Proposed Reduction Deadline Calculator
A proposed-reduction letter is not a final decision. Enter the date on the letter to see your two deadlines, when a lower rate could start, and the rules that often stop a reduction. We do not file anything for you.
Enter the date on your proposed-reduction letter. We will count your 30-day hearing deadline and 60-day evidence deadline, show when a lower rate could start, and flag the stabilization rules that may protect your rating. The reduction has not happened yet, and responding in time is what stops most of them.
Questions veterans ask about proposed reductions
Is a proposed reduction the same as losing my rating?
No. A proposed-reduction letter under 38 CFR 3.105(e) is a notice of what VA intends to do, not a final decision. The reduction has not happened. Most reductions are stopped when the veteran responds inside the window.
What is the difference between the 30-day and 60-day deadlines?
You have 30 days from the date on the letter to request a predetermination hearing (38 CFR 3.105(i)), and 60 days to submit additional evidence opposing the reduction (38 CFR 3.105(e)). Requesting the hearing pauses the reduction while VA schedules it.
When would the lower rate actually start?
If no response is filed, the reduced rate generally begins the first day of the month after the 60-day window closes. Filing evidence or a hearing request can stop or delay that.
Does how long I have had the rating matter?
Yes. Under 38 CFR 3.344, a rating in effect 5+ years generally cannot be reduced on a single exam; the exception is when all the evidence of record clearly shows sustained improvement that will hold under the ordinary conditions of life and work. A rating in effect 20+ years is protected under 38 CFR 3.951 except for fraud, and a 100 percent or TDIU rating has added protection under 38 CFR 3.343.