How to Increase Veteran Disability Rating: 6 Proven Ways

Are you a disabled veteran looking to increase your VA disability rating? You’ve come to the right place!

In this comprehensive guide on how to increase veteran disability rating, we’ll walk you through the process of understanding your VA disability rating, reasons to increase it, gathering supporting evidence, filing a claim, and exploring special cases for increased ratings.

By increasing your rating, you can potentially receive higher monthly compensation and access to additional benefits and support. Let’s dive in and unlock the potential benefits you rightfully deserve!

A VA disability rating is a crucial evaluation assigned to a veteran based on the severity of their condition, ranging from 0 to 100 percent.

The rating is determined based on the severity of your symptoms. A higher rating can result in increased VA benefits and support for the veteran.

But why is the VA disability rating so important? It determines the monthly compensation you are eligible for.

Veterans must have a rating between 10 and 100 percent in order to be eligible for monthly compensation.

This can be seen as an indicator of the severity of their disability. In 2023, veterans with a 90 percent VA rating can receive a minimum of $1,998.52 per month in benefits. Veterans with a 100 percent rating may be eligible to receive as much as $3,332.06 per month.

The difference between a 50% and 70% disability rating can amount to a whopping $7,454.88 per year for a veteran without dependents.

Clearly, it’s in your best interest to pursue an increased rating if your condition warrants it.

There are several motivating reasons to increase your VA disability rating. These include the worsening of your condition, overlooked disabilities, or treatments causing new conditions.

A higher rating can result in increased VA benefits and support for the veteran.

But how can you bolster your case for an increased rating?

To make your case stronger, you can provide medical evidence such as records from military service, private doctors, and VA medical centers.

A Nexus Letter is highly recommended for veterans who are trying to get an initial service-connection and have been out of the military for more than 12 months. It can strengthen your case for a higher VA disability rating.

It’s essential to gather compelling evidence to back up your claim for a higher rating, so let’s explore the types of evidence you can use in the next section.

Military medical records are an invaluable source of information about your medical history during service.

These records contain details about injuries sustained during service, treatments received, induction and separation physical examinations, routine medical care, and service-provided medical and dental documentation.

Dependent on the condition, these can be easily service connected if you have continuity of care and continuity of symptomatology from exiting service.

To request your military medical records, you can contact the National Archives or submit a Request Pertaining to Military Records (SF 180) to the applicable organization.

Obtaining your records is a crucial step in gathering evidence to support your claim for an increased rating.

Private healthcare provider records can also provide valuable information to support your claim.

These records contain details such as a patient’s medical history, diagnoses, treatments, medications, test results, and notes from healthcare providers about the patient’s symptoms and progress.

To bolster your claim for an increased rating, you can submit private medical exam results or records.

This additional evidence can play a significant role in demonstrating the severity of your condition and its impact on your daily life.

Witness statements are another essential piece of evidence that can help strengthen your claim for an increased rating.

A witness statement is a legal document that outlines the evidence a witness wants the court to consider when making orders or directions.

To ensure accuracy, a witness statement should be as factual as possible and clearly state what was seen, heard, or felt by the person writing the statement.

Additionally, it should include a case number, an incident or case name, and an official declaration or statement of truth, which is signed and dated by the witness to ensure accuracy.

Witness statements can corroborate or refute a claim, so it’s crucial to include them when gathering evidence for an increased rating.

Now that you’ve gathered evidence to support your claim, it’s time to file for an increased rating.

There are several ways to do this, including submitting VA Form 21-526EZ, requesting a reevaluation of an existing service connected condition, or filing a supplemental claim.

Each method has its own advantages and requirements, so let’s explore them in more detail through the following subsections.

Form 21-526EZ is an Application for Disability Compensation and Related Compensation Benefits that can help you get the support you need.

This form can be used to apply for an increased VA disability rating, giving you the opportunity to receive the benefits you deserve.

If you’re a veteran submitting a claim for increased disability compensation or disagreeing with an evaluation decided more than one year ago,

VA Form 21-526EZ is the right form to use. Completing and submitting this form is a crucial step in the process of increasing your VA disability rating.

Requesting a reevaluation is another way to pursue an increase of your overall rating. To request a reevaluation, you can submit a written request to the VA.

You would perform a reevaluation with conditions for which you are already service connected.

When requesting a reevaluation, it’s essential to provide specific details about how your condition has worsened since your initial rating decision or why you believe the initial decision was incorrect.

Submitting VA Form 21-526EZ is a great way to initiate your reevaluation process.

Providing this information will help the VA make an informed decision on your claim and potentially increase your disability rating.

Filing a supplemental claim is another method to pursue an increased VA disability rating.

To file a supplemental claim, you need to download and complete the Decision Review Request form, Supplemental Claim (VA Form 20-0995), and upload it with all supporting evidence to the VA Direct Upload Veterans Claims Intake Program website.

Veterans can submit new and relevant evidence in the supplemental claim lane. Doing so will enable them to preserve the original effective date of their claims as long as it is submitted within a year of the Regional Office’s decision.

Filing a supplemental claim can be a beneficial strategy for those who have previously made an initial claim for the same or similar benefit on the same or similar basis.

In addition to the methods mentioned above, there are special cases for increased ratings that you may be eligible for, such as secondary service connection, Total Disability Individual Unemployability (TDIU), and Special Monthly Compensation (SMC).

Each of these cases has its own eligibility requirements and benefits, so let’s explore them in more detail in the following subsections.

Secondary service connection is an opportunity to receive additional benefits when a new disability condition is related to or worsened by another service-connected disability rated at 0 percent or higher.

Veterans who are suffering from any service-connected back injury that has impaired their gait might be eligible for additional compensation.

This is especially true if the veterans have developed any knee issues as a result of their back injury.

To file a claim for secondary service connection, log in to your VA.gov account and select the option “I’m filing a claim for a new condition or for a condition that’s gotten worse,” and then choose “My disability was caused by another service-connected disability I already have.”

Ensure that you have uploaded all relevant evidence to support your claim for a secondary service connection.

Total Disability Individual Unemployability (TDIU) is an extra-scheduler VA rating that can empower eligible veterans to receive a 100 percent VA rate, even if their combined VA rating is below 100 percent. Veterans with service-connected disabilities may be eligible for TDIU (Temporary Total Disability) benefits.

These benefits are provided to veterans who can’t substantially maintain gainful employment due to their disabilities.

To file a claim for TDIU, log in to your VA.gov account and follow the steps outlined in Fact 5.2_4. Be sure to submit VA Form 21-8940, which includes information about your employment history, education, and current medical condition.

Providing this information, along with any relevant medical records, will help the VA make an informed decision on your TDIU eligibility.

Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) is a tax-free benefit that provides additional VA Disability Compensation to veterans who meet certain eligibility requirements.

SMC is provided to veterans with combinations of disabilities or special needs that result in a higher level of overall disability.

To apply for SMC, veterans must submit a claim to the VA, including compelling evidence of their disability and any other pertinent information.

Understanding the eligibility requirements for SMC and gathering the necessary evidence can help you secure these additional benefits.

Navigating the process of increasing your VA disability rating can be complex, but the potential benefits are well worth the effort.

By understanding your VA disability rating, gathering compelling evidence, and exploring various methods to file a claim, you can increase your chances of securing the benefits you rightfully deserve.

Remember, you’re not alone in this journey. Reach out to professionals, such as doctors or attorneys, and take advantage of the resources available to you. Stay informed, be persistent, and claim the benefits you’ve earned through your honorable service and selfless sacrifice.