Starting the Year Right: Steps Veterans Can Take to Review or Increase Their Disability Benefits

As the calendar turns and a new year begins, many people use this time to reassess goals and personal well-being. For veterans living with service-connected disabilities, it’s also the perfect moment to take a closer look at their benefits from the VA. Every year, the circumstances surrounding a veteran’s health and employment can change. These changes could potentially alter the amount of benefits you are entitled to receive.

The VA disability system is designed to adapt as a veteran’s condition evolves. However, your VA disability rating will not automatically update as you grow older and your condition continues to develop. There are steps you must take to ensure your VA rating continues to accurately depict your current condition. By taking careful steps at the start of each new year, you can determine if it is time to petition the VA to increase your disability rating.

How the VA Rates Disabilities

The foundation of every VA disability claim begins with understanding how the Department of Veterans Affairs evaluates service-connected conditions. The VA uses a percentage-based rating system to determine the extent of a veteran’s ability to support themselves financially and handle day-to-day tasks. These ratings range from zero to one hundred percent, and are typically awarded in ten percent increments. The higher the rating, the more significant your disability and the greater your potential monthly compensation.

To assign a rating to your disability, the decision-makers at the VA will compare your symptoms to something known as the Schedule for Rating Disabilities. These guidelines explain how each individual disabling condition should be rated based on the severity of the symptoms. The Schedule includes benchmarks for severity for every condition, and they can vary dramatically from one condition to another. This process can be especially complicated for veterans with more than one service-connected condition. Instead of applying a single rating, the VA uses a formula to take all of your conditions into account.  The result of this formula will ultimately determine how much you are entitled to in benefits each month.

Because the process can be complex, even small details can affect the outcome. If the VA makes a mistake or fails to take all of the relevant information into account, you could find yourself with a lower-than-deserved rating. It’s also important to know that a rating is not permanent in every case. The VA can schedule future exams or reevaluations to determine whether a condition has improved or worsened over time.

For veterans who feel their current percentage does not reflect their true level of disability, understanding this system is the first step toward change. With professional help from a VA claims lawyer, you have the chance to get past a denied claim and secure the benefits you deserve.

Reviewing Your Current Benefits

Long before you can petition the VA to increase your benefit payments, you will need to first determine your existing disability rating. Once you are aware of your current rating, you can make the case that the progression in your disability means you are entitled to more. You can typically find details about your rating in a document called the Summary of Benefits. This letter covers your rating and how the VA came to it. You can use this information as a baseline to show how your disability has worsened in recent months or years.

When examining your statement, take note of any conditions that have worsened since your last evaluation. If you experience new symptoms or limitations that affect your ability to work or perform daily activities, this may signal that your rating is due for review. Some veterans also discover that the VA overlooked secondary conditions—issues that developed as a result of another service-connected disability. These can have a significant impact on your combined rating if properly documented.

Even small administrative errors can reduce your compensation over time, making it crucial for you to ensure you are receiving what you deserve. Keep all correspondence from the VA and organize it in one place. Whether you digitize these records or keep the originals, having access to this correspondence could play an important role in showing the VA made an error.

You can also benefit from reviewing your beneficiary information every year regardless of whether you plan to seek increased benefit payments or not. Your annual review not only keeps you informed but also prepares you for any potential future claims. If you partner with an experienced VA claims lawyer, you may find that reviewing the existing benefits is the crucial first step toward uncovering the compensation you deserve.

Proving How Your Medical Condition has Changed

One of the most important reasons to review your VA disability benefits each year is to determine whether your condition has changed. Service-connected disabilities rarely remain static over the years, especially as secondary conditions crop up or worsen. Physical injuries can worsen over time, and there could also be fluctuations in the severity of any mental illnesses. Recognizing these changes early can help veterans take appropriate steps to determine if they are entitled to a higher disability rating.

The first step is to assess your daily life and note how your limitations affect ordinary, everyday activities. This includes things you used to take for granted, like working out or driving on your own. Keeping a written record of any new or flare-ups can also be helpful. If your condition interferes with your life more often than it used to, this could be a sign that your health is declining. If you are experiencing changes in your physical endurance, balance, or mobility, these could all be signs that your service-connected condition has worsened.

