When you left the military, you might not have thought you needed disability benefits. Maybe you were young and healthy, eager to move on, or didn’t even realize you were eligible. But years have passed, and the impact of your service has caught up with you. Now you’re wondering if it’s too late to apply for a VA rating increase.
The short answer is no. It’s very common to file what’s known as a “post-service disability claim” to increase your benefits, whether it’s been five, 15, or even 40 years since you separated from service. Your path might be a bit more complex, but you are not out of options. In fact, many veterans successfully file and win post-service disability claims decades after leaving the military. If you’re feeling the effects of service-connected health conditions now, it’s time to act.
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The Myth of “Too Late”
Unlike some government programs with rigid filing windows, VA benefits are structured to allow you to pursue a claim at any time after discharge. The condition is simple: you must demonstrate that your disability is linked to your service.
If you can establish service connection—whether through medical records, buddy statements, or nexus letters from a qualified provider—you have a valid claim.
Why You Might Be Eligible for Back Pay
One of the most compelling reasons to file a claim even years later is the possibility of receiving back pay. The VA generally awards retroactive pay from the date you filed your claim, not from the time you left the military. However, in specific circumstances—such as when your condition was noted in service but not officially rated—you may be able to argue for an earlier effective date.
For example, if you were denied for back pain years ago and new evidence in your health record, or a change in the law, now supports your case, you might qualify for a “reopened claim.” If approved, the VA could owe you years of missed compensation for your back condition. This can amount to tens of thousands of dollars in tax-free payments.
What If You Didn’t File Because You Didn’t Know?
It’s not uncommon to hear veterans say they didn’t apply for benefits earlier because they didn’t know they were eligible. You may not have known that conditions like sleep apnea, insomnia, tinnitus, GERD, or migraines could be connected to your service. You might not have realized how your military job, deployments, or toxic exposures could impact your health down the line.
The VA acknowledges that many veterans simply weren’t aware of the benefits available to them. Fortunately, the system allows you to come forward now, especially if your health has changed or new medical diagnoses have emerged. The longer you wait, the more benefits you might be leaving on the table.
Reopening Denied Claims Years Later
If you filed a claim years ago and it was denied, don’t assume that denial is permanent. The VA allows you to submit new and relevant evidence to reopen a previously denied claim. Maybe medical knowledge has evolved, or you’ve secured a nexus letter from a reputable provider linking your condition to your service. Even policy shifts, such as presumptive condition updates, can give you grounds to reopen a claim that was once rejected.
If your original claim lacked the documentation or clarity needed at the time, you may be able to access tools and support to strengthen your case.
Presumptive Conditions Make It Easier
Another key reason to reconsider filing is the growing list of presumptive conditions. These are specific illnesses or injuries the VA presumes are connected to service, and they are among the easiest VA claims to win.
For example, if you develop lung cancer or Parkinson’s Disease after being exposed to Agent Orange while in the military, the VA will presume that your condition was caused by your chemical exposure. Other examples include different cancers the military presumes were caused by exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune or cancer and respiratory illnesses from exposure to burn pits. Note that the PACT Act passed by Congress in 2022 increased the list of presumptive conditions, which made it simpler and more straightforward for veterans to qualify for benefits.
There’s one caveat. Some presumptive conditions must be claimed within a year of leaving the military to be waved through without requiring proof of a service connection. You can certainly still claim these conditions beyond the year mark, but you may need to provide evidence and a medical opinion verifying a link between your service and your condition.
Check out the VA’s PACT Act information page1for a complete list of presumptive conditions and what you’ll need in order to apply for them.
What You Can Do Right Now
If you think you may be eligible for a VA rating increase, but you’ve been out of the military for a while, follow these steps:
Submit Your Intent to File
Even if you’re not 100% sure you want to file a VA claim, it’s wise to submit an Intent to File form (VA Form 21-0966).2 This form creates an “early effective date” for your claim, which could potentially allow you to receive retroactive payments if the VA approves your claim. You will have one year from the day you submit your Intent to File to submit your actual claim.
Gather Evidence
Gather documentation related to your service and your current condition. This could include your DD214 (certificate of release or discharge from active military service), service medical records, and civilian medical records.
Consider Writing a Personal Statement
Sometimes, the effects of your condition are not fully described in your medical records alone. For example, if you have developed depression due to traumatic events in the military, your health record may not adequately show how this disease affects you from day to day.
That’s where your personal statement comes in. This brief statement should describe the military experiences that led to your condition, the dates your condition developed or worsened, and the ways your condition affects your professional and personal life.
Get a Nexus Letter
In order to get VA benefits, you must always prove that your condition is service-connected. A nexus letter is a great way to do this. Not everyone needs a nexus letter. For example, if your service records contain a diagnosis and documentation about your medical condition, you don’t likely need a nexus letter. Or if you have a presumptive condition, you may not need a nexus letter. Otherwise, it’s always a good policy to get a letter from a doctor (such as your private physician) explaining that it is “at least as likely as not” that your condition is service-connected.
Submit Your Claim Using the Correct Form
If you’re opening a new claim, you can use VA Form 21-526EZ3 (“Application for Disability Compensation and Related Compensation Benefits”). If you’re presenting new evidence to strengthen a claim that was denied, use VA Form 20-0995.4
Get Help
You don’t need to go it alone. Veterans disability consulting services can help you submit a compelling disability claim—no matter how long it has been since you left the service. They can help you work smarter, not harder, using tools and templates to expedite and strengthen your claim. They understand the nuances of both old and new VA regulations and can help you navigate them.
Don’t Let Time Discourage You
Waiting doesn’t disqualify you. Your service still counts. Your pain is still valid. And the benefits you earned are still on the table. It might take more effort to collect the necessary evidence, but thousands of veterans like you have succeeded in receiving life-changing compensation long after their military careers ended.
1https://www.va.gov/resources/the-pact-act-and-your-va-benefits/
2https://www.va.gov/find-forms/about-form-21-0966/
3https://www.va.gov/find-forms/about-form-21-526ez/
4https://www.va.gov/find-forms/about-form-20-0995/