Protected Ratings

Protected VA disability ratings are ratings that the Department of Veterans Affairs cannot easily reduce due to the length of time a veteran has been rated or the nature of the disability. These protections help ensure that veterans with long-standing ratings do not face sudden reductions in their compensation.

20-year Rule for Less Than Permanent & Total: A disability which has been continuously rated at or above any evaluation of disability for 20 or more years for compensation purposes cannot be reduced to less than such evaluation except upon a showing that such rating was based on fraud.

20-year Rule for Permanent & Total: A rating of Permanent & Total (P&T) disability for pension purposes which has been in force for 20 or more years cannot be reduced unless there was fraud involved. 

The 20-year period will be computed from the effective date of the evaluation to the effective date of reduction of evaluation.