The VA may schedule a re-examination when it believes a condition has improved since the last rating. Under 38 CFR § 3.327, the VA generally schedules re-exams 2–5 years after the initial rating, or when there is evidence of improvement in a condition.
However, a re-examination alone doesn't automatically result in a reduction. The VA must follow strict procedural requirements before lowering any rating, and those requirements get progressively harder to meet the longer your rating has been in place.
The key regulation governing rating reductions is 38 CFR § 3.344. It establishes the standard the VA must meet before reducing a rating and gives veterans the right to present evidence before a proposed reduction takes effect.
Under 38 CFR § 3.102, when there is approximate balance of positive and negative evidence regarding any issue material to a veteran's claim, the VA must give the benefit of the doubt to the veteran. This applies to rating reduction cases as well — if the evidence doesn't clearly show sustained improvement, the rating should not be reduced.
A rating that has been continuously in effect for 5 or more years is considered a "stabilized" rating under 38 CFR § 3.344(a). To reduce a stabilized rating, the VA must demonstrate that the improvement in the disability is sustained — not just observed at a single examination.
What "sustained improvement" means in practice:
Before any reduction takes effect, the VA must send a written notice proposing the reduction and give the veteran 60 days to submit evidence and 30 days to request a hearing. If you receive a proposed rating reduction letter, you must respond within those windows or you lose those rights.
A service connection that has been in place for 10 or more years cannot be severed except in two narrow circumstances under 38 CFR § 3.957:
Note what this rule protects: the service connection itself — the legal finding that your condition is linked to your military service. The VA cannot simply decide after 10 years that your condition isn't service-connected and eliminate your eligibility entirely.
The rating percentage assigned to that service-connected condition can still be adjusted based on medical evidence of change. But the underlying service connection — the foundation of your benefits — is essentially locked in after 10 years.
This is especially important for veterans who received service connection for conditions like PTSD, back injuries, or hearing loss. Even if a C&P exam suggests improvement, the VA cannot eliminate the service connection after 10 years absent fraud or clear error.
A rating that has been continuously held for 20 or more years is considered permanent under 38 U.S.C. § 110. This means the VA cannot reduce that rating at all, except in cases of fraud.
The 20-year rule applies to the rating level itself, not just service connection. If your 50% rating for PTSD has been in place continuously for 20 years, the VA cannot reduce it to 30% — period. The rating is locked permanently at that level.
Key nuances of the 20-year rule:
A proposed rating reduction from the VA is not a final decision — it's a notice that the VA is considering reducing your rating. You have rights at this stage, and exercising them promptly is critical.
If you receive a proposed rating reduction notice and don't respond within the required windows, the VA can finalize the reduction without a hearing. Even if you ultimately appeal, you lose the right to a predetermination hearing. The moment you receive that letter, act on it.
Beyond the 20-year rule, veterans can receive a "Permanent and Total" (P&T) designation, which means the VA has determined the condition is not expected to improve. A P&T designation essentially removes a condition from the re-examination pool — the VA will not schedule routine re-exams for conditions rated P&T.
P&T status also unlocks additional benefits: CHAMPVA healthcare for dependents, in-state tuition for dependents in many states, and Chapter 35 Dependents' Educational Assistance, among others. If you've had a 100% rating for several years and haven't applied for P&T status, it's worth discussing with a VA attorney.
Your rating history is documented in your VA claims file (C-file). You can request your C-file through the VA's FOIA process. Your rating decision letters also show the effective dates for each rating. If you've been receiving benefits for years and aren't sure of your timeline, a VA attorney can pull your history and advise you on which protections apply.
Editorial Standards: This article was written by Marcus J. Webb, a veterans benefits researcher who has studied 38 CFR Part 4, the VA M21-1 Adjudication Manual, and thousands of BVA decisions. Content is verified against current 38 CFR regulations and VA.gov guidance. Last reviewed: April 2026. Not legal advice — for representation on your specific claim, talk to a VA-accredited attorney.
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