A disability rating marked Permanent and Total (P&T) carries strong, but not absolute, protection from reduction. Once a condition is designated "Permanent," VA has determined there is no reasonable expectation of improvement, and under 38 CFR 3.327 the VA generally will not schedule future routine reexaminations for that condition. This is different from simply being rated 100 percent without the Permanent designation, which can still be subject to periodic review.
Even with a P&T rating, reduction is not legally impossible. VA retains authority to reduce ratings, including P&T ones, if there is clear evidence of fraud in the original claim, or if a veteran's condition actually improves to the point that it no longer meets the combined schedular criteria to sustain the overall 100 percent rating. In practice, voluntary reexaminations are rare for P&T cases precisely because VA has already found permanence, but it can happen if new medical evidence surfaces on its own (for example, through other VA treatment records) suggesting significant improvement.
Official 2026 VA monthly compensation, including the 2.8% COLA increase.
Dependent add-ons start at a 30% rating. Child-only and dependent-parent rates: see the full 2026 pay chart.
| Rating | Monthly (2026, incl. 2.8% COLA) |
|---|---|
| 10% | $180.42 |
| 20% | $356.66 |
| 30% | $552.47 |
| 40% | $795.84 |
| 50% | $1,132.90 |
| 60% | $1,435.02 |
| 70% | $1,808.45 |
| 80% | $2,102.15 |
| 90% | $2,362.30 |
| 100% | $3,938.58 |
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Analyze my claim free →The situations veterans sometimes call "poking the bear" usually involve actions that invite fresh review: filing a new claim for an unrelated or even related condition, requesting an increase on a component rating, undergoing a Compensation and Pensation exam for something else, or submitting updated private medical records that inadvertently show improvement in the condition tied to the 100 percent rating. Filing something new can trigger VA to pull the full file, including dormant conditions, and occasionally leads to a proposed reduction, though this is governed by due process protections under 38 CFR 3.105(e), which requires VA to send a proposal, allow 60 days for response and evidence, and hold a rating in place for at least 60 days before any reduction takes effect. Permanent and Total status also generally protects eligibility for programs like CHAMPVA and DIC continuation for dependents, which is part of why VA is conservative about disturbing it without strong evidence.
Individual unemployability-based 100 percent ratings carry a separate layer of scrutiny tied to employment status and are not automatically permanent unless specifically designated as such.
If you receive any letter proposing a reduction, respond before the deadline with current medical evidence and consider requesting a personal hearing, since missing that window removes your strongest opportunity to contest it.
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