Service-connected conditions rarely stand still. The knee that was a 10% in your forties may be a lot worse at sixty. The back that bothered you on long flights now keeps you off your feet. If your condition has gotten worse, VA has a claim for that, and you can file it from anywhere in the world.
Before you click submit, though, it pays to understand how an increase claim works, what evidence VA wants, how the effective date is set, and the one risk that every veteran should think through first.
What a claim for increase is
VA's page on types of claims says you can file a claim for increased disability compensation if you have a rated service-connected disability that has gotten worse. You can ask for a higher rating or for more financial support. VA says you will need to submit up-to-date medical evidence that shows your disability has gotten worse.
That is different from a few other claim types you may hear about:
| Your situation | Claim type |
|---|---|
| A rated service-connected condition has gotten worse | Increased claim |
| A new condition caused by a service-connected one (for example, arthritis caused by a service-connected knee injury) | Secondary claim |
| A condition VA denied before, and you now have new and relevant evidence or a change in law applies | Supplemental Claim |
| You disagree with a decision VA made within the last year | Decision review |
The distinction matters. If your knee is worse, that is an increase. If your bad knee has thrown off your gait and now your hip hurts, the hip is a secondary claim. You can file both on the same form.
If you have a 0% rating
A 0% rating means VA has found the condition service connected but does not pay compensation for it. VA calls this a non-compensable disability. VA's non-compensable disability page says you can request a higher rating if you think your condition is more severe than 0% or it has gotten worse over time. That page also says VA may raise your rating to 10% if you have 2 or more permanent service-connected 0% conditions, no compensable ratings, and the conditions interfere with your work. If you qualify, VA says it does this automatically.
How ratings and combined ratings work
VA's ratings page says it assigns a rating based on the severity of your service-connected condition, using the evidence you provide, any claim exam results, and information from other sources.
If you have more than one rating, VA does not simply add them. It uses what it calls the "whole person theory." VA's own example: two disabilities rated 10% each give a combined value of 19%, not 20%. VA then rounds the combined value to the nearest 10% (values ending in 1 to 4 go down, 5 to 9 go up), so in that example the final rating would be 20%. With other combinations the rounding can go down instead. This is why an increase on one condition does not always move your combined rating as much as you expect. Run the numbers with VA's method, or ask your representative, before you set your hopes on a particular percentage.
The risk to think through first
An increase claim opens the condition for a fresh look. VA's ratings page says VA may increase or decrease your compensation amount in certain situations. If the new evidence or exam shows the condition is better than when it was last rated, a higher rating is not guaranteed and a lower one is possible.
That does not mean you should not file. It means you should file when your medical records clearly show the condition is worse, not on a good week when you feel strong. An accredited representative can look at your current rating and your medical records and tell you whether the evidence supports the increase. That review is free from a VSO representative.
Effective date: when an increase starts paying
VA's effective dates page says VA dates back increases to the earliest date when you can show there was an increase in disability, but only if VA gets the claim within 1 year from that date. Otherwise, the effective date is the date VA gets the claim.
In plain terms: if your doctor documented a clear worsening eight months ago, and you file now, the increase may reach back to that documented date. If the worsening was documented two years ago and you file now, the clock generally starts on the day VA receives your claim. Do not sit on a worsening condition for years.
Step by step: filing an increase from overseas
- Get current medical evidence. See your doctor where you live and ask for a written record of the current state of the condition: exam findings, range of motion measurements where relevant, imaging, test results, medications and how often you need treatment. Old records showing the condition years ago do not prove it is worse now.
- Ask about a DBQ. A Disability Benefits Questionnaire is a VA form for your provider. VA's claim exam page says your own provider can complete one and submit it to VA, but VA will not pay or reimburse the cost. A DBQ lines up your doctor's findings with the criteria VA uses to rate the condition.
- Write a short personal statement. Describe what you can no longer do, how often flare-ups happen, missed work and how daily life has changed. Supporting statements from family or friends are also listed as evidence on VA's how to file page.
- Update your contact details. VA's overseas page says to give VA your physical address (even if you use a separate mailing address), phone and email, and warns a claim may be delayed or denied otherwise. Upload VA Form 21-4138 if you need to state your physical address.
