When Do VA Disability Ratings Become Permanent?

Posted by Gregory M. Rada | March 26, 2025 | Firm News

Veterans often ask when their VA disability rating becomes permanent. A permanent rating means the VA recognizes your condition isn’t going to improve and that your benefits are protected from future reductions. For veterans who rely on their disability compensation, this kind of stability brings peace of mind. In this post, we’ll break down the rules the VA follows, how to tell if your rating is permanent, and what it means for your long-term benefits.

Table of Contents

• What Does It Mean for a VA Rating to Be Permanent?
• The 5-Year Rule
• The 10-Year Rule
• The 20-Year Rule
• Signs Your VA Rating Is Permanent and Total (P&T)

What Does It Mean for a VA Rating to Be Permanent?

A permanent VA disability rating means the VA believes your condition is not expected to improve. Unlike temporary or fluctuating ratings, a permanent rating eliminates the need for future exams and protects your benefits from being reduced.

The VA doesn’t always tell you outright when a rating is permanent. You might have to look for clues in your decision letter, or wait until certain time-based protections apply.

The 5-Year Rule

The VA’s 5-year rule says that if your rating has stayed the same for five years or more, the VA cannot reduce it unless there is strong evidence that your condition has improved on a sustained basis. Therefore VA cannot rely on only one VA exam to make that finding. This requirement acts as a safeguard to protect veterans from reductions as a result of temporary improvements.

This rule offers some protection, but it doesn’t guarantee permanency. The VA can still schedule exams, but it becomes harder for them to justify a reduction.

The 10-Year Rule

Under the 10-year rule, the VA generally cannot sever (completely take away) your service connection after ten years — even if your symptoms improve. This is not a protection from rating reductions, it’s protection from the VA attempting to remove or overturn a previous grant of service connection. There’s one big exception: fraud.

While the VA may still lower your rating, it can’t say your condition is no longer connected to your military service once that 10-year milestone is reached — unless fraud was involved.

The 20-Year Rule

The 20-year rule is the strongest protection. Once a VA disability rating has been in place for 20 years, the VA cannot reduce it below its original level — unless there was fraud.

So even if your condition improves, the VA must continue to pay you at least the level of benefits you were originally awarded.

Signs Your VA Rating Is Permanent and Total (P&T)

A Permanent and Total (P&T) rating means your condition is both totally disabling and not expected to improve. This often brings additional benefits — like healthcare for dependents and eligibility for Chapter 35 education benefits.

Here’s how to tell if your rating is P&T:

• The VA checked the “Permanent and Total” box on your decision letter.
• Your letter says, “no future exams are scheduled.”
• You’re awarded Chapter 35 Dependents’ Educational Assistance.
• Your rating is listed as 100% with no future exams or scheduled reviews.

Conclusion

A permanent VA disability rating means fewer exams, protected benefits, and peace of mind for veterans and their families. Whether you’re navigating the 5-year rule or wondering if your 100% rating is permanent, it’s important to know your rights.

If you’re unsure whether your rating is permanent — or you think it should be — we can help. At After Service, we help veterans across the country fight for the benefits they earned. Schedule your free consultation today.