When the time to retire from military service has come, receiving medical records and a rating for your disabilities by the Department of Veterans Affairs is essential to returning to civilian life.
When you get rated, the VA determines if you are eligible for compensation for service-connected medical conditions. Most disabled American Veterans assume that this is a one-time-only process. It is not. If your conditions worsen, you have the right to increase your VA disability rating.
You can petition the VA to review your condition for a revised rating. There are no guarantees when pursuing an increase for your VA disability rating. There is even potential that the Department of Veterans Affairs may lower the rating based on the evidence you submit. However, most cases can receive the rating and monthly compensation they deserve with the proper consultation and guidance.
Is Applying for an Increased Disability Rating Risky?
Yes, suppose you apply for an increase without utilizing helpful tools or understanding the VA’s process. You will likely get no change in your rating or even potentially get a decrease in your disability rating.
Therefore, it is important to use resources available to you, such as DBQPro, to navigate better and understand the VA claims process.
How To Prepare For A Request
Suppose you feel confident that you are eligible for an increase. In that case, you will need to submit a request for the VA to review your medical condition. Before you submit, some steps can help you make your claim as strong as possible to get an increase in your VA disability rating.
Gather Evidence To Prove Your Worsened Conditions
The VA will want to know what service-connected conditions have worsened and how that change occurred. There is a misconception that the VA will help you gather the evidence. They will not. It is your claim, and you will have to gather evidence from being evaluated.
We recommend you obtain an evaluation by an independent medical provider not associated with the VA. Ideally, by an expert in disability medicine who can help make more sense of the medical issues that may have been misdiagnosed during the VA’s review process.
DBQPro works with a network of medical professionals experienced in the VA claims process. They prioritize legitimacy and consider your word; only you know how you feel.
File a VA Claim to Increase Your Disability Rating
You will need to fill out the VA Form 21-526EZ. VA instructs those submitting a claim to increase their disability rating to fill out and submit the Application for Disability Compensation and Related Compensation Benefits, VA Form 21-526EZ. You can file a claim online.
The best way veterans apply for increased disability compensation is through the eBenefits portal. This online application process allows you to upload all documentation and file a claim without paperwork in person.
