---
kind: "section"
citation: "38 U.S.C. § 1153"
title: "38"
title_heading: "Veterans’ Benefits"
number: "1153"
heading: "Aggravation"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/38/1153"
units:
  - "Part II — General Benefits"
  - "Chapter 11 — Compensation for Service-Connected Disability or Death"
  - "Subchapter VI — General Compensation Provisions"
---

# §1153. Aggravation


A preexisting injury or disease will be considered to have been aggravated by [active military, naval, air, or space service](/usc/38/101.md?p=24), where there is an increase in [disability](/usc/38/1701.md?p=1) during such service, unless there is a specific finding that the increase in [disability](/usc/38/1701.md?p=1) is due to the natural progress of the disease.


## Source credit

(Pub. L. 85–857, Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1124, § 353; renumbered § 1153, Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(a), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 406; Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title IX, § 926(a)(15), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 3830.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2021—Pub. L. 116–283 substituted “air, or space service” for “or air service”.

1991—Pub. L. 102–83 renumbered section 353 of this title as this section.