Step 1: File an Intent to File
Before gathering any documents, submit an Intent to File (ITF). This is one of the most important moves you can make because it locks in your effective date, which determines how far back your back pay goes.
You can file an ITF three ways:
- Online at VA.gov under the "File a Claim" section
- By calling 1-800-827-1000
- In person at a VA regional office
Once filed, you have 12 months to submit your completed claim. If your rating increases, back pay typically runs from the ITF date, not the date you submitted all your paperwork.
Step 2: Identify What to Claim
There are three main paths to a higher combined rating:
Increased Evaluation for an Existing Condition
If a service-connected condition has gotten worse, you can file a claim showing the current severity exceeds what your current rating reflects. The VA rating schedule defines what symptoms correspond to each percentage tier.
Secondary Service Connection
Many primary conditions cause or aggravate other conditions. These secondary conditions can be service-connected and added to your overall rating. Common examples:
- Chronic back pain secondary to a knee injury (altered gait)
- Depression or anxiety secondary to chronic pain
- Sleep apnea secondary to PTSD or obesity related to a service-connected condition
- GERD secondary to medications prescribed for a service-connected condition
- Hypertension secondary to PTSD or chronic pain
Even a single secondary condition rated at 10% or 20% can push your combined rating over a rounding threshold and increase your monthly payment.
Total Disability Individual Unemployability (TDIU)
If your service-connected conditions prevent you from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment, you may qualify for TDIU, which pays at the 100% rate even if your combined rating is lower. Generally you need at least one condition rated 60% or higher, or a combined rating of 70% with one condition at 40% or more.
Step 3: Gather the Right Evidence
The quality of evidence matters far more than the volume. The VA needs documentation that clearly ties increased severity to specific rating criteria.
Medical Records
Request all treatment records from VA facilities and private providers. Use VA Form 21-4142 to authorize the VA to obtain records from outside providers. What matters most in these records:
- Specific measurements (range of motion in degrees, not just "limited")
- Frequency and duration of flare-ups
- Days missed from work or activities
- Hospitalizations or emergency visits
- Side effects from medications
Nexus Letters
A nexus letter is a written opinion from a physician stating that a condition is at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by your service-connected disability. These carry significant weight, particularly for secondary conditions. The letter should include the doctor's credentials, a review of your history, and a clear rationale.
Buddy Statements
VA Form 21-10210 allows fellow veterans, family members, or coworkers to describe how your condition affects your daily life. These lay statements fill gaps in medical records, particularly for conditions that fluctuate or are not always visible during clinical appointments.
Functional Impact Statement
Write your own detailed statement describing how your condition affects your daily routine, work capacity, sleep, and relationships. Be specific about your worst days, not just average days.
Step 4: Submit VA Form 21-526EZ
VA Form 21-526EZ is the standard form for filing a claim for disability compensation or an increase. You can submit it:
- Online at VA.gov (fastest)
- By mail to your VA regional office
- In person at a VA regional office or with a Veterans Service Organization (VSO)
When submitting, attach all supporting evidence. Include a brief cover sheet listing what you are claiming and each document you are attaching.
Step 5: Prepare for the C&P Exam
After you file, the VA will likely schedule a Compensation and Pension (C&P) exam. This exam is conducted by a VA examiner or a contracted provider. It is used to assess current severity, not to provide treatment.
Tips for the C&P exam:
- Bring all relevant medical records even if you submitted them earlier
- Describe your symptoms on your worst days, not just how you feel that morning
- Do not minimize your symptoms or push through pain during range-of-motion testing
- Mention all symptoms, including sleep disruption, mental health effects, and medication side effects
- If you have a VSO or attorney, ask them to help you prepare
After the exam, request a copy of the Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ) that the examiner completed. If it contains errors or omits key symptoms, you can address those in a follow-up statement.
Understanding How the VA Calculates Combined Ratings
The VA does not simply add your individual ratings together. It uses a "whole person" formula.
Example with two conditions:
- 50% rating leaves you 50% "whole"
- A second condition rated 30% is applied to the remaining 50%, adding 15 percentage points
- Combined: 65%, rounded to 70%
This means individual ratings combine at diminishing returns. Adding conditions at lower percentages still matters, but the impact depends heavily on where the combined total lands relative to rounding thresholds (every 5 points, rounded to the nearest 10).
| Individual Ratings | Combined Before Rounding | Final Rating |
|---|
| 50% | 50% | 50% |
| 50% + 30% | 65% | 70% |
| 50% + 30% + 20% | 72% | 70% |
| 50% + 30% + 20% + 10% | 75% | 80% |
Use a VA combined ratings calculator to see how adding conditions changes your combined total before filing.
2026 VA Disability Monthly Compensation Rates
The 2026 COLA increase was 2.8%, effective December 1, 2025. Rates below are for veterans with no dependents.
| Rating | 2026 Monthly Rate (No Dependents) |
|---|
| 10% | $180.42 |
| 20% | $356.66 |
| 30% | $524.31 |
| 40% | $755.28 |
| 50% | $1,075.16 |
| 60% | $1,361.88 |
| 70% | $1,716.28 |
| 80% | $1,995.01 |
| 90% | $2,241.91 |
| 100% | $3,938.58 |
Veterans rated 30% or higher can receive additional monthly compensation for dependents (spouse, children, or dependent parents). The exact amount depends on your rating tier and the number of dependents.
What to Do if the VA Denies Your Increase
If the VA issues a decision that does not increase your rating, you have three review options:
Supplemental Claim
Submit new and relevant evidence that was not part of the original decision. This is the most common path. The VA's goal is to process supplemental claims within 125 days. Filing within one year of the prior decision can preserve your earlier effective date.
Higher-Level Review
Request that a more senior VA adjudicator review the same evidence without submitting anything new. This option works best if you believe the prior decision contained a clear error in applying the law or rating schedule. You must file within one year of the decision.
Board of Veterans' Appeals
Appeal directly to the BVA. You can choose a direct review, additional evidence submission, or an in-person hearing before a Veterans Law Judge. BVA appeals take longer but provide a full independent review of your case.
You are not limited to one path. Many veterans file a supplemental claim while simultaneously requesting a higher-level review, or move to the BVA after exhausting the other options.
Working with a VSO or VA Disability Attorney
Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) such as the DAV, VFW, American Legion, and others provide free claims assistance. A VSO representative can help you identify conditions to claim, gather evidence, and prepare your submission at no cost.
VA-accredited attorneys and claims agents can represent you for a fee, but under federal law they can only charge fees after a favorable decision. If you hire an attorney, they typically receive a percentage of back pay. No upfront fees are permitted.
For complex claims involving multiple conditions, secondary connections, or prior denials, professional representation often leads to stronger outcomes.
Conditions That Commonly Result in Higher Ratings
Some conditions are frequently underrated at initial claim stages and often warrant a higher evaluation on review:
- PTSD: Often initially rated 30-50%; many veterans qualify for 70% or 100% when full occupational and social impairment is documented
- Sleep apnea: Ratings of 50% apply when a CPAP machine is required; many claims are initially decided at 0%
- Tinnitus: Rated at 10% as a single condition, but can support secondary mental health claims
- Migraines: Prostrating attacks occurring more frequently than once per month support a 30% rating
- Lumbar or cervical spine: Range-of-motion measurements directly determine the rating; incomplete exams often lead to lower ratings
- Mental health conditions: Rated based on occupational and social functioning, which requires detailed documentation of real-world impacts
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a VA disability rating increase take?
Processing times vary by claim type. Supplemental claims have a VA processing goal of 125 days. Initial claims and BVA appeals typically take longer, sometimes 12 to 24 months at the appeals level. Filing online and submitting all evidence at once (a "fully developed claim") generally speeds up processing.
Can the VA lower my rating while reviewing an increase request?
Yes. When you file for an increase, the VA can re-evaluate all conditions, not just the ones you listed. In rare cases, a rating can be reduced if the VA determines your condition has improved. However, ratings in place for 5 or more years have additional protection against reduction, and ratings in place for 20 or more years are generally protected unless fraud was involved.
Does filing for an increase affect my current compensation?
No. Your current payments continue while the claim is pending. If the increase is granted, you receive back pay from the effective date (usually your ITF date). If the claim is denied, your current rating and payments are unchanged unless the VA also proposes a reduction.
What is a nexus letter and do I need one?
A nexus letter is a medical opinion connecting a condition to your service or to a service-connected disability. You need one when claiming secondary conditions or when the VA has previously denied a direct service connection. The letter should come from a licensed physician who has reviewed your medical history and can provide a clinical rationale.
Can I get a higher rating for conditions the VA already service-connected?
Yes. Filing for an increased evaluation for an existing service-connected condition is one of the most straightforward paths to a higher rating. You need to show the condition has worsened beyond what your current rating reflects, using current medical records and, if needed, a new C&P exam.
What is TDIU and how does it compare to a 100% rating?
TDIU (Total Disability Individual Unemployability) pays at the same monthly rate as a 100% schedular rating ($3,938.58 per month with no dependents in 2026). The key difference is that TDIU can be granted when your combined rating is below 100% if your disabilities prevent gainful employment. Some benefits available at a 100% schedular rating, such as Chapter 35 Dependents' Educational Assistance, may not be available with TDIU depending on the basis of the award.
How do I know what rating percentage my condition qualifies for?
The VA uses the Schedule for Rating Disabilities, a detailed federal regulation that defines the symptom thresholds for each percentage level for hundreds of conditions. Reviewing the diagnostic code for your specific condition tells you exactly what criteria correspond to each rating percentage, which helps you build evidence that meets the right threshold.
If you are unsure which benefits you currently qualify for, use the free Benefits Navigator screener at /screener to check eligibility across VA disability, SSI, SSDI, SNAP, Medicaid, and other programs in under five minutes.
