Affiliate disclosure. My Discover Hub may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page. This never changes which products we recommend or how we evaluate them. Read our full disclosure.
If your service-connected condition has worsened since your last decision, you can request an increased disability rating. The challenge is rarely whether you qualify — it's whether your file contains the kind of medical evidence the VA's rating schedule is built around.
Start by pulling your most recent VA decision letter and identifying the exact diagnostic code and rating criteria the VA used. Each condition has a published rating schedule, and an increase requires evidence that your symptoms now meet the criteria for the next bracket.
Independent medical opinions — sometimes called nexus letters or Disability Benefits Questionnaires — are the documents that most often move a claim. They translate your day-to-day reality into the clinical language the rating schedule expects.
Once your evidence is assembled, you can file VA Form 21-526EZ as a claim for increase. Many veterans benefit from working with a VA-accredited representative or a service like Veterans Disability Network to make sure nothing is missed.