How to Increase Your VA Disability Rating?

Securing the right VA disability rating can change the quality of your life as a veteran. If your service-connected condition has worsened, if your original decision missed important evidence, or if secondary symptoms have developed over time, you may be entitled to a higher percentage—and the additional monthly compensation and benefits that come with it. This guide explains how to increase your VA disability rating, when it makes sense to file, what evidence to include, how the VA evaluates increases, and who can help you present the strongest possible case.

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Should I Have a Higher VA Disability Rating?

Ask yourself a few clear, practical questions:

• Have your symptoms become more frequent, more intense, or longer-lasting since the VA last evaluated you?
  
• Are you experiencing new limitations at work, school, or home (missed shifts, strained relationships, reduced social activities, new safety concerns)?
  
• Did your original claim lack medical evidence that you now have (diagnostic testing, specialist notes, therapy records)?
  
• Have secondary conditions emerged (e.g., depression tied to chronic pain; anxiety tied to a service-connected injury)?
  

If you answered “yes” to any of the above, it’s reasonable to ask whether your current percentage actually reflects your functional impairment today. Increasing your rating is not about chasing a number—it’s about aligning your benefits with your lived reality.

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When Can I Increase VA Disability Rating?

You can request an increase any time your service-connected condition worsens or was underrated. Common scenarios include:

• Progression of a chronic condition (e.g., worsening PTSD symptoms; increased severity of migraines; reduced range of motion due to arthritis).
  
• Post-decision deterioration (you initially managed symptoms, but they have escalated).
  
• New, material evidence (specialist reports, updated diagnostics, long-term therapy notes).
  
• Secondary conditions that developed due to a primary service-connected disability.
  

There’s no mandatory waiting period. If your situation changes, you can—and should—ask the VA to re-evaluate your rating.

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Can the VA Automatically Increase Disability Rating?

No. The VA may request a reevaluation of a condition on a future date and increase a rating based on clear evidence in your records. More commonly, you must initiate the request and supply the documentation that shows a measurable worsening since your last decision.

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How to File to Increase Your VA Disability Rating?

Follow a straightforward sequence and keep your documentation tight:

1) Decide Your Path

Most veterans file a claim for increase (for the same condition) with new or updated evidence. If you think the prior decision was wrong based on the record at the time, you may consider review or appeal paths; otherwise, file for an increase with fresh evidence.

2) Assemble Medical Evidence

Your file should demonstrate what changed since the last rating. Include:

• Updated VA and private treatment records
  
• Specialist evaluations (psychology, psychiatry, neurology, orthopedics, etc.)
  
• Therapy notes showing duration, frequency, and response to treatment
  
• Diagnostic tests (imaging, labs, sleep studies)
  
• Medication changes and side-effects
  
• Lay statements (you, family, coworkers) describing day-to-day impact
  

3) Add a VA-Aligned Medical Opinion (Optional but Powerful)

An independent medical opinion (IMO) can clarify severity, functional impairment, and service connection (especially if secondary issues emerged). IMOs written in VA-recognized language (“at least as likely as not,” impairment tied to occupational and social functioning) help raters map your symptoms to the appropriate percentage.

A detailed, VA-aligned Independent Medical Opinion can significantly strengthen a request for a higher rating.

4) File Your Claim

Submit your request for increased benefits and upload your evidence through VA.gov or via mail. Be explicit about which conditions have worsened and why.

The VA allows you to file for increased disability compensation when a service-connected condition has gotten worse or when you have been rated incorrectly.

5) Prepare for the C&P Exam

If scheduled, the Compensation & Pension exam is pivotal. Bring concise notes so you can communicate (we suggest a one-page summary):

• Frequency, duration, and severity of symptoms (e.g., panic attacks three times per week lasting 20–30 minutes). Describe how often symptoms happen, how long they last, and what it looks like for you when those symptoms are presentt (e.g., depression that is so severe that you can’t get out of bed to shower).
  
• Functional impact (missed shifts, reprimands, reduced reliability, unsafe situations, inability to maintain effective relationships). It’s important to explain bad days and flare-ups, not just “average” days.
  
• Fluctuations and triggers (worse in crowds, at night, under stress). If your condition varies, say so—raters need the full picture, not a single snapshot.
  
• Treatment history (therapy frequency, meds, side effects, partial or poor response).
  
• Safety concerns (ideation, hypervigilance, self-neglect, impaired judgment).
  

Answer honestly and specifically. Don’t minimize; don’t guess. If you don’t know, say so. If the exam feels incomplete (too brief, key symptoms not addressed), write down specifics after the exam while they’re fresh. These notes can support a rebuttal or be referenced in an IMO.

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Evidence That Moves the Needle

Think in terms of rating criteria and functional impact:

• For mental health: the VA looks at occupational and social impairment—reduced reliability, difficulty adapting to work, impaired judgment, inability to maintain relationships, and more.
  
• For musculoskeletal: objective limits (range of motion), evidence of flare-ups, weakness, instability, and how pain and fatigue affect repetitive use.
  
• For neurological: frequency/severity of migraines or seizures; sensory loss; motor deficits; impact on employment and daily activities.
  

