TL;DR
- If a rated condition has gotten worse, the standard lane is an increased claim backed by up-to-date medical evidence (VA.gov).
- A Supplemental Claim fits when VA already decided your claim and you have new and relevant evidence, or there's a change in law like the PACT Act (VA.gov).
- The rating schedule calls for fully descriptive medical exams with emphasis on how your condition limits your activity (38 CFR 4.1).
- Combined ratings are not simple addition. Two 10% ratings combine to 19%, which rounds to 20% (VA.gov).
- Raising one condition can change your combined rating. A 50% and a 30% combine to 70%, but a 50% and a 50% combine to 80% (VA.gov).
If you're wondering how to increase VA disability rating for a condition that's gotten worse, the usual lane is an increased claim. You file it for a rated service-connected condition that's worsened, and you back it with up-to-date medical evidence showing that change (VA.gov).
If VA already decided your claim and you have new and relevant evidence, a Supplemental Claim may be the better lane (VA.gov). Either way, your evidence needs to line up with the rating criteria for your condition.
Which claim lane fits my situation?
Pick the lane that matches what actually changed. Here's how VA describes the main options (VA.gov):
| Your situation | Lane | What VA says you need |
|---|---|---|
| A rated service-connected condition got worse | Increased claim | Up-to-date medical evidence that shows the condition has gotten worse |
| VA decided your claim in the past and you have new evidence | Supplemental Claim | New and relevant evidence, or a change in law such as the PACT Act. The claim can't be a contested claim. |
| A new condition developed because of one you're already rated for | Secondary claim | A new disability that's linked to a service-connected disability you already have |
| You want special monthly payments or Individual Unemployability | New claim | New evidence only. VA won't consider evidence from past claims. |
| You're recovering from surgery or treatment and can't move | Special claim | A request for temporary payments |
The increased claim: your main tool
This is the lane for the veteran whose knee, back, migraines or mental health has slid downhill since the last decision. VA's wording is simple: the condition is already service connected, it's gotten worse, and you show that with current medical evidence (VA.gov).
You can use it to ask for a higher rating or more financial support (VA.gov).
The Supplemental Claim: when you have new evidence on a past decision
VA describes this lane as a way to provide new evidence to support a claim it decided before. You must have new and relevant evidence, or be asking for review based on a change in law (VA.gov).
VA's own example: a veteran denied for elbow pain later gets an X-ray showing arthritis, and sends in the new exam and X-ray as new evidence (VA.gov).
The secondary claim: when a rated condition causes something new
Sometimes the rated condition didn't get worse. It caused something new. VA gives two examples: arthritis caused by a service-connected knee injury, and heart disease caused by service-connected high blood pressure (VA.gov).
A new rated condition feeds into your combined rating. Our guide on how secondary service connection works walks through the logic.
What about a Higher-Level Review?
You may hear about a Higher-Level Review as another option after a decision.
If you disagree with a recent decision, ask an accredited VSO, agent or attorney which review option fits your file.
What does VA actually look at when it sets my percentage?
VA says it bases your rating on three things (VA.gov):
- The evidence you give, like a doctor's report or medical test results
- The results of your C&P exam, if VA decides you need one
- Other information VA gets from other sources, like federal agencies
The rating schedule adds more detail. It calls for accurate and fully descriptive medical exams, "with emphasis upon the limitation of activity imposed by the disabling condition" (38 CFR 4.1).
It also says each disability must be viewed in relation to its history (38 CFR 4.1). And it must be considered from the point of view of the veteran working or seeking work (38 CFR 4.2).
Put plainly: the schedule focuses on what your condition stops you from doing, over time, including at work.
How do I compare my symptoms to the rating criteria?
This is where many veterans find out why their rating feels low. The criteria are public, and you can read them yourself.
Step 1: Pull your current ratings
If you have an assigned rating, you can sign in on VA.gov to view each individual rating and your combined rating (VA.gov). Write down each condition and its percentage.
Step 2: Find your condition in the rating schedule
The criteria live in 38 CFR Part 4, the Schedule for Rating Disabilities (eCFR). It's organized by body system. A few examples:
- Musculoskeletal system: 38 CFR 4.71a
- Neurological conditions: 38 CFR 4.124a
- Mental disorders: 38 CFR 4.130
- Respiratory system: 38 CFR 4.97
If you're not sure where your condition sits, Part 4 includes a Numerical Index of Disabilities (Appendix B) and an Alphabetical Index of Disabilities (Appendix C) (eCFR).
Step 3: Read the level above yours, word for word
Find your current percentage. Then read the description for the next level up, and note the exact words it uses.
For joints and spine, also read the general sections on functional impairment (38 CFR 4.10), functional loss (38 CFR 4.40) and painful motion (38 CFR 4.59). Our guides on knee ratings and PTSD ratings break down how those criteria read in plain English.
If PTSD or other mental health symptoms are getting heavier, you don't have to carry that alone. The Veterans Crisis Line is there any time: dial 988 then press 1, text 838255, or chat at VeteransCrisisLine.net.
Step 4: Check your records against that language
Ask yourself one hard question: do my medical records actually say what I live with? If your daily reality matches the higher level but your chart doesn't, that gap is what you need to close before filing.
