8 Proven Ways to Increase Your VA Disability Rating (The Insider’s Guide)

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If you deserve a higher VA disability rating, it’s not about luck — it’s about medical evidence.

In this Insider’s Guide, VA disability expert Brian Reese shares 8 proven strategies to help you increase your VA disability rating — and secure the benefits you’ve rightfully earned through your service.

The truth is simple fellow veterans: MEDICAL EVIDENCE WINS VA CLAIMS!

If your symptoms have worsened, you need to file a new VA claim backed by strong, new, and relevant medical documentation that proves it.

That means showing the VA exactly how your disability impacts your work, daily life, and social functioning — including its frequency (how often it happens), severity (how bad it gets), and duration (how long it lasts).

The stronger your medical evidence, the better your chances of getting the increase you deserve.

Summary of Key Points

• Veterans have 8 proven paths to increase their VA disability rating:
  • File a New VA Disability Increase Claim
  • File a New Claim for Direct Service Connection
  • File a New Claim for Secondary Service Connection
  • File a New Claim for Presumptive Service Connection
  • File a New Claim for Service Connection via Aggravation
  • File a New Appeal for a Previously Denied VA Disability Claim
  • File a New Claim for Total Disability Individual Unemployability (TDIU)
  • File a New Claim for Special Monthly Compensation (SMC)

• The simplest and fastest way to increase your VA disability rating is to file for an increase on conditions you’re already service-connected for at 0% or higher.

• Disability Benefits Questionnaires (DBQs) are especially powerful for these claims and can sometimes lead to an increase without the VA requiring a Compensation & Pension (C&P) exam.

• If your condition wasn’t diagnosed during active duty or you’ve been separated for more than 12 months, getting a Nexus Letter from a private healthcare provider can dramatically strengthen your claim.

• And if you want to raise your combined VA rating, focus on high-value claims — those typically rated at 30% or higher — to move the needle faster.

The VA Claims Insider Golden Circle Explained

To increase your VA disability rating — or get a condition service connected for the first time — you must prove four mission-critical elements.

We call it the VA Claims Insider Golden Circle:

• #1. Diagnosis of a current disability in a medical record. If yes, go to #2.

• #2. Evidence of an in-service event, injury, disease, or aggravation. If yes, go to #3.

• #3. “Nexus” meaning link or connection between #1 and #2 above via competent medical evidence. If yes, go to #4.

• #4. Severity of symptoms in terms of Frequency (how often), Severity (how bad), and Duration (how long) to include negative impacts to your work/life. This is the final step in The Caluza Triangle and it’s what determines your final VA rating percentage for the disability.

Master these four pillars and you dramatically improve your chances of getting a higher VA rating!

10 Tip Checklist to INCREASE Your VA Rating FAST!

• Know the 8 Proven Paths – Understand all your options: increase claims, direct service connection, secondary service connection, presumptive service connection, service connection via aggravation, appeals, TDIU, and SMC.

• Use the VA Claims Insider Golden Circle Framework – Prove all four: (1) Current diagnosis, (2) In-service event/injury/disease/aggravation, (3) Medical nexus, and (4) Severity of symptoms.

• File a Simple Increase Claim First – If already service-connected at 0% or higher, this is often the fastest and easiest way to get a higher rating.

• Leverage Disability Benefits Questionnaires (DBQs) – A strong DBQ from a private provider can make your claim “decision ready” and may avoid the need for a C&P exam.

• Get a Nexus Letter for Service Connection Gaps – If your condition wasn’t documented during service or you’ve been separated over 12 months, a Nexus Letter can be the difference-maker.

• Target High-Value VA Claims – Focus on conditions typically rated at 30% or higher to increase your combined rating faster.

• Use Presumptive VA Benefits to Your Advantage – If eligible, presumptive service connections require less proof and no nexus letter.

• Consider Secondary & Aggravation Claims – Link new or worsened conditions to existing service-connected disabilities for additional ratings.

• Know Your VA Appeal Options – HLR, Supplemental Claim, and BVA appeals each have different timelines, rules, and strategic advantages.

• Explore TDIU & SMC for Maximum Benefits – If your disabilities prevent you from working or require special assistance, you may qualify for higher pay rates than your current combined rating.

