Rating Increases
When your service-connected condition has worsened, the VA owes you a higher rating — and the back pay that comes with it
When Your Condition Gets Worse, Your Rating Should Go Up
Under 38 CFR §3.327, the VA can reexamine a veteran at any time to determine whether a condition has improved or worsened. But the VA rarely initiates increases on its own — it is up to you to file a claim for increased compensation when your condition deteriorates.
A rating increase claim tells the VA: my service-connected condition is worse than it was when you last rated it, and the current rating no longer reflects my actual level of disability. The VA then schedules a new C&P exam, and if the exam supports a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic code criteria, your rating is increased.
The effective date for an increase is generally the date the claim is filed or the date entitlement arose, whichever is later. If medical evidence shows the condition met the criteria for a higher rating before you filed, the effective date can go back up to one year before the filing date.
The DeLuca Factors — What the Examiner Must Measure
For musculoskeletal claims, the DeLuca v. Brown decision (8 Vet. App. 202 (1995)) requires the VA to consider functional loss beyond static range-of-motion measurements. These factors are legally required:
When an examiner records only a baseline measurement and ignores flare-up functional loss, the exam is inadequate under 38 CFR §3.159 and is legally challengeable through an HLR or Board appeal.
Common Diagnostic Codes for Rating Increases
| Condition | Code | Rating Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Lumbar Spine | DC 5242, 5243 | Range of motion, DeLuca factors, incapacitating episodes (IVDS) |
| Cervical Spine | DC 5237 | Range of motion, DeLuca factors |
| Knee (flexion) | DC 5261 | Range of motion in degrees |
| Shoulder | DC 5200, 5201 | Range of motion, dominant vs. non-dominant arm |
| Hip (flexion) | DC 5251 | Range of motion in degrees |
| PTSD / Mental Health | DC 8045, 9411 | Occupational and social impairment level under §4.130 |
Signs Your Condition Warrants a Higher Rating
Rating Protections — 38 CFR §3.344
Veterans with ratings held for 5 or more years are protected by stabilization rules. The VA must show sustained improvement — not just a single good day — before reducing a stabilized rating. Ratings held for 20 or more years cannot be reduced except in cases of fraud.
We assess these protections before filing any increase claim to ensure the risk-reward calculus is in your favor.
Related Services
A worsening primary condition often spawns secondary conditions — each one adds to your combined rating
A current DBQ and targeted medical evidence are the keys to a successful rating increase
See exactly how a single increase affects your total — and where the rounding thresholds fall
The Advocate's Take
Service-connected conditions do not stay static — they get worse over time. But veterans often sit on the same rating for years because they do not realize they can file for an increase, or they are afraid of triggering a reduction.
We evaluate the risk, obtain a current DBQ that documents the worsening, and file for the rating your condition actually warrants today. If you are on more medication, have worse symptoms, or can do less than you could when you were last rated — your rating should be higher. And if the worsening has spawned secondary conditions, we claim those too.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I file for a rating increase?
Will filing for an increase trigger a reduction in my current rating?
Can I file for an increase on a 0% service-connected condition?
How does a rating increase affect my combined rating?
What evidence is most effective for a rating increase?
What are the DeLuca factors and why do they matter for rating increases?
What is the effective date for a rating increase?
How a Single Rating Increase Changes Your Combined Total
See how the VA combined rating formula works. A single condition increase can push you past a rounding threshold — the difference between 60% and 70% is $500+ per month.
Why 50% + 30% Does NOT Equal 80%
The VA uses “whole-person” math, not simple addition. This is how ratings really stack.
The VA always begins from a whole, healthy person (100%).
50% of 100 is subtracted. You have 50% “efficiency” left.
30% is taken from the REMAINING 50 (0.30 × 50 = 15). 50 − 15 = 35 left.
100 − 35 = 65, then rounded to the nearest 10 → 70%.
Bottom line: two 50% ratings combine to 75% → rounded to 80%, not 100%. Every rating you add is worth less than the last. That is why which conditions you claim — and in what order — matters as much as how many.
Real Veterans. Real Claims. Real Outcomes.
Every case on this desk belongs to someone who served. These are the veterans this practice represents — across every era, branch, and condition.
Veteran Representation
Veteran Representation
Veteran RepresentationKnow What the C&P Exam Should Look Like
A new C&P exam is required for most rating increase claims. Watch what the exam should look like.
Your VA Claim Exam: What to Expect
Tips to Prepare for Your VA Claim Exam
Three Ways to Put an Accredited Agent on Rating Increases
No fee unless you win. An accredited agent #45147 personally reviews every request — we respond within 48 hours.
Book a Free Consultation
Pick a time to talk through Rating Increases with our team — no pressure, no obligation.
Hire Us · File VA Form 21-22a
Appoint us as your accredited representative and get registered as a client so we can act on your behalf.
Call an Accredited Agent
Speak to a real person on our team right now.
702-992-4883