If you want a structured way to spot those gaps, the Rating Gap Check is a quick way to see where your rating may fall short of what the criteria describe.
What evidence actually moves the percentage?
For an increase, VA asks for up-to-date medical evidence that shows the condition got worse (VA.gov). Old records from your last claim may not show that change by themselves.
Evidence worth gathering:
- Current treatment notes that describe your symptoms in the same terms the criteria use
- Medical test results, like X-rays or other testing your provider orders (VA.gov)
- Documented limits on activity, since the schedule puts emphasis there (38 CFR 4.1)
- Work impact, because VA considers each disability from the view of a veteran working or seeking work (38 CFR 4.2)
- A consistent history across visits, since each disability is viewed in relation to its history (38 CFR 4.1)
Tell your own provider exactly what's changed: how often, how bad, and what you can no longer do. If you don't say it at appointments, it may not end up in the chart. For medical questions about your condition, your provider is the right person to ask.
How do I prepare for the C&P exam on an increase?
The C&P exam is one of the three things VA uses to set your rating, when VA decides you need one (VA.gov). That makes it worth preparing for.
The schedule admits that different examiners describe the same disability in different language, and that a change for the worse may not be accurately described (38 CFR 4.2). If an exam report doesn't have enough detail, the rating board is supposed to return it as inadequate (38 CFR 4.2).
A few ground rules:
- Describe your worst days and your typical days. Don't tough it out in the exam room.
- Explain how the condition limits activity and work, in concrete terms.
- Bring notes so you don't forget key symptoms under pressure.
Our article on C&P exam tips covers the basics. If you want a step-by-step plan for walking in prepared, the C&P Exam Prep Kit lays out how to organize your symptoms and history before exam day.
One more rule works in your favor. When reasonable doubt arises about the degree of disability after careful review of the evidence, VA resolves it in favor of the claimant (38 CFR 4.3).
How much could a higher rating change my pay and combined rating?
No one can promise a result. But the math is worth understanding before you file.
Monthly pay by rating (veteran alone)
These are 2026 rates, effective December 1, 2025 (VA.gov):
| Rating | Monthly payment |
|---|---|
| 10% | $180.42 |
| 20% | $356.66 |
| 30% | $552.47 |
| 40% | $795.84 |
| 50% | $1,132.90 |
| 60% | $1,435.02 |
| 70% | $1,808.45 |
| 80% | $2,102.15 |
| 90% | $2,362.30 |
| 100% | $3,938.58 |
At 30% and above, rates go up with dependents (VA.gov). At 10% to 20%, they don't (VA.gov).
Why one condition going up can move your combined rating
VA doesn't add ratings together. It uses the combined ratings table, and two 10% ratings combine to 19% (VA.gov).
Here's how an increase on one condition can shift things, using VA's table (VA.gov):
| Ratings | Combined value | Rounded combined rating |
|---|---|---|
| 50% and 30% | 65 | 70% |
| 50% and 50% | 75 | 80% |
VA rounds combined values ending in 1 to 4 down, and 5 to 9 up (VA.gov). In this example, raising the 30% condition to 50% moves the combined rating from 70% to 80%.
If you can't work because of your conditions
Individual Unemployability is requested through a new claim, which VA decides only on new evidence (VA.gov). Our TDIU guide explains how it works.
When should I get a second set of eyes on my file?
Get help if you're unsure which lane fits, if you had a recent decision you disagree with, or if your file has a preservice condition. For conditions that got worse because of service, VA bases pay on the level of aggravation, not the full rating (VA.gov).
An accredited VSO, agent or attorney can review your file and confirm the right move. You can also call VA at 800-827-1000, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. ET (VA.gov).
Your next step: pull up your current ratings, open the rating schedule for your worst condition, and read the level above yours word for word. Then compare it line by line with your last three months of medical records.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between an increased claim and a new claim?
An increased claim asks for a higher rating on a service-connected condition that has gotten worse, backed by up-to-date medical evidence. A new claim is for added benefits tied to an existing condition, like special monthly payments or Individual Unemployability. VA decides a new claim based only on new evidence and won't consider evidence from past claims.
Why do two 10% ratings only give me 20% instead of more?
VA uses the whole person theory and a combined ratings table instead of adding ratings together. Two 10% ratings combine to 19%. VA then rounds to the nearest 10%, so 19% becomes 20%.
Can I get temporary higher payments after surgery on a service-connected condition?
VA lists temporary payments as a type of special claim. It's meant for veterans recovering from surgery or other treatment who are unable to move. An accredited VSO, agent or attorney can confirm whether your situation fits.
What if my C&P examiner left out important symptoms?
The rating schedule says that if an exam report doesn't contain enough detail, the rating board must return it as inadequate for evaluation purposes. It also says VA resolves reasonable doubt about the degree of disability in favor of the claimant. Talk with an accredited VSO, agent or attorney about how to raise the issue in your case.
How does VA rate a condition I had before I joined that got worse in service?
VA bases pay on the level of aggravation, meaning how much worse the condition got because of service. In VA's example, a condition rated 10% at entry that became 20% because of service has a 10% level of aggravation.