Can Your VA Disability Rating Go Down? Understanding Reduction Risks and Protections

One of the biggest fears veterans have about filing for a rating increase is the possibility that their current rating could be reduced instead. It is a legitimate concern -- the VA can lower your rating under certain circumstances. But the fear of reduction stops far too many veterans from pursuing the higher rating they have earned.

The reality is that rating reductions happen much less often than veterans think, and several powerful legal protections exist to prevent unjustified cuts. Understanding when the VA can reduce your rating -- and when they cannot -- will help you make an informed decision about whether to file.

When the VA Can Reduce Your Rating

The VA cannot reduce your rating arbitrarily. They must follow specific rules and provide due process before any reduction takes effect.

Clear Evidence of Sustained Improvement

The VA needs clear and unmistakable evidence that your condition has actually improved -- and that the improvement is sustained, not temporary. One good day at a C&P exam is not enough. They must show a pattern of improvement over time, typically 6-12 months of consistent evidence.

Evidence that might support a reduction includes:

• Medical records consistently showing decreased symptoms over an extended period
• C&P exam findings demonstrating objective improvement (better range of motion, fewer episodes, improved functioning)
• Successful medication reduction because the condition genuinely improved
• Return to higher-level functioning documented across multiple appointments

Routine Future Examinations

For ratings not marked as permanent, the VA can schedule routine future examinations (RFEs) to reassess your condition. These are system-generated and typically occur 2-5 years after your initial rating. If an RFE shows clear improvement, the VA may propose a reduction.

When You File for an Increase

Filing for an increase invites the VA to reevaluate your condition. The C&P examiner will assess whether your condition has worsened, stayed the same, or improved. While this opens a theoretical door to reduction, it rarely happens when the veteran files with strong evidence of worsening.

Fraud or Clear and Unmistakable Error

The VA can reduce or terminate a rating at any time if they discover fraud (you lied to obtain the rating) or a clear and unmistakable error in how the original rating was granted. These situations are rare and do not apply to normal rating increase scenarios.

Your Three Shields: The 5-Year, 10-Year, and 20-Year Rules

Congress has established powerful protections that make it increasingly difficult for the VA to reduce your rating over time. Understanding these rules is essential.

The 5-Year Rule (38 CFR 3.344)

What it does: After your rating has been in place continuously for 5 or more years, the VA must prove sustained improvement under ordinary conditions of life to reduce it.

What this means for you:

• A single exam showing improvement is not sufficient for reduction
• The VA must demonstrate that your improvement is genuine and stable -- not the result of temporary relief, special treatment, or unusual circumstances
• The burden of proof shifts significantly toward the VA
• Temporary good periods within an otherwise declining condition do not justify reduction

Example: You have been rated 50% for PTSD for 6 years. Even if one C&P examiner says your symptoms seem better, the VA cannot reduce your rating based on that single exam. They would need consistent evidence across multiple evaluations showing genuine sustained improvement in your daily life.

The 10-Year Rule (38 U.S.C. 1521)

What it does: After 10 continuous years of service connection for a condition, the VA cannot sever (terminate) your service connection entirely.

What this means for you:

• Your service connection for that condition is essentially permanent
• The VA can still reduce your percentage (from 50% to 30%, for example)
• But they cannot reduce it to 0% or say you are no longer service-connected
• The only exception is fraud

Example: You have been service-connected for a back injury for 12 years at 40%. Even if imaging shows some improvement, the VA cannot terminate your service connection. They could potentially reduce your percentage, but you will always be service-connected for that condition.

The 20-Year Rule (38 CFR 3.951(b))

What it does: After 20 continuous years at a particular rating percentage, the VA cannot reduce that rating below that level. Period.

What this means for you:

• Your rating percentage is locked in as a permanent floor
• Even if your condition improves significantly, your rating stays
• You can still file for increases with zero risk of going below your current level
• This is the strongest protection available to veterans

Example: You have been rated 70% for PTSD for 22 years. The VA cannot reduce you below 70% regardless of what any exam shows. You could file for 100% with no downside risk whatsoever.

Things That Do NOT Trigger Reductions

Veterans often worry about situations that actually have no effect on their rating:

• Having good days -- Normal symptom fluctuation is not evidence of sustained improvement
• Completing a treatment program -- Finishing therapy does not mean you are cured
• Getting older -- Age does not trigger reductions (many conditions worsen with age)
• Getting married or divorced -- Life changes do not affect your rating
• Casual comments to doctors -- Telling your doctor "I am feeling a little better today" at a single appointment is not grounds for reduction

How to Protect Yourself When Filing for an Increase

If you decide to file, these strategies minimize any risk of reduction:

Only File When You Have Real Evidence of Worsening

Do not file for an increase on a hunch or hope. File when you have medical records, lay statements, and other evidence showing your condition has objectively gotten worse. Strong evidence of worsening makes a reduction effectively impossible.

Be Honest and Thorough at C&P Exams

Describe your symptoms accurately, with an emphasis on your worst days and functional limitations. Do not exaggerate -- inconsistencies between your medical records and what you tell the examiner can create problems. But do not minimize either. Report the full picture of how your condition affects your daily life.

Maintain Consistent Medical Treatment

Continue seeing your doctors regularly. Gaps in treatment can be interpreted as improvement ("veteran stopped seeking treatment, suggesting condition improved"). Keep attending appointments and document ongoing symptoms at every visit.

Know Your Rating's Age

Check whether you have 5-year, 10-year, or 20-year protections. If your rating has been stable for 5 or more years, you have significantly more protection. If you have held the same percentage for 20 years, filing for an increase carries virtually no reduction risk.

What Happens If the VA Proposes a Reduction

If the VA does propose to reduce your rating, do not panic. You have rights:

1. 60-day notice -- The VA must send written notice before any reduction, explaining their reasoning
2. Your rating continues -- You keep receiving your current rate during the response period
3. Right to respond -- You have 60 days to submit evidence showing your condition has not improved
4. Right to a hearing -- You can request an in-person hearing to present your case
5. Protected rating arguments -- If you have 5-year or longer protections, cite them specifically

During your 60-day response window, get updated medical evidence, buddy statements, and if possible a private medical opinion showing your condition remains at the same severity or has worsened.

Weighing Risk vs. Reward

When deciding whether to file for an increase, consider your specific situation:

Lower risk scenarios -- You have a protected rating (5+ years), strong evidence of worsening, recent hospitalization or treatment escalation, or P&T status.

Higher risk scenarios -- Your rating is less than 5 years old, recent medical records show some improvement, you have reduced medications, or you lack strong evidence of worsening.

For most veterans with genuinely worsening conditions and solid evidence, the potential reward of a higher rating far outweighs the small risk of reduction. Do not let fear alone prevent you from claiming the benefits you have earned.

Use the Veterans Benefits Finder to see how a rating increase would affect your total benefit eligibility. Understanding the financial impact of a higher rating can help you decide whether filing makes sense.