The VA 5, 10, and 20-year rules: when your rating is protected from reduction

One of the biggest fears after finally getting a rating is that the VA will take it away. Several rules protect ratings the longer you hold them. They are often misunderstood, so here is what each one actually does, and does not, do.

The 5-year rule (stabilized ratings)

Under 38 CFR 3.344, a rating that has been in effect and stable for five years or more is considered stabilized. To reduce it, the VA must show sustained material improvement under the ordinary conditions of life, not a single good exam day. This is a higher bar for the VA, not an absolute bar.

The 10-year rule (service connection)

Under 38 CFR 3.957, once a disability has been service-connected for ten years, the VA cannot sever that service connection except in cases of fraud. The rating percentage can still change, but the fundamental link between the condition and your service is protected.

The 20-year rule (a rating floor)

Under 38 CFR 3.951, a rating that has been continuously in effect for twenty years cannot be reduced below its lowest level during that period, except for fraud. This creates a protected floor for long-held ratings. A common misconception is that it protects your highest rating; it protects the lowest continuous level, which is still meaningful protection.

The bottom line

These rules make long-held ratings progressively harder to reduce, but none is a guarantee against any change, and fraud voids all of them. If you receive a proposed reduction, you have the right to respond and submit evidence. A free VA-accredited Veterans Service Officer can help.