Include concrete examples: “I forget steps of multi-stage tasks and need reminders,” “I avoid stores due to panic,” “I miss two days a week from pain flare-ups,” “My spouse now manages finances due to memory issues,” etc.

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Secondary Conditions: Don’t Leave Benefits on the Table

If your primary service-connected disability causes another condition (e.g., chronic pain leading to depression; TBI leading to anxiety and insomnia; orthopedic injury causing altered gait and hip problems), you can seek a rating for the secondary condition. The key is a clear medical rationale linking the two.

Secondary mental health conditions (e.g., depression due to chronic pain) are compensable when properly documented and linked to a service-connected disability.

When filing for an increase, submit evidence for the secondary condition as well—diagnosis, symptom history, impact on functioning, and a medical opinion explaining the causal chain.

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What Happens After Filing for a VA Disability Rating Increase?

Expect a familiar rhythm:

1. Evidence Review: The VA reviews your uploads and prior records.
   
2. C&P Exam: Often required to confirm current severity.
   
3. Decision: Increase granted, continued at same level, or—less commonly—proposed reduction if the VA believes you improved (see “Protecting Against Reductions” below).
   
4. Effective Date/Back Pay: If increased, the effective date is usually the date you filed the increase request, generating retroactive benefits from that date forward.
   

If the VA denies your increase, don’t assume the story ends there. Review the reasons for denial and decide your next step: Supplemental Claim (with new and relevant evidence), Higher-Level Review (argue the evidence was misapplied), or Board Appeal (choose direct, evidence, or hearing lanes).

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Common Mistakes that Hurt Increase Requests

• Vague symptom descriptions (“bad days,” “worse lately”) instead of specifics (frequency, duration, triggers, impact).
  
• Relying solely on checkboxes without narrative clinical rationale tying symptoms to VA rating language.
  
• Skipping lay statements, which add credible, real-world context.
  
• No longitudinal picture—the file lacks a timeline that shows progression since the last rating.
  
• No secondary claims filed, even when symptoms clearly stem from a primary disability.
  
• Going it alone without expert help when the record is thin or complex.

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Protecting Against Reductions During Re-Evaluation

Most requests for increase are straightforward, but be aware: if the VA believes your condition improved, they can propose a reduction. If you receive a proposed reduction letter, act quickly:

• You typically have 60 days to submit evidence and 30 days to request a hearing.
  
• Submit updated medical records and, if needed, an IMO that rebuts the examiner’s conclusions and documents ongoing functional impairment.
  
• Show consistency across your therapy notes, medication history, and daily-life impact.
  

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Who Can Help with Filing a VA Rating Increase?

You have a few strong options:

• Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) (DAV, VFW, American Legion): free assistance with forms and strategy.
  
• Accredited attorneys/agents: helpful for complex appeals..
  
• Independent medical experts: IMOs and nexus letters that translate your experiences into VA-ready, evidence-based documentation.
  

VMHA provides VA-aligned independent medical opinions that withstand scrutiny by emphasizing accuracy, transparency, and quality assurance, using in-house, licensed providers (not contractor networks). 

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A Practical Checklist You Can Use Today

❏ List what has changed since the last rating (symptoms, frequency, impact).

❏ Gather updated medical records (VA and private).

❏ Ask treating clinicians for function-focused notes (missed work, reduced reliability, impaired judgment, safety concerns).

❏ Consider an IMO that maps symptoms to VA rating language and addresses secondary conditions.

❏ File the request for an increase with clear condition-by-condition reasoning.

❏ Prepare for the C&P with a one-page summary; describe bad days, not just good ones.

❏ If denied or underrated, choose your next step (Supplemental Claim with new evidence, Higher-Level Review, or Board Appeal).

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Final Thoughts

A higher VA disability rating isn’t about a number—it’s about aligning your benefits with the true impact of your service-connected conditions. If your symptoms have intensified, if the original decision missed key evidence, or if secondary conditions emerged, you have a credible path to request an increase. Anchor your request in clear documentation, communicate your functional limitations with specificity, and consider a VA-aligned independent medical opinion when the record needs depth.

A detailed, VA-aligned Independent Medical Opinion can significantly strengthen a request for a higher rating.

The VA allows you to file for increased disability compensation when a service-connected condition has gotten worse or when you were rated incorrectly.

Secondary mental health conditions (e.g., depression due to chronic pain) are compensable when properly documented and linked to a service-connected disability.

If you’re ready to move forward, organize your records, decide your path, and submit a focused, well-evidenced request for an increase. If you need help presenting your case with clinical clarity and VA-specific language, VMHA’s in-house providers can support you with comprehensive evaluations and independent medical opinions that meet VA standards.

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📩 Email us at info@vmhaforvets.com or call 214-307-2198.

You may also be interested in:

How To File A Strong VA Claim For PTSD And Improve Your Rating

Medical Nexus Letter and Comprehensive IMO: How to Win Your VA Disability Claim

Understanding The VA Nexus Letter For Mental Health Claims

VA Disability for PTSD: Your Guide to Filing a Successful Claim

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