- File VA Form 21-526EZ online. The same form covers new, increased and secondary claims. Online is the practical route from abroad. Select the existing condition and indicate that it has worsened, and add any secondary conditions on the same claim.
- Upload everything with the claim. VA's how to file page says submitting all supporting documents with the claim helps VA process it faster. It also says you have up to 365 days after filing to submit more evidence.
- Prepare for a possible exam. VA may schedule a claim exam near your home. You will not get travel reimbursement if you live outside the U.S. or its territories. Our post on C&P exams overseas covers what to expect.
- Read the decision carefully. If you disagree, VA's after you get a rating page says that if you disagree with your rating you need to act within 1 year of getting your decision notice.
Evidence that works, and evidence that does not
What tends to help:
- Recent records (the last few months) that describe symptoms and limits in detail
- Objective findings: measurements, imaging, lab results, test scores
- A record of treatment frequency, such as therapy sessions, injections or emergency visits
- A completed public DBQ that matches your condition
- Statements from you and people who see you every day
What tends not to help:
- A note that only says "condition worse" with no findings
- Records from years ago that VA already considered
- Untranslated records VA cannot read. If your records are not in English, ask your representative how to handle translation before you file.
Example (hypothetical, not a real person): An Army veteran in Valencia, Spain, has a 10% rating for his lower back. In the last year his doctor has added nerve symptoms down one leg and documented reduced range of motion. He gets a copy of his MRI, has his doctor complete the back DBQ, and writes a one-page statement about missing work and giving up long walks. His wife writes a short statement too. He files online for an increase on the back and a secondary claim for the nerve condition, uploading everything on the same day.
Common mistakes on overseas increase claims
- Filing without fresh medical evidence. VA needs to see that it is worse now. A claim with no current records relies entirely on the exam.
- Filing on a good day. Make sure your records reflect how the condition really affects you, including flare-ups.
- Waiting too long. The effective date only reaches back if VA gets your claim within 1 year of the documented worsening.
- Missing the exam. VA says a missed exam delays your claim and VA may decide on the evidence it has.
- Forgetting secondary conditions. If a service-connected condition has caused another problem, claim it at the same time.
Need time to gather records? Use an Intent to File
Getting records from a hospital abroad can take a while. An Intent to File sets a potential start date for your benefits and gives you 1 year to complete the claim. VA's Intent to File page says that if you start a disability claim online with an identity-verified VA.gov account, VA submits the intent automatically. You can also use VA Form 21-0966. VA says you can have only 1 active intent to file at a time, so do not let one lapse while you wait on paperwork.
For questions from abroad, VA's overseas page lists the general benefits line at +1 412-395-6272, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern, and recommends Ask VA online for written questions.
Get a second set of eyes
A free accredited VSO representative can review your current rating, your evidence and the combined rating math before you file. That is especially worth doing if you are close to a threshold that matters to you. Our post on finding an accredited representative abroad walks through it. For the broader process, see our claims from overseas guide, and for how a higher rating affects payments overseas, see VA benefits paid abroad.
Common questions
Which form do I use for a rating increase?
VA Form 21-526EZ, the same form used for new and secondary disability claims. Filing online is the practical option from overseas.
Can my rating go down if I ask for an increase?
It can. VA says it may increase or decrease compensation in certain situations, so file when current medical evidence clearly shows the condition is worse.
How far back will an increase be paid?
VA dates an increase to the earliest date you can show the increase, but only if VA gets your claim within 1 year of that date. Otherwise it is the date VA receives the claim.
I have a 0% rating. Can I ask for more?
Yes. VA says you can request a higher rating if the condition is more severe than 0% or has worsened. VA may also raise you to 10% automatically if you have 2 or more permanent 0% conditions that interfere with work and no compensable ratings.
Will VA pay for my doctor to complete a DBQ?
No. VA says it will not pay or reimburse the cost of your own provider completing a DBQ.
Ask vets who have done it
Post your question in the free community. Members in your country have usually been through it.
Published October 4, 2026. Information only, not legal, tax, immigration or medical advice. Confirm with the official sources.