Option #1: File a New VA Disability Increase Claim

The easiest way to increase your VA disability rating is to file a new increase claim online for conditions already service connected at 0% or higher; here’s a 17-step tutorial where we show you how.

For example, let’s say you’ve got a 50% VA rating for PTSD, but you think the preponderance of your symptoms meet the 70% rating criteria.

You simply open a new claim on VA.gov and click the radio button that says, “I’m filing a claim for a new condition or for a condition that’s gotten worse.”

Make sure you upload new medical evidence in the form of medical records, Disability Benefits Questionnaires (DBQs), and/or Nexus Letters to show how your symptoms have become worse over time.

Pro Tip: DBQs from private healthcare providers are great for simple increase claims. Why? Since you’re already service connected but are applying for an increase in severity of symptoms, a DBQ with your claim submission means your claim is “decision ready.” This means the VA rater can potentially review and rate the claim without ordering a separate C&P exam.

Option #2: File a New Claim for Direct Service Connection

Regardless of your current VA disability rating, you can always file a new claim for direct service connection and add new conditions.

For example, let’s say you’re rated at 70% combined for mental health and tinnitus, but you want to file a new claim for headaches and GERD.

Open a new claim on VA.gov and click the radio button that says, “I’m filing a claim for a new condition or for a condition that’s gotten worse.”

Make sure you upload new medical evidence in the form of medical records, especially your service treatment records along with DBQs or Nexus Letters.

Pro Tip: If your condition was not diagnosed during service or if there are no documented symptoms in your military medical records or you’ve been out of the military for more than 12 months, you should strongly consider getting a Nexus Letter to help you prove service connection. Why? Because you don’t have medical evidence that the disability existed during service.

Option #3: File a New Claim for Secondary Service Connection

If you have a new secondary condition that you think was proximately due to or aggravated by another service-connected disability rated at 0% or higher, you should open a new claim, add the new disability condition, and select the option for secondary service connection.

For example, maybe you have sleep apnea diagnosed and you want to file it as a new secondary claim for secondary service connection.

You can file a claim for new claim for sleep apnea secondary to another disability that’s already service connected.

Pro Tip: If you’re filing a new claim for secondary service connection, a Nexus Letter is highly recommended. Why? Because a secondary claim requires “Medical Nexus Evidence” that your new disability is proximately due to or aggravated by a service-connected disability.

Option #4: File a New Claim for Presumptive Service Connection

Presumptive service connection is an easy way to increase your VA disability rating, assuming you meet the eligibility criteria.

A presumptive disability is a condition that the VA presumes to be service connected, even if there’s no specific “Nexus” for service connection.

Here’s how it works: If you served at X location during the qualifying period and developed Y condition as a result, then X + Y = automatic service connection.

VA presumptive conditions are easy to win and can help you increase your VA disability rating because you just need to show on your DD 214 that you were in an eligible location during a specific period and that you developed a qualifying disability as a result.

Pro Tip: There are 10 categories and more than 200 conditions eligible for presumptive disability. Also, you do not need a Nexus Letter for presumptive conditions. Why? Because presumptive conditions do not have a specific “Nexus” requirement under the law. Here’s a list of NEW presumptive conditions added by the VA in recent years.

Option #5: File a New Claim for Service Connection via Aggravation

Another way to increase your VA disability rating is to file a new claim for service connection via aggravation.

This type of service connection includes two types: (#1) aggravation of a pre-service disability and (#2) secondary service connection via aggravation.

For example, let’s say you entered military service with flat feet, but the wear and tear of active service aggravated your flat feet beyond its natural progression, leading to foot and heel pain.  

In this example, you’re eligible to file a new claim for aggravation of pre-service disability.

Secondary service connection via aggravation means a current service connected disability “aggravated” a non-service connected disability.

For example, maybe you have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) that was aggravated by obesity/weight gain due to side effects of SSRI medications taken to manage your symptoms of service-connected PTSD.

You can file a claim for sleep apnea secondary to PTSD with obesity/weight gain as an intermediate step for service connection.

Pro Tip: A Nexus Letter is highly recommended for service connection via aggravation, including aggravation of a pre-service disability and secondary service connection via aggravation. Find out if you should get a Nexus Letter for your VA claim or appeal.

