VA Disability 5, 10, and 20 Year Rules Explained

The VA disability 5, 10, and 20-year rule are federal protections that prevent the VA from reducing your disability rating or severing your service connection after certain time periods, helping ensure long-term stability of your VA disability compensation and medical care.

These VA disability protection rules work as follows:

• 5-year rule: The VA cannot reduce your disability rating unless medical evidence shows sustained, material improvement over time (38 C.F.R. § 3.344)
• 10-year rule: The VA cannot sever service connection for your disability after 10 years, except in cases of fraud or lack of qualifying service (38 C.F.R. § 3.957)
• 20-year rule: The VA cannot reduce your disability rating below the level continuously in effect for 20 years, regardless of medical improvement (38 C.F.R. § 3.951)

These protections recognize the long-term and often permanent nature of many service-connected medical conditions, including PTSD, musculoskeletal injuries, and chronic pain. Because symptoms can fluctuate over time, these rules help ensure veterans maintain consistent access to disability compensation, treatment, and medical support without disruption.

Understanding the VA disability 5, 10, and 20-year rule is critical if you’ve held a rating for several years or are concerned about a potential reduction.

In this guide, we explain how each rule works, when your rating becomes protected, and what these safeguards mean for your long-term health and financial stability.

Key Takeaways

• VA Disability 5-Year Rule: Ratings that are stable for 5 years or more require evidence of sustained improvement for any reduction, protecting against one-off exam fluctuations. 

• VA 10-Year Rule: After 10 years, service connection for your disability can’t be severed, except in instances of fraud or lack of qualifying service/discharge. 

• VA 20-Year Rule: Your specific disability rating cannot be reduced below the level continuously in effect for 20 years, offering security for long-term health management. 

• VA 55-Year-Old Rule: Routine reexams are generally avoided after age 55, with exceptions for non-static conditions, allowing for focus on aging-related care. 

• Even 100% permanent and total (P&T) ratings can face scrutiny if improvement is identified, but these rules add protections that are especially important for conditions like PTSD, where symptoms fluctuate over time. 

VA Disability 5, 10, and 20-Year Rule Protection Chart

Source: 38 CFR § 3.344 and VA M21-1 Manual. 

What is the VA Disability 5-Year Rule?

The VA disability 5-year rule (often called the VA 5-year rule) is a cornerstone of rating stability under 38 CFR § 3.344. It focuses on the medical principle that many service-connected disabilities, such as PTSD or musculoskeletal issues, require time to assess true progress. 

If your rating has been active continuously for five years or more, the VA cannot reduce it based on a single examination showing temporary improvement. Instead, they must demonstrate sustained material improvement, confirmed by objective medical evidence. 

From a healthcare standpoint, this rule acknowledges the episodic nature of conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), where symptoms may improve during stable periods but flare under stress. It prevents disruptive rating changes that could interrupt therapy or medication regimens.  

For example, if a veteran’s PTSD rating has held at 50% for more than five years, a routine exam suggesting mild symptom relief wouldn’t trigger an immediate reduction. The VA requires more consistent medical records showing improvement, such as therapy notes or follow-up assessments. 

This protection is especially relevant for veterans in telehealth programs, where remote monitoring can provide the ongoing evidence needed to maintain ratings. Without this rule, abrupt reductions could delay access to specialized care, exacerbating mental health outcomes. 

What is the VA Disability 10-Year Rule?

The VA 10-year rule safeguards the very foundation of your benefits: service connection. Per 38 CFR § 3.957, once the VA establishes service connection for a disability, it cannot be terminated after 10 years from the effective date of the award, except in cases of proven fraud or if it is clearly shown the veteran lacked the required service or qualifying character of discharge. This means your eligibility for compensation, and associated healthcare, remains intact, even if new evidence questions the original link. 

Medically, this rule is vital for chronic conditions where initial diagnoses evolve over time. Consider a veteran service-connected for arthritis 12 years ago; even if later exams suggest non-service-related progression, the connection (and benefits) stay protected. For mental health, it ensures uninterrupted PTSD treatment. 

