Rating increases · South Dakota
Increase Your VA Disability Rating
Many South Dakota veterans were rated years ago and never revisited it. If your conditions have gotten worse, or you never claimed everything, your rating may not reflect where you are today.
- Rating decision review
- Worsened-condition evidence
- Secondary conditions
- Missed & unclaimed conditions
Thank you!
A member of our team will reach out within one business day to schedule your free case review.
Four Ways to Raise Your Combined Rating
1. File for an increase on a condition that has worsened
The VA rates conditions on current severity under the rating schedule (38 CFR Part 4). If your back, knees, PTSD, migraines or other conditions are worse than your current percentage describes, you can file for an increase with recent medical evidence.
2. Claim secondary conditions
A service-connected condition can cause or worsen others, and each can be rated on its own. Common examples include sleep apnea or depression secondary to PTSD, radiculopathy secondary to a back condition, and hip or knee problems from an altered gait.
3. Claim conditions you never filed for
Tinnitus, hearing loss, scars, and PACT Act presumptive conditions are some of the most commonly missed. If it started in service, or was caused by something that did, it may be claimable.
4. Look at TDIU if you can’t work
If service-connected conditions keep you from holding steady employment, Individual Unemployability (TDIU) can pay at the 100% rate even if your combined rating is lower.
What Would a Higher Rating Pay?
Monthly VA disability compensation, effective December 1, 2025. Combine your ratings and add dependents in our free calculator.
What Evidence Supports an Increase?
- Recent treatment records showing current symptoms, frequency and severity.
- A clear description of flare-ups. The VA should consider how you function on bad days, not just the day of the exam.
- Range-of-motion measurements for joint and spine conditions, including where pain begins.
- Statements from you and people who know you about how the condition affects work, sleep and daily life.
- Work impact. Missed days, accommodations, or job changes because of your conditions.
Before your C&P exam, review the rating criteria for your condition so you understand what the examiner will measure, then describe your symptoms accurately and completely.
Can Filing for an Increase Lower My Rating?
Any new exam can find improvement as well as worsening, so it’s worth reviewing your situation before you file. Some ratings have extra protection: a rating held for 20 years or more generally can’t be reduced below that level, and ratings in place for 5 years or more require stronger evidence of sustained improvement before the VA can reduce them.
If the VA proposes a reduction, you generally have 60 days to send evidence, and requesting a hearing within 30 days keeps your payments unchanged until it’s held.
That’s exactly what a free case review is for: making sure an increase claim makes sense before you file.
VA Rating Increases: Common Questions
How do I file for a VA rating increase?
You file for an increase the same way you file a new claim, on VA Form 21-526EZ or online at VA.gov, listing the condition you believe has worsened and including recent medical evidence.
How do I go from 70% to 100%?
There are usually three routes: increases on existing conditions, new or secondary conditions that raise your combined rating, or TDIU if your service-connected conditions prevent steady employment. Because VA math gets harder at higher ratings, the right strategy depends on your specific ratings.
What is a secondary condition?
A secondary condition is one caused or made worse by a condition that is already service-connected, such as sleep apnea secondary to PTSD. It’s rated separately and added to your combined rating.
Why did my combined rating barely change after a new rating?
The VA combines ratings using a “whole person” method, applying each new rating to what’s left after your existing ratings. That’s why adding 10% to an 80% rating may not move the combined number. Our VA disability calculator shows how it works.
South Dakota Veterans: Get the Rating You Earned
Start with a free, no-obligation case review. It takes about a minute.