A system, apparatus, and method for providing secure loss recovery for packet loss due to bit errors and other non-congestion-related packet loss occurring over the communication link. An intermediary node in a network between a sending node and a receiving node identifies packet loss due to bit errors (PLB), or other non-congestion-based packet loss, over a network connection between the sending module and the network node. A loss notification signal is sent from the network node to the sending module in response to identification of the non-congestion-based packet loss. The PLB is verified at the sending module. A first loss recovery procedure is performed, different from a second loss recovery procedure associated with congestion-based packet loss, if the PLB is verified at the sending module.