Telemedica sees this rule as a lifeline for veterans aging with comorbidities, allowing seamless integration of VA and private telehealth for holistic care without fear of benefit loss. 

What is the VA Disability 20-Year Rule?

Under the VA 20-year rule, any disability rating level continuously in effect for 20 years or more is cannot be reduced below that level. This applies to individual ratings and combined evaluations, creating a shield for your benefits. Fraud is the only exception. 

This long-term protection aligns with geriatric medicine principles, where disabilities like degenerative joint disease or persistent PTSD rarely fully resolve, even after decades. It allows veterans to plan for retirement and end-of-life care without rating volatility.  

The 20-year rule also applies to 100% permanent and total (P&T) disability. P&T status itself (indicating no future exams) won’t benefit you if the rating isn’t 20-year protected. 

In practice, this rule supports sustained pharmacological and psychological interventions, reducing the administrative burden on veterans focused on health maintenance. 

The VA 55-Year-Old Rule and Exceptions

While not one of the core “year rules,” the VA 55-year-old rule (and VA disability 55-year-old rule exceptions) complements them by limiting routine reexaminations for veterans aged 55 and older.  

VA policy indicates that reexams are not routinely scheduled unless there’s clear evidence of likely improvement, especially for ratings of 50% or higher. Exceptions include non-static conditions (e.g., those showing potential recovery) or fraud investigations. 

This age-based guideline recognizes age-related medical realities, like slower healing and increased comorbidity risks, along with minimizing exam-induced anxiety that could worsen conditions like PTSD. For veterans over 55, it shifts focus to preventive healthcare, such as chronic pain management, rather than assessments. 

Conclusion

The VA disability 5, 10, and 20-year rules exist to protect veterans from losing benefits simply because symptoms fluctuate or conditions evolve over time. These safeguards recognize that many service-connected conditions—especially PTSD, chronic pain, and orthopedic injuries—require ongoing care and may not improve in a predictable or permanent way.

As your rating remains in place longer, it becomes increasingly protected. After five years, the VA must show sustained improvement before reducing your rating. After ten years, your service connection is generally secure. After twenty years, your rating itself cannot be reduced below its protected level, except in rare cases involving fraud.

Understanding where you stand within these timelines can help you make informed decisions about your care, documentation, and future claims.

Consistent medical records and proper documentation play an important role in maintaining rating stability, particularly for conditions that require long-term treatment.

FAQ | Frequently Asked Questions

At what age does VA disability become permanent?

VA disability doesn’t automatically become permanent at a specific age; permanence is determined by medical evidence showing the condition is “reasonably certain to continue throughout the veteran’s life” (38 CFR § 3.340). The 55-year-old rule helps by limiting reexams, but P&T status requires VA certification based on severity and prognosis. 

Can the VA Take Away 100% Permanent and Total (P&T) disability?

No, not under normal circumstances. Once granted, a 100% P&T rating is protected for life with no future exams scheduled, as long as it’s based on accurate medical evidence. Reductions are possible is there is fraud found in the original claim, there is a Clear and Unmistakable Error (CUE), you file a new claim that triggers a full review, or if you’ve got TDIU-based P&T and your annual earnings are above the poverty level (around $15,000). 

Can the VA reduce your disability rating?

Yes, the VA can reduce a rating if medical evidence shows sustained improvement (38 CFR § 3.105(e)). However, protections like the 5-, 10-, and 20-year rules limit this, requiring due process and longitudinal proof. 

Can the VA reduce my rating after age 55?

Generally, no. Routine reexams are not scheduled after 55 unless improvement is indicated. Exceptions apply for non-static, high-rated (50% and higher) conditions. 

Can the VA reduce your disability rating for PTSD?

Yes, PTSD ratings can be reduced if evidence demonstrates sustained symptom improvement per the 5-year rule criteria. However, service connection (10-year rule) and rating level (20-year rule) remain protected, ensuring access to mental health services. 

Can the VA take away a static VA disability?

No, a “static” disability, meaning it’s unlikely to improve, typically means you’re on P&T status and won’t have any future exams, shielding it from reduction. If protected under the 20-year rule, it’s even more secure, barring fraud.