WingmanOpen the free toolsWingmanOpen the free toolsIf the VA already service-connected your bladder cancer (also called bladder cancer, cancer of the bladder, bladder tumor, bladder carcinoma), it can cause or worsen other conditions that are ratable on their own. These "secondary" claims are where many veterans leave money on the table. Below is what a service-connected bladder cancer commonly leads to, why, and what evidence each one takes.
A secondary claim only works if the primary condition (bladder cancer) is already service-connected, and you have a nexus — a doctor's opinion that it is "at least as likely as not" the cause. More on nexus letters →
The VA pays 100 percent while the cancer is being actively treated, then re-examines you six months after treatment stops. If there is no recurrence, the rating moves to your residuals, and for bladder cancer that is usually voiding dysfunction: frequency, urgency, leaking, or needing absorbent pads. Those residuals are the claim after treatment. Also worth knowing: bladder cancer was added to the Agent Orange presumptive list in January 2021 by 38 U.S.C. 1116(a)(2).
What you'd need: A voiding diary, urology notes, pad usage, and the results of the mandatory six-month post-treatment VA examination.
Surgery and radiation in the pelvis can damage the nerves and blood supply involved in erections. This is a recognized residual of bladder cancer treatment and it carries extra monthly pay.
What you'd need: A urology note documenting the dysfunction and its timing relative to your treatment, plus a nexus opinion tying it to the cancer treatment.
A cancer diagnosis, the treatment, and living with recurrence surveillance are recognized drivers of secondary depression and anxiety.
What you'd need: A mental health diagnosis and a provider opinion connecting it to the cancer diagnosis and treatment.