If you’re a veteran frequently waking up multiple times during the night to urinate, you may be experiencing nocturia—a frustrating condition that can severely impact your quality of life. What many veterans don’t realize is that nocturia can be part of a VA disability claim, either as a primary condition or a secondary one linked to another service-connected issue.
In this blog, we’ll explore what nocturia is, what causes it, how the VA views it, and how you might be able to claim disability compensation if it’s affecting your daily life.
What Is Nocturia?
Nocturia is the medical term for waking up one or more times during the night to urinate. While it can happen occasionally due to drinking fluids late in the day, chronic nocturia is usually a sign of an underlying condition.
Veterans experiencing nocturia may report:
Waking multiple times per night to urinate
Disrupted sleep cycles
Daytime fatigue and brain fog
Difficulty functioning due to poor rest
In short, nocturia isn’t just an inconvenience—it can interfere with your ability to work, concentrate, and maintain a healthy routine.
Causes of Nocturia in Veterans
Nocturia can result from a variety of conditions, many of which are either service-connected or commonly found among veterans, including:
Diabetes mellitus
Prostate conditions (enlarged prostate/BPH)
Sleep apnea
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Kidney disorders
Urinary tract infections
Neurological conditions (e.g., spinal cord injuries)
Many of these root causes are either directly connected to military service or may qualify as secondary conditions.
Can You File a VA Claim for Nocturia?
Yes, you can claim nocturia, but there’s a catch: the VA does not have a specific diagnostic code for nocturia.
Instead, nocturia is generally considered under the broader umbrella of urinary conditions, such as:
Voiding dysfunction
Urinary frequency
Urinary incontinence
Neurogenic bladder
To be eligible, your nocturia must be tied to either a service-connected condition or to military service itself. For example:
A veteran with PTSD may experience nocturia due to anxiety-driven overactivity of the bladder.
A veteran with diabetes might have polyuria (frequent urination), which manifests during the night.
Rating Schedule: How the VA Rates Nocturia
Although there’s no diagnostic code called “nocturia,” the VA evaluates it under 38 CFR § 4.115a – Ratings of the Genitourinary System.
Here’s a breakdown of how the VA evaluates urinary frequency, often used to rate nocturia:
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 40% | Awakened to void five or more times per night |
| 20% | Awakened to void three to four times per night |
| 10% | Awakened to void two times per night |
📝 Important: The higher the frequency, the higher the rating. It’s crucial to document how often you’re awakened and how it affects your daily functioning.
Evidence You’ll Need
To support your nocturia claim, you’ll want to present both medical and lay evidence. Here’s what works best:
Medical Records:
Diagnosis or symptoms noted by your urologist, primary care physician, or VA doctor.
References to frequent nighttime urination in your VA medical records.
Documentation of a related service-connected condition (e.g., diabetes, PTSD).
Lay Statements:
Your own statement describing how often you wake to urinate and how it affects your life.
Spouse or partner statement confirming your sleep disturbances and exhaustion.
Details about sleep deprivation and its impact on your job, relationships, or mood.
How to File a Claim for Nocturia
Determine the route: Decide if nocturia is a primary condition or a secondary condition tied to another disability.
Gather medical evidence: This includes diagnosis, treatment history, and proof of related conditions.
Submit your claim: Use VA.gov to file the claim or work through a VSO (Veterans Service Organization).
Attend your C&P exam: Be honest and specific about your symptoms, especially how many times you wake up at night and the impact on your sleep.
💡 Tip: Keep a sleep journal documenting nighttime urination patterns. It can be valuable evidence during the claims process.
Can Nocturia Be Claimed as a Secondary Condition?
Absolutely. In fact, many veterans are more successful claiming nocturia as secondary to another condition.
Some common secondary claims involving nocturia include:
Sleep apnea → nocturia: Sleep apnea is known to increase nighttime urination. If you have service-connected sleep apnea, you may be able to link nocturia to it.
PTSD → nocturia: Anxiety and hypervigilance often contribute to poor sleep hygiene and increased urination at night.
Diabetes → nocturia: One of the hallmark symptoms of diabetes is frequent urination, especially at night.
Make sure your provider writes a nexus letter stating that it is “at least as likely as not” that your nocturia is connected to your existing service-connected condition.
Real-World Example
Case Study:
Sgt. James, a Gulf War veteran, suffered from PTSD and was rated at 50%. Though he mentioned chronic fatigue, he hadn’t linked it to his frequent nighttime urination. Once his doctor identified nocturia and associated it with his PTSD-induced anxiety and poor sleep quality, James filed a secondary claim for urinary frequency.
Result: He was awarded 20% for voiding three to four times a night, increasing his combined rating.
FAQs: Quick Answers About Nocturia and VA Claims
Is nocturia a standalone condition for a VA claim?
It can be, but it’s more often rated under urinary frequency or voiding dysfunction.
Can I claim nocturia if I’m already rated for sleep apnea?
Yes—especially if the symptoms align. You may qualify for a secondary rating.
What if my C&P examiner downplays my symptoms?
Your lay statements, sleep logs, and buddy letters become even more critical. Don’t underestimate your own voice.
Final Thoughts: Don’t Ignore Nocturia in Your Disability Claim
Waking up several times a night to urinate isn’t just an annoyance—it’s a condition that affects your sleep, energy, and overall health. If nocturia is a regular part of your life and linked to your service or another VA-rated condition, you deserve compensation.
Whether you’re filing a primary claim or linking it as a secondary condition, nocturia can—and often should—be part of your disability strategy.
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