- Has your service-connected disability worsened since the date on which the VA granted your claim?
- Has your service-connected disability led to the onset of other problematic medical conditions?
If the answer to either of these questions is “yes,” then you may be eligible for an increase in your VA disability compensation rating — which means a higher monthly payout for you!
Many medical conditions unfortunately tend to get worse over time. For example:
- If you are receiving disability compensation for an injury to your back, shoulders, hips, arms, legs, feet, hands, etc., and the injury prevents you from engaging in more activities than it did on the date that the VA granted your claim, you should consider a claim to increase your disability compensation rating.
- If you are receiving disability compensation for migraine headaches, and the migraine headaches now occur more frequently and/or with greater severity than they did on the date when the VA granted your claim, you should consider a claim to increase your disability compensation rating.
- If you are receiving disability compensation for hearing loss, and your hearing is worse today than it was on the date when the VA granted your claim, you should consider a claim to increase your disability compensation rating.
- If you are receiving disability compensation for a condition or set of conditions that has worsened to the point where you cannot maintain full-time employment, you should consider a claim to increase your disability compensation rating.
Additionally, new medical conditions may develop as a result of your service-connected disability. For example:
- Your service-connected back injury may affect the way that you walk, causing new injuries in your hips, legs, and/or knees.
- Your service-connected Type II diabetes may cause hypertension or neuropathy.
- Your service-connected prostate cancer may cause erectile dysfunction, infertility, and/or bone weakness.
- Your service-connected disability that requires pain medication may cause gastrointestinal problems, such as GERD, acid reflux, and/or irritable bowel syndrome.
- Your service-connected post-traumatic stress disorder may cause hypertension, coronary heart disease, and/or alcoholism or substance abuse disorder.
Our Veterans Benefits Advisors will gladly work with you to determine if you are eligible for an increased rating from the VA — and, if you are, they will gladly prepare and file your claim for an increased disability compensation rating.