Aggravation

VA Terminology Definition

Plain English Definition

When military service made an existing condition permanently worse. Even if you had the condition before service, you can be compensated for the worsening.

Why This Matters

If you had a condition before service and it got worse during service, you may be entitled to compensation for the degree of worsening.

Example

You had mild asthma before joining. After exposure to burn pits, your asthma became severe. The VA can rate you for the aggravation (worsening) caused by service.