1 Year Grace Period And Aggregation Of Issues

[bfd2100red]

I was under the assumption that I had 1 year from my separation from active duty to "associate" a medical condition with my service. So, if I have symptoms, but I'm not diagnosed with medical issue X until 6 months or 11 month after leaving active duty, isn't that the same as having been "caused by and/or made worse due to my service?

2nd question; If I have been service connected for 9 separate conditions and take 12 different medications with various side effects, isn't there a law where the VA can't deny you service connection when there is a possibility that your 9+ conditions/medications are causing a 10th or 11th possible condition?

Thanks, Nick

[georgiapapa]

If you want the effective date of your VA disability claim to be retroactive back to the date of your discharge, you must file your claim within 12 months after your discharge. You can still file disability claims after the 12 month but the effective date of the claim will be the actual date of filing.

I may be wrong, but it is my understanding that if you are diagnosed with a ratable medical condition within 12 months after your discharge, it should be service connected as caused by or aggravated by your military services depending on the info in your military entrance exam.

In response to your second question, I would say if your current service connected medical condition or your VA prescribed medications for those conditions cause additional medical conditions, the new conditions should be service connected. JMO