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This tool provides estimates for educational purposes only. We are not accredited by the Department of Veterans Affairs and do not file claims, provide legal advice, or represent veterans before the VA (38 U.S.C. § 5904). For official assistance, contact a VSO, CVSO, or VA-accredited attorney.

How to File for an Increased VA Disability Rating

Based on 38 CFR Part 4 rating schedule, § 3.344 rating-stabilization rules, and VA.gov guidance on claims for increase. This page is a free community resource. We are not VA-accredited and do not file claims or provide legal advice (per 38 U.S.C. § 5904).

Last reviewed: April 2026 · Next review: October 2026

Maintained by: Veterans Benefits Navigator editorial team. Every citation links to a primary federal or state source. See editorial standards and our privacy posture.

Primary sources: 38 CFR § 3.344 (Stabilization of ratings), 38 CFR § 4.1 (Essentials of evaluative rating), VA.gov: How to file a claim

If a service-connected condition has worsened since your last rating, you may be eligible for an increased rating. The process is similar to filing a new claim, but a few rules make the risk calculation different.

When an increase claim makes sense

Filing for an increase is appropriate when symptoms have measurably worsened in a way that aligns with a higher rating tier in the relevant diagnostic code under 38 CFR Part 4. A few signals that an increase claim may be supportable:

  • New objective measurements (range of motion, pulmonary function, audiometry, imaging) meet or exceed thresholds for a higher tier.
  • Functional impact has grown: more missed work, more frequent flare-ups, or new functional limitations documented by treating providers.
  • New secondary conditions have developed that are medically linked to the primary service-connected condition. These are filed as secondary claims rather than as an increase. Our secondary condition mapper lists common linkages.

The risk of a reduced rating

An increase claim reopens the rating. If the examiner concludes the condition has improved rather than worsened, the rating may be reduced. Two rules constrain that risk:

  • Stabilization.Ratings in effect for five years or more are considered “stabilized” and require sustained improvement under ordinary conditions of life before reduction[src].
  • Protection for 20-year ratings. A rating continuously in effect for 20 years cannot be reduced below the established level except on a showing of fraud, under [src].

Ratings younger than five years carry more reduction risk. If your rating is recent and your evidence is thin, discussing the claim with a CVSO before filing is worth the call.

Evidence that supports an increase

The strongest increase claims include:

  • Current private or VA treatment records that map to the diagnostic-code criteria (measurements, symptom frequency, medications, hospitalizations).
  • A completed Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ) from a treating physician for the relevant body system, when available. Our DBQ finder lists current DBQ forms.
  • Lay statements describing worsening functional impact, especially for conditions evaluated on frequency or severity (migraines, mental health, sleep apnea).
  • Employment records or work-history changes when the claim is paired with a TDIU request. See our TDIU screener.

How to file

An increase claim uses the same VA Form 21-526EZ as an initial claim. On VA.gov, select “Add a claim for a condition you already have” and describe which conditions have worsened. The effective-date rules for increases are specific: if the evidence shows factual entitlement arose within the year before filing, the effective date can be set at the date of factual worsening rather than the date of filing[src]. Submitting an Intent to File before gathering evidence still preserves the outer bound of that window.

Disability compensation — increase claim

~140 days on average

Typically 100–200 days

Baseline as of Apr 19, 2026. Check VA.gov for current processing times.

Alternatives to consider first

Before filing for an increase, a few alternatives may produce a better outcome:

  • Secondary conditions. A new secondary claim protects the underlying rating and adds compensation for the new condition.
  • SMC eligibility. Special Monthly Compensation is paid on top of the schedular rating for specific losses. See our SMC screener.
  • TDIU. If service-connected conditions preventsubstantially gainful employment, TDIU may pay at the 100% rate without requiring a 100% schedular combined rating.

When to work with a CVSO

Claims for increase are the single area where many veterans benefit most from representation. A CVSO or VSO can review whether your evidence actually supports a higher tier, whether a secondary or SMC claim is a better path, and whether your rating is close enough to stabilization rules that timing the filing matters. Representation is free, authorized under [src].

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