When the VA sends a letter scheduling a re-examination for a service-connected condition, it does not automatically mean your rating will go up, down, or stay the same. Re-examinations are governed by 38 CFR 3.327, which allows the VA to periodically verify the current severity of a disability, especially for conditions that are not considered static or permanent. Receiving this letter simply means the VA wants updated medical evidence before making a decision on either a pending increase request or a scheduled review of an existing rating.
For a condition like pes planus (flat feet) that was noted at entry into service, the key legal question is whether it was aggravated beyond its natural progression during service. Under 38 USC 1111, veterans are presumed sound at entry unless a condition was noted in the entrance exam. If pes planus was documented at entry, the VA applies 38 CFR 3.306 to determine whether service aggravated the condition beyond its natural course. If service connection was already granted on this basis, the current rating reflects the aggravated severity, not the baseline condition you had before enlistment.
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 →At a re-examination, the examiner will assess current range of motion, pain, functional loss, and whether symptoms have improved, worsened, or stayed the same compared to the prior exam. If the evidence shows improvement, the VA can propose a reduction, but reductions are subject to procedural protections. If your rating has been in effect for five years or more, the VA must show sustained improvement under ordinary conditions of life per 38 CFR 3.344, not just a single exam showing temporary betterment. If the rating has been in effect for less than five years, the standard is somewhat easier for the VA to meet, but you still must be given a proposed reduction letter with 60 days to submit evidence and request a hearing before any reduction takes effect.
Because outcomes genuinely vary based on the specific exam findings and how long the rating has been in place, there is no way to predict from the letter alone whether the result will be favorable. The concrete next step is to attend the scheduled examination, bring documentation of ongoing symptoms and treatment, and if a reduction is proposed afterward, submit medical evidence and request a hearing within the response window to contest it.
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