WingmanOpen the free toolsWingmanOpen the free toolsIf the VA already service-connected your restless legs syndrome (also called restless legs, restless leg, restless legs syndrome, restless leg syndrome), 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 restless legs syndrome commonly leads to, why, and what evidence each one takes.
A secondary claim only works if the primary condition (restless legs syndrome) 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 →
RLS symptoms peak at night and at rest, which is exactly when you are trying to fall asleep. Broken sleep is the most direct and best documented consequence. Worth knowing: there is no dedicated rating code for RLS, so the VA rates it by analogy under 38 CFR 4.20, most commonly to the convulsive tic code.
What you'd need: A sleep study or sleep clinic note, your own record of nightly symptoms and wakeups, and a statement from whoever shares your bed.
Years of fragmented sleep is a well-documented contributor to depression and anxiety. It also runs the other way, since several antidepressants are known to make RLS worse, so tell your provider about both.
What you'd need: A mental health diagnosis, your sleep history, and a provider opinion linking the mood symptoms to the chronic sleep disruption.