By: Woobie Editorial Team | Veteran Peer Mentor
Zero-Click Summary: If your PTSD symptoms have worsened since your last rating, you can request an increase. Success depends on new medical evidence showing that your functional impairment has grown more severe than your current evaluation reflects.
Ratings Are Not Always Permanent
Mental health conditions can change over time. A rating assigned years ago may no longer reflect how you function today. If your symptoms have intensified, filing for an increase asks the VA to re-evaluate your condition against current evidence.
The Key Is New Evidence
An increase is built on documentation showing worsening. That might include recent treatment notes, a new course of medication, hospitalization, or a clear record of declining function at work or home. The question the VA asks is whether your current level of impairment now matches a higher tier of the rating formula.
Describe the Change Honestly
When you talk with your provider, focus on what has changed. If you used to manage a full workday but now miss shifts, if relationships have deteriorated, or if new symptoms have emerged, say so plainly. Comparing your past and present functioning helps document the trajectory the VA needs to see.
Consider the Whole Picture First
Before filing, it is worth reviewing your full record with an accredited representative. In some cases, filing for an increase prompts a re-examination of the condition, so going in with strong, current evidence is important. Understanding the process reduces surprises.
Take Care of Yourself in the Process
Pursuing an increase often means revisiting difficult symptoms. Lean on your support system and your care team. Woobie’s educational resources can help you understand how worsening symptoms are documented, while the medical and advocacy decisions remain between you, your provider, and your representative.
Recognizing That It Is Time
Veterans often wait too long to seek an increase because worsening can be gradual. The shift from managing a full workweek to missing shifts, or from occasional irritability to constant conflict at home, can creep in slowly. A useful exercise is to compare your life now with your life when your current rating was assigned. If the gap is real and documented, an increase may be appropriate.
Building the Evidence for Worsening
The core of an increase claim is recent evidence that your impairment has grown. Treatment notes describing more frequent or severe symptoms, a change in medication, new diagnoses of related conditions, or employment records showing reduced capacity all contribute. The clearer the before-and-after, the stronger the case.
Understanding the Risks
Filing for an increase can trigger a fresh look at your condition. In most cases that simply confirms or raises your rating when evidence supports it, but it is wise to enter the process with current, solid documentation and the guidance of an accredited representative. Going in prepared reduces uncertainty.
Common Questions
How often can I file for an increase? There is no fixed waiting period; file when you have evidence that your condition has worsened.
Will my rating ever be reduced? Reductions are possible if evidence shows sustained improvement, which is another reason accurate, honest documentation matters.
What if my symptoms vary? Document both your typical and worst periods so the record reflects the full range of your impairment.
Documenting the Trajectory
An increase claim is fundamentally a story of change over time, so the most persuasive evidence shows a trajectory rather than a single bad day. Think in terms of before and after. What could you do a year or two ago that you struggle with now? Did you once hold steady employment but now miss work regularly? Were you managing relationships that have since frayed? Capturing this arc, supported by treatment notes and, where possible, employment or family corroboration, makes the worsening concrete. Vague claims of ‘feeling worse’ are harder to evaluate than a documented decline in specific areas of functioning. The clearer your trajectory, the easier it is for an evaluator to see why your current rating no longer reflects your reality.
Key Takeaways
Before you file, gather your evidence and look at it as a whole. Recent treatment notes, medication changes, employment records, and honest accounts of how your daily functioning has declined all build the case for an increase. Enter the process informed about the possibility of re-examination, and lean on an accredited representative for guidance. Above all, take care of yourself while revisiting difficult symptoms; pursuing an increase should support your wellbeing, not undermine it. Preparation and honest documentation are the two things most within your control. If you are unsure whether your evidence is strong enough yet, it is reasonable to spend a few weeks building a fresh, dated record of your current functioning before you file, so the claim opens from a position of clarity rather than guesswork.
This article is provided for educational purposes only and does not guarantee any VA decision, rating, or outcome. Woobie is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Always consult an accredited representative for advice specific to your situation.