (six months after the left shoulder surgery) on that shoulder. I know what I believe and what I can prove are two different things but I'm willing to do whatever necessary to ghet the determination I'm looking for.

So, my question is:

If I end up getting a combat-related finding on my left shoulder injury and receive CRSC for it, and if I can get the VA to find that my right shoulder injury was caused by the injury to the left, would the CRSC amount I receive increase because of the secondary condition attributed to it?

I thank you all in advance, this is a wonderful site with a lot of great people that help others.

 

[scoutCC]

I am fairly certain that CRSC will not automatically raise. If your left shoulder rating were to increase, VA would notify DFAS who should automatically raise your CRSC. A secondary rating does not raise the original rating and so will not trigger the automatic raise. The right shoulder, being a separate rated condition, will need a separate claim. I do not believe there is enough visibility into which claims are approved or disapproved for anyone to answer 100% definitively. Applying only costs a stamp.

Secondary service connection is not explicitly mentioned anywhere I can see. My reading of the definition of combat-related rules it out though. It seems to clearly spell out that it needs an A caused B scenario, making it so an A caused B caused C would need to also be spelled out to be allowed.

 

[Mr. Adam]

ScoutCC,

Great insight, thank you very much for your reply. Once I get through this issue I'll post my experience so that others can be informed.