There is no deadline for filing a VA disability claim. Whether it has been two years or twenty since your discharge, you can still file for an increase on your existing knee rating, and you can file original claims for conditions that were never rated, including PTSD, back problems, or other issues connected to your service. The key is establishing service connection: a current diagnosis, an in-service event or injury, and a medical nexus linking the two. For a condition like a back injury, you may also be able to claim it as secondary to your service-connected knee if a doctor can show the knee altered your gait or biomechanics over time, which is a common and well-recognized theory in VA claims.
For an increase on an already service-connected condition, use VA Form 20-0995 (Supplemental Claim, if you have new and relevant evidence) or request a Higher-Level Review (VA Form 20-0996) if you believe the original decision was wrong based on the evidence already of record. For entirely new conditions, such as PTSD, you would typically file an original claim using VA Form 21-526EZ, supported by medical records, a stressor statement if PTSD is combat-related, and any available buddy statements.
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 |
Does your rating decision hold up under a real audit?
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Analyze my claim free →You do not need to pay for help. Accredited Veterans Service Officers (VSOs) through organizations like the DAV, VFW, or American Legion, as well as accredited claims agents and attorneys, can represent you at no cost for the initial claims process. Be cautious of any service asking for upfront fees to file a claim, since accredited representatives are barred from charging for help with an initial claim.
It's worth noting that PTSD claims can be complicated, and outcomes vary significantly case by case. Among the appealed VA decisions in VetAid's library, a majority of appealed PTSD denials were sent back for further review rather than upheld outright, though this reflects only cases that were already appealed, not the odds for a first-time claim, and appealed cases are not a random sample of all claims.
The concrete next step is to contact an accredited VSO, such as through your local DAV or VFW office, to begin gathering your service and medical records and file a claim for PTSD, your back condition, and an increase on your knee rating.
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