A service-connected condition rated years ago rarely stays the same. Arthritis progresses, hearing declines further, PTSD symptoms intensify with age or stress, but most veterans never revisit that old rating, assuming the number VA assigned the first time is fixed for life. It isn't.
Filing for an increase is a specific process, separate from a first-time claim or an appeal of a denial, with its own evidence rules and its own timeline. Here's how it actually works.
Input
Name the condition that's changed
Naming it now makes the evidence checklist below easier to use.
How an Increased-Rating Claim Works
You file for an increase using the same VA Form 21-526EZ used for a first-time claim, but you're checking the box for an existing condition rather than a new one. You can file online through VA.gov, by mail, or with help from an accredited Veterans Service Officer, who can review the paperwork with you at no cost.
VA re-evaluates the condition against the same rating criteria used the first time, the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities, but looks at your current medical evidence to decide the new percentage. An old exam from years ago won't move the number. What changed since then is what matters.
If this is your first time dealing with VA's claims process at all, How to File Your First VA Disability Claim covers the basics this article builds on.
The Evidence VA Actually Wants
Recent medical records, dated within the past 12 months and documenting the current severity, are the strongest evidence you can submit. A statement from you describing specific new limits on daily activities or work fills in the gaps between exam dates, and a statement from a family member or friend who has watched the change happen can carry real weight too.
VA will likely schedule a Compensation and Pension exam to verify the current severity in person. Missing that exam without rescheduling can stall or even deny the claim, so treat the appointment as a required step, not an optional one.
Keep every call and document in one place once the claim is open. It's easy to lose track of who said what and when.
Keep proof of every benefits call and promised next step.
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Track offices, issues, promised next steps, and follow-up dates in one running log.
Checklist
Before you file
A few checks now save a rejected claim later.
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Checklist
Get this evidence ready
Current, specific evidence moves faster than a thick old file.
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Timeline
Work it in order
Check off each step as you complete it.
Submit Form 21-526EZ online and attach the evidence you already have.
Schedule or confirm your Compensation and Pension exam as soon as it's requested.
You have a year from the decision date to add new evidence or ask for a fresh review.
Save your evidence progress and next steps before you file.
What Happens After You File
VA doesn't publish a fixed timeline for increased-rating claims, but recent average processing times for claims like this have run several months. That wait is easier to manage if you're tracking the claim instead of wondering about it.
If the decision comes back with no increase, or a smaller one than the evidence supports, you have two review paths, not just the option to file again from scratch. A Higher-Level Review asks a senior reviewer to take a fresh look at the same evidence, while a Supplemental Claim lets you add new evidence VA hasn't seen yet. Both have to be filed within a year of the decision.
If your claim was denied outright rather than just underrated, What to Do After a VA Claim Denial and Veterans Appeal Timeline Template cover that path in detail.
Common questions
Can I ask VA to increase my disability rating?
Yes. If a service-connected condition has gotten worse since your last rating decision, you can file a claim for increased compensation using VA Form 21-526EZ, checking the box for an existing condition. VA re-evaluates the current severity against the same rating criteria used originally.
What evidence do I need for a VA rating increase claim?
The strongest evidence is medical records from the past 12 months documenting how the condition has changed, plus a written statement from you describing specific new limits on daily activities or work. A buddy or family statement describing the change adds weight, especially if it fills gaps between medical appointments.
Will I have to do another C&P exam for an increased rating?
Usually, yes. VA typically schedules a Compensation and Pension exam to verify the condition's current severity in person. Missing that exam without rescheduling can stall or deny the claim, so treat the notice as a required step.
What if VA denies my claim for an increased rating?
You have two review options within a year of the decision: a Higher-Level Review, where a senior reviewer looks at the same evidence again, or a Supplemental Claim, where you add new evidence VA hasn't seen. Neither requires starting the claim over from scratch.
