When veterans muster out of the military, they often don’t make a big deal about their medical conditions. They go to the doctor occasionally, but otherwise, they manage their symptoms with over-the-counter medications.
Over time, a veteran’s condition may worsen. They can file a claim for an increased rating to receive higher monthly compensation benefits.
Expert Medical Opinions
The medical evidence you provide is critical to your claim, but so are the opinions of the doctors who treat you. VA claims representatives and veterans often overlook the importance of obtaining an expert medical opinion from a doctor not associated with their VA treatment providers.
The VA often lowers a veteran’s disability rating (which dictates their monthly compensation) when it determines that a condition has improved. This can happen with mental health conditions, gastrointestinal symptoms caused by medication, or other issues that get better over time.
If you believe your disability has worsened, it’s important to take action and file a new claim for an increased rating. Experienced VA attorneys can help you navigate this process, including requesting a C&P exam or filing an appeal. Increasing your service-connected disability rating can help you live a fuller life and avoid financial hardship.
Documentation
For veterans, detailed documentation is the key to winning a disability claim. This includes providing proof of treatment for any service-connected condition, submitting new medical evidence, and requesting reevaluation or filing an appeal when needed.
It is also important to consider secondary service connection claims. These are claims for conditions caused or aggravated by existing service-connected disabilities. For example, if a knee injury from service leads to hip problems or pain medication prescribed for a back injury causes gastrointestinal issues, those additional conditions may be compensable.
The VA must look at all disabling conditions when determining eligibility for benefits. This is especially true when evaluating combined ratings. For instance, let’s say a veteran has two service-connected disabilities, a TBI and a back injury, both rated at 50% each. The rating is calculated by taking 100 (representing a whole efficient person) and subtracting the highest individually rated condition.
Submitting a Claim for Increased Rating
If a disability worsens over time, veterans must submit a claim for an increased rating. Doing so can result in higher monthly compensation payments to help offset the costs of their conditions.
For some veterans, the increase in their ratings can make all the difference between a life of struggle and one that is more manageable. In addition, the additional money can also help supplement other income sources that may be dwindling due to the severity of their conditions.
For increased ratings, veterans must provide medical evidence demonstrating the severity of their condition has worsened since their initial diagnosis. This can include new private healthcare records, a reevaluation of an existing service-connected condition, a supplemental claim, or supporting statements (also known as buddy letters) from friends and family members.
Filing an Appeal
When it comes to the VA disability compensation system, there are three appeal pathways. Your attorney can help you determine which one is best for your case.
If you believe your rating is inaccurate or that your condition has deteriorated since the one-year appeal window passed, it may be possible to file a new claim for an increased rating score. The VA will treat this like a new disability claim and review the evidence you provide.
It is important to document ongoing symptoms. It is also a good idea to seek medical treatment and obtain a private doctor’s expert opinion on how your service-connected condition relates to your military service. Finally, attending any Compensation and Pension (C&P) exam the VA sends your way is important. This helps the VA verify that your symptoms are linked to your service-connected disability. If you have multiple conditions, make sure to provide buddy statements describing the effect that each has on your life.