Option #6: File a New Appeal for a Previously Denied VA Disability Claim

If you’ve had a previous disability claim denied, you’ll need to appeal it using one of three options:

Higher Level Review (HLR)

This appeal option involves having a more senior VA official review the same evidence that was originally submitted. No new evidence can be submitted in this review. The senior reviewer looks for errors in the initial decision or provides a new interpretation of the evidence.

This is a good option if you believe that there was an error in the initial decision or that the evidence you originally provided was not properly considered.

Supplemental Claim

Under this option, veterans can submit new and relevant evidence that was not included in their original claim. The VA will then reevaluate the claim considering this new evidence.

This is suitable if you have additional evidence that supports your claim or if you can obtain new evidence that strengthens your case.

Board of Veterans’ Appeals (BVA)

Also known as a Board appeal, this option allows you to have your appeal reviewed by a Veterans Law Judge at the Board of Veterans’ Appeals in Washington, D.C. You can choose one of three dockets:

• Direct Review Docket: A review by the Board based on the evidence already in your VA file. No new evidence can be submitted, and no hearing will be held.

• Evidence Submission Docket: You can submit additional evidence but must do so within 90 days of your Notice of Disagreement. No hearing will be held.

• Hearing Docket: You can request a hearing with a Veterans Law Judge, during which you can present new evidence and make arguments. You can submit additional evidence within 90 days after the hearing.

Pro Tip: Supplemental Claims are the fastest appeal option right now at ~5-6 months from beginning to end. Higher Level Reviews are the second fastest appeal option at ~6-8 months. Board Appeals are the slowest appeal option with a Direct Review taking around 1 year, Evidence Submission around 1.5 years, and Hearings at 2 years minimum.

Option #7: File a New Claim for Total Disability Individual Unemployability (TDIU)

If you can’t work because of your service-connected disabilities, you might qualify for an extra-scheduler VA rating called Individual Unemployability or TDIU.

Eligible veterans can get paid at the highest possible rating by law (the 100% VA pay rate), even if their combined VA rating is less than 100%.

You can file a claim for TDIU online at VA.gov after you’ve added new disabilities and click through to later screens.

To file a claim for Individual Unemployability, you’ll also need to fill out and upload the following:

• A Veteran’s Application for Increased Compensation Based on Unemployability (VA Form 21-8940) Download VA Form 21-8940, AND

• A Request for Employment Information in Connection with Claim for Disability Benefits (VA Form 21-4192) Download VA Form 21-4192.

Pro Tip: VA unemployability means you’re unable to maintain “substantially gainful employment” due to your service connected disabilities. The income limits for TDIU benefits are based on the U.S. Census Bureau’s poverty thresholds, and these limits are subject to change annually with cost of living adjustments. Veterans can lose TDIU eligibility if their earned income exceeds the U.S. federal poverty level for a single individual. For 2025, that threshold is $15,060 per year.

Option #8: File a New Claim for Special Monthly Compensation (SMC)

The final option to get increased VA disability benefits is to file a new claim for Special Monthly Compensation (SMC).

SMC is an extra benefit provided by the VA to veterans or their eligible dependents who have specific disabilities or combinations of disabilities.

VA SMC benefits are designed to compensate veterans for disabilities that result in a higher level of impairment or a need for extra assistance or care.

Some common examples of situations that may qualify a veteran for SMC include: Loss of use of a creative organ, loss or loss of use of one or more limbs, need for aid and attendance due to disabilities, blindness or visual impairment, severe deafness or hearing impairment, housebound status due to disability, need for assistance with activities of daily living, or a combination of disabilities that result in a high level of impairment.

Pro Tip: Extra scheduler SMC pay rates can go much higher than the scheduler pay rates. For example, the max VA disability benefit is for Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) R.2/T, which has a minimum monthly payment of $10,964.66 and can exceed $11,000 per month with dependents.

Increase Your VA Rating Fast: Get $18,800+ Worth of High-Value VA Claim Resources FREE!

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Deserve a VA Disability Rating INCREASE? WE GOT YOUR SIX!

• VA Claims Insider is the #1 most trusted name in VA disability claims.

• Work directly with a VA claims coach who can help lead you to VA claim victory.

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