SERVING
Those That
SERVED
Questions & Answers
INSTRUCTIONS: Please read each question carefully. If you are able to answer question appropriately use the form below the question to respond. Your name will not appear on the public answer page. Only your initials and date of your response will be visible.
Q520: If someone has a disability due to an injury, say a bad back. And they come up with some new way after 20+ years to fix it or relieve it, will the VA reduce or stop the disability payments?
If you have a question about benefits, compensation, pension or VA related issues please submit here.
Use Form Below To Respond
A1: No, 20 year rule applies. The only way can reduce or severe after 20 years is if the claim was based on fraud. (CB) 9/29/20
A2: Once you have held an individual for 20 years, the rating is considered "protected" and the VA will not reduce unless there was fraud involved. (DS) 9/29/20
A3: In my experience with this issue with the VA , I have recently been reduced from 50% rating for bilateral pes planus to 30% for that specific rating . Their determination letter to me concerning this reduction states they can reduce this specific condition rating when the condition is relieved via severity affliction , the only thing that the VA has done to remedy my condition was supplying me over a 3 year period with 2 pair of orthopedic insoles after being treated at an out of network orthopedic physician via the choice care system . After debating the issue of self purchasing these insoles from this out of network physician & getting the VA involved with forcing this physician to submit a prescription to the VA for VA provided coverage . In short - everything was fine until I received VA covered insoles & stopped paying this out of network physician out of my own pocket for his suggested insoles . I guess after almost 40 years of having bilateral flat feet service connected & documented via military service & medical records proven , these 2 high cost pair of insoles miraculously cured me to the point of rating reduction relief . (DM) 9/29/20
A4: Yes they will they did it to me. (BF) 9/29/30
A5: Your rating is secure after 20 years. However, if it was under 20 years the rating can be changed. (RJ) 9/30/20
A6: If the back condition improves the VA can order a C&P exam to ajscertain how disabling the back is now. If your rating has been effective for 20 years or more, the VA can't reduce it or take it away.
If effective for 10 years or less the VA can reduce the rating for that
disability to a lower evaluation, even zero percent. Your money would also be reduced to the lower percentage amount or stopped at 0%. (JK) 10/10/20