The VA has authority under 38 CFR 3.327 to schedule periodic future examinations for many disabilities, especially those not considered static or permanent, to confirm the condition still warrants the assigned rating. Refusing to attend or cooperate with a scheduled reexamination carries real risk. Under 38 CFR 3.655, if you fail to report for a reexamination without good cause, the VA can treat your claim as if you withdrew it in certain contexts, or it may proceed to reduce or discontinue your rating based on the evidence already of record if that evidence does not support continuing the current rating. Refusing a specific test ordered by the examiner (such as a particular imaging study or diagnostic protocol) can be treated the same way as failing to report, because the examiner may determine they cannot render a complete opinion without it.
Having years of prior documentation of migraines does not exempt you from a scheduled reexamination; the VA is generally looking at your current, ongoing severity and frequency of symptoms, not just the historical diagnosis. If you believe the reexamination itself is unwarranted, you can ask your primary VA provider or the rating activity why a reevaluation was ordered, and whether the underlying disability is protected. Ratings in effect for 20 years or more receive certain protections against reduction under 38 CFR 3.951, but a 2-year-old rating does not qualify for that protection. Ratings that have been continuously in effect for 5 years or more also get some added scrutiny before reduction under 38 CFR 3.344, requiring evidence of sustained improvement, but a 2-year rating likely does not meet that threshold either.
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 |
Does your rating decision hold up under a real audit?
Upload your decision letter and C&P exams — VetAid's analyzer reads the full file, checks every examiner statement word-for-word against your records, and shows which arguments for a higher rating actually hold. Free, and we never take a cut of your back pay.
Analyze my claim free →If you have a legitimate medical reason for declining a specific test (for example, a contraindication or a conflict with your treating specialist's clinical judgment), get that documented in writing by a physician and submit it to the VA before the appointment date, since 'good cause' for missing or refusing a portion of an exam is evaluated case by case. Continuing to simply decline participation without formal medical justification risks a proposed reduction and can also affect ongoing state disability benefits that depend on your VA determination.
As a concrete next step, contact the VA in writing (through your regional office or via ask.va.gov) before the exam date to document your medical objection and request clarification on why the reexamination was ordered, rather than unilaterally refusing to attend.
Need a deeper analysis?
Our AI checks your situation against outcome data from 1,300,000+ Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA) decisions (2009–2025).
Analyze Your Claim Free