Many disabled veterans are not content with their existing rating. Meaning, they believe that they deserve additional veteran care from what the VA has already given them.  A higher rating equates to additional disability income. The veteran can resubmit and apply for a higher rating, but the process can be extensive, time-consuming, and a headache.

Here are 10 steps that can help you potentially increase your VA disability rating:

1. Understand your current rating: Review your decision letter to understand how the VA arrived at your current rating and identify conditions that may warrant reassessment.
2. Gather medical evidence: Collect comprehensive medical records documenting the severity of your service-connected conditions from both VA and private healthcare providers.
3. File for secondary conditions: Identify and claim conditions that developed as a result of your primary service-connected disabilities.
4. Consider previously overlooked conditions: File claims for conditions you didn’t originally claim that are related to your service.
5. Request a C&P exam: If your condition has worsened, request a new Compensation and Pension examination to reassess its severity.
6. Submit a claim for increase: File VA Form 21-526EZ specifically requesting an increased rating for conditions that have worsened.
7. Get a buddy statement: Obtain statements from fellow service members, family, or friends who can attest to your condition’s severity and impact.
8. Maintain a symptoms journal: Document how your conditions affect your daily life, including pain levels, mobility issues, and mental health impacts.
9. Consider getting professional help: Work with a Veterans Service Officer, VA-accredited attorney, or claims agent who specializes in VA disability claims.
10. Appeal if necessary: If your increase request is denied, understand the appeals process and your rights to challenge the decision.

I should note that you should always be truthful in your claims. These steps are meant to ensure you receive a fair rating that accurately reflects your service-connected conditions, not to game the system. Would you like more details about any of these specific steps? Complete the VA Disability Form to determine if you qualify.

VA Disability Ratings

VA disability ratings are percentages assigned by the Department of Veterans Affairs that reflect the severity of your service-connected conditions and how they impact your ability to function. Here’s an explanation of these ratings:

Basic Rating Structure

• Ratings are assigned in 10% increments: 0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, and 100%
• 0% ratings acknowledge a service-connected condition exists but indicate it doesn’t significantly impair function
• 100% ratings indicate total disability

Key Facts About Ratings

1. Combined Ratings: When you have multiple disabilities, the VA doesn’t simply add the percentages. Instead, they use a Combined Ratings Table that accounts for your remaining capacity after each disability.
2. Compensation Amounts: Each rating percentage corresponds to a specific monthly tax-free payment amount, which increases with higher ratings.
3. Rating Categories:
   • 0-20%: Lower impairment levels
   • 30-60%: Moderate impairment levels
   • 70-100%: Severe impairment levels
4. Additional Benefits:
   • At 30%+: You can add dependents to your compensation
   • At 50%+: No VA copayments for healthcare
   • At 70%+: You may qualify for Individual Unemployability (TDIU)
   • At 100%: Maximum compensation and additional benefits
5. Special Monthly Compensation (SMC): Additional compensation above the 100% rate for specific severe disabilities or combinations of disabilities

Impact on Benefits

• Higher ratings mean higher monthly compensation
• Certain rating thresholds (30%, 50%, 70%, 100%) unlock additional benefits
• Ratings determine priority groups for VA healthcare