How to Increase Your VA Disability Rating When Your Condition Worsens
Living with a service-connected disability can feel overwhelming, especially if your condition is getting worse. You may be struggling with increased pain, new limitations, or financial strain as your condition impacts your ability to work and care for yourself.
If your service-connected condition has gotten worse since your initial Veterans’ Affairs disability rating, you have the right to request an increased rating to reflect the current severity of your disability. Veterans can file for an increase by submitting a claim with updated medical evidence showing how their condition has worsened, which may result in higher monthly compensation.
Our firm handles VA disability cases at no out-of-pocket cost to Veterans, so you can pursue the benefits you’ve earned without financial risk. Call us today at 866-951-0466 or contact us online to learn how we can help you.
What Is a VA Disability Rating Increase?
A VA disability rating increase is a formal request to raise your current disability rating percentage based on worsening symptoms or increased functional limitations. The Department of Veterans Affairs assigns disability ratings from 0% to 100% in 10% increments, with higher ratings corresponding to more severe disabilities and higher monthly compensation.
When you initially received your rating, it reflected your condition at that specific time. However, many service-connected disabilities are progressive or fluctuate over time. Many conditions worsen as Veterans age, creating legitimate grounds for requesting a rating increase.
Why Would You Need to Increase Your Rating?
Veterans seek rating increases for several important reasons:
Your condition has deteriorated. Physical and mental health conditions often progress over time. What began as manageable pain may now severely limit your mobility. Mild anxiety symptoms may have developed into debilitating panic attacks that prevent you from working.
You’re experiencing new symptoms. Your service-connected condition may have produced secondary effects that weren’t present initially. For example, a knee injury might now cause chronic back problems due to compensating for limited mobility.
Your initial rating was too low. Sometimes, veterans receive ratings that don’t fully capture the severity of their disabilities. As you better understand the rating criteria or as symptoms become more apparent, you may realize your current rating undervalues your actual impairment.
Financial necessity. Higher ratings mean increased monthly compensation, which can be critical for covering medical expenses, supporting your family, or compensating for reduced earning capacity.
According to the Congressional Research Service, nearly seven million Veterans currently receive VA disability compensation, with average monthly payments ranging from approximately $165 for a 10% rating to over $3,700 for a 100% rating (as of 2024 rates).
How Do I Know If My Condition Has Worsened Enough?
The VA uses specific rating criteria outlined in the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD). Each condition has detailed descriptions of symptoms and limitations that correspond to different rating percentages.
To determine whether your worsening condition warrants a higher rating, you should:
- Review your current rating decision letter. This document explains which symptoms and limitations the VA considered when assigning your current rating.
- Examine the rating criteria for your condition. The VASRD provides detailed benchmarks for each rating level. Compare your current symptoms against the criteria for the next rating tier.
- Document how your daily life has changed. Can you no longer perform activities you could do before? Have you required additional medical treatments or medications? Has your condition forced you to reduce work hours or stop working entirely?
- Gather input from medical professionals. Physicians can provide objective assessments of how your condition has progressed and how it impacts your functional capacity.
If you’re experiencing worse symptoms, new limitations, or increased frequency of flare-ups compared to when you received your current rating, you likely have grounds for an increase.
What Evidence Do I Need to Request an Increase?
Strong medical evidence is the foundation of a successful claim for increased benefits. The VA will only grant an increase if the evidence demonstrates a measurable worsening of your condition.
Medical Records and Documentation
You’ll need current medical evidence that includes:
- Recent treatment records showing ongoing care for your condition
- Updated diagnostic test results, such as imaging studies, range-of-motion measurements, or psychological assessments
- Physician statements describing your current symptoms, limitations, and how they’ve changed
- Hospitalization records if your condition required emergency or inpatient care
- Medication lists showing new prescriptions or increased dosages, indicating worsening symptoms
Personal Statements and Daily Impact
Your own experiences matter a lot and count for a lot. A detailed personal statement should explain:
- Specific examples of activities you can no longer perform
- How your condition affects your employment or employability
- The frequency and severity of flare-ups or episodes
- How your condition impacts your relationships and social life
- Any adaptive equipment or assistance you now require
Statements from Family and Friends
People who know you well can provide valuable testimony about changes they’ve observed in your functioning. Statements from spouses, family members, or close friends can also corroborate your account of how your condition has worsened.
Letters from Medical Professionals
In some cases, a detailed medical opinion—often called a nexus letter—can be crucial. This is particularly important when claiming secondary conditions caused by your service-connected disability. A physician can explain the medical relationship between your worsening primary condition and any new symptoms or disabilities.
How Do I File a Claim for an Increase?
Filing for an increased rating involves several steps:
Step 1: Complete VA Form 21-526EZ
This is the standard form for disability compensation claims. You’ll indicate that you’re seeking an increase for an already service-connected condition. You can file this form online through VA.gov, by mail, or in person at a VA regional office.
Step 2: Provide Medical Evidence
Submit all relevant medical records, statements, and documentation that support your claim. You can upload these documents electronically through the VA’s online portal or mail them to your regional office.
Step 3: Attend a C&P Examination if Required
The VA will likely schedule you for a Compensation and Pension (C&P) examination. A VA healthcare provider or contracted examiner will assess your current condition. This examination is critical—the examiner’s findings will heavily influence the VA’s decision.
To prepare for your C&P exam:
- Bring copies of your medical records and a list of current medications
- Be honest and thorough when describing your symptoms and limitations
- Don’t minimize your difficulties or try to appear more capable than you are
- Describe your condition on a typical bad day, not your best day
- Explain how your condition affects specific aspects of daily life
Step 4: Wait for the VA’s Decision
The VA will review all evidence and issue a rating decision. Processing times vary significantly by region and claim complexity, but many claims take several months to over a year.
What Happens If My Increase Request Is Denied?
If the VA denies your claim for an increase or grants a lower increase than you believe you deserve, you have options:
File a Supplemental Claim. You can submit new and relevant evidence that wasn’t part of your original claim. This is often the fastest route if you have additional medical documentation.
Request a Higher-Level Review. A senior VA reviewer will examine your case, though they won’t consider new evidence. They’ll determine whether the original decision was made in error based on the existing record.
Appeal to the Board of Veterans’ Appeals. You can request a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge. This is a more formal process, but it provides an opportunity to present your case directly.
Put simply, a denial doesn’t end your options; it just means you need to pursue the next step in the process.
Can I Work with an Attorney to Help with My Claim?
Yes, and in many cases, working with an experienced Veterans’ disability attorney significantly improves your chances of success. Attorneys who specialize in VA disability law understand the complex regulations, rating criteria, and appeal processes.
Importantly, VA disability cases are typically handled at no out-of-pocket cost to clients. Under federal law, attorneys can only charge fees from past-due benefits if your claim is successful, and these fees are capped at 33.33% of retroactive compensation. You never pay anything up front, and if your claim is unsuccessful, you owe nothing.
An attorney can help you by:
- Reviewing your current rating and identifying potential grounds for an increase
- Gathering and organizing medical evidence
- Obtaining strong nexus letters from qualified medical experts
- Preparing you for C&P examinations
- Representing you in appeals if your initial claim is denied
- Ensuring deadlines are met and procedures are followed correctly
You served and sacrificed for your nation, and your service-connected disability rating should accurately reflect your current condition. If you’re experiencing worsening symptoms or increased limitations, you deserve compensation that matches the true impact on your life.
We are here to help you navigate the VA disability claims process at no out-of-pocket cost to you. Call us today at 866-951-0466 or contact us online for a free consultation to discuss your case and explore your options for securing the increased rating you deserve.