It is not enough to simply recognize these changes, as you should also share these developments with your medical team. If you get updated medical evaluations, it creates a clear paper trail documenting how your condition has progressed. Your doctors can also provide detailed notes describing how they have adjusted your treatment in recent years. This documentation could play a vital role in proving to the VA that you deserve an increased disability rating.

Because the VA rating schedule focuses heavily on medical evidence, accurate documentation makes all the difference. A knowledgeable VA claims lawyer can help interpret these updates and determine whether they meet the criteria for a higher disability percentage. By staying vigilant about changes in your health, you can ensure that your benefits evolve as your condition does.

Gathering New Evidence

Consistency is crucial when it comes to increasing in your disability rating. The VA’s decision-making process depends heavily on documentation that verifies the severity of your condition and its connection to military service. When applying for increased benefits, every piece of evidence should clearly show how your symptoms have worsened as a result of an existing service-connected disability. Without updated records, even valid claims may be delayed or denied.

The most important evidence for your claim comes from your medical team. Whether it comes from private physicians or doctors provided by the VA, your records should back up your claim that you are entitled to additional benefits.

Your medical records provide a paper trail that backs up your story of worsening symptoms, backing them up with notes from doctor’s visits or test results. If these records highlight that you have consistently complained about your disability getting worse, it can strengthen your argument that your rating must be adjusted.

 If you receive care from multiple clinics or specialists, make sure their records align and do not conflict with each other. Discrepancies or missing information can weaken an otherwise strong claim. It’s also helpful to request a letter from your treating physician describing how your condition affects your ability to work, concentrate, or perform daily activities. These statements can provide the decision makers at the VA with helpful insight that is much easier to understand than reams of medical records or convoluted test results.

In addition to professional medical evidence, personal statements, personal statements can also play an important role in your case. This so-called “lay evidence” does not come from experts or medical professionals. Instead, it represents testimony from people who have witnessed your growing struggle with your condition. These statements are often provided by people you are close with, including your friends and family. Often, these accounts can highlight the impact your disability has had on your life in ways that medical records cannot.

For complex cases, obtaining an independent medical opinion can strengthen your file even further. Independent evaluations can clarify inconsistencies or offer specialized insight into a veteran’s condition. An experienced VA claims lawyer can assist in identifying what types of evidence will best support your case, ensuring your submission meets the VA’s standards.

What to Expect When You File for an Increase

Once you have gathered the necessary evidence, the next step is filing for a disability rating increase. Veterans can submit a claim for an increase online through VA.gov or by mail, and there is no deadline to navigate. At any point where you believe your condition has worsened, you have the opportunity to file a claim with the VA to review your current rating.

When you file your claim, it should make clear which conditions of yours have worsened since you were last evaluated. You should also include any supporting evidence such as recent medical records, doctor statements, or lay testimony. Submitting a well-prepared and organized claim increases the likelihood of a fair and timely decision.

After filing, the VA will typically schedule a Compensation and Pension (C&P) examination. This evaluation allows a VA-appointed medical professional to assess the severity of your condition. It is important to describe the full extent of your symptoms during this exam, highlighting how they have progressed since you filed your original claim. Many claims are delayed or denied because the veteran underreports their difficulties, which can happen for a variety of reasons. This exam is your opportunity to make the VA aware of your true condition, so it is important that you are honest.

Following the exam, the VA will review everything before issuing a decision. You will receive a written notice detailing whether your request for an increase has been granted, partially approved, or denied. The timeline for this process can vary, often taking several months depending on workload and case complexity. If approved, your new rating will typically take effect from the date you filed your claim for an increase, resulting in retroactive pay for the difference in compensation.

Appealing a Disappointing Decision

Even when a veteran provides strong medical evidence that their disability award warrants a review, there are times when these claims are initially denied. The good news is that you have the option to not only appeal a denied claim, but also an award that you feel is unfairly low.

There are three different types of appeals, and each path has its own deadlines and requirements. The appeals process can be daunting, but you do not have to face it on your own. Federal law prevents you from hiring an attorney during the early stages, but on appeal, you can engage with a lawyer who can handle everything for you.

Learn How Gang & Associates Can Help

At Gang & Associates, we can help you with your appeal, whether your claim was denied or your rating was unreasonably low. Our team understands what goes into a winning appeal and will work tirelessly to help you get the result you deserve.

It can be difficult to recognize that your service-connected disability is getting worse over time. We can help you throughout the appellate process, ensuring that you are treated fairly every step of the way. Reach out today to learn more.