Yes. There is no rule against filing an increase claim for an existing service-connected condition and a new claim for a different condition in the same submission. Both can be filed together on VA Form 21-526EZ, which allows you to list multiple contentions in one application. If you have already received a decision on the back condition and are only seeking a higher rating based on worsening symptoms, that portion is technically a new claim for increase and does not require the Supplemental Claim form (20-0995) unless you are disputing a prior denial with new evidence.
For the back condition, an increase depends on current severity documented through your ongoing treatment records, imaging, and any functional limitations noted by your provider. VA rates degenerative disc disease under 38 CFR 4.71a, primarily by range-of-motion measurements and incapacitating episodes, so updated physical therapy notes and any range-of-motion testing will matter at a Compensation and Pension (C&P) exam.
Official 2026 VA monthly compensation, including the 2.8% COLA increase.
Dependent add-ons start at a 30% rating. Child-only and dependent-parent rates: see the full 2026 pay chart.
| Rating | Monthly (2026, incl. 2.8% COLA) |
|---|---|
| 10% | $180.42 |
| 20% | $356.66 |
| 30% | $552.47 |
| 40% | $795.84 |
| 50% | $1,132.90 |
| 60% | $1,435.02 |
| 70% | $1,808.45 |
| 80% | $2,102.15 |
| 90% | $2,362.30 |
| 100% | $3,938.58 |
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Analyze my claim free →For depression and anxiety, this would be treated as a new claim requiring three elements: a current diagnosis, an in-service event, injury, or stressor, and a medical nexus opinion linking the current diagnosis to that in-service occurrence. Since the described trigger happened during a deployment but was not combat-related, the stressor still needs to be documented — through service records, buddy statements from anyone who witnessed the change in behavior, or personal statements describing the incident and its aftermath. Continuous treatment records from community care therapy will support the current diagnosis element, and a nexus letter from a treating provider, even briefly stating a probable connection to the in-service event, can strengthen the claim before or after the required C&P exam.
Both claims will each get their own C&P exam and their own rating decision, though they may be processed in the same claims package. Ratings assigned can vary significantly based on documented symptom severity and functional impact, so outcomes are not predictable in advance.
A veteran in this situation should file VA Form 21-526EZ listing both the back increase and the new mental health claim, gather current treatment records and any statements documenting the in-service event and behavioral changes, and work with an accredited Veteran Service Officer (VSO) to help prepare the personal statement and nexus documentation before submission.
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