My understanding is any new claim filed, for new injury or increase in rating, opens the entire array of the veteran’s injuries to re-evaluation.
I have not heard of any of these being a new C/P exam. Just a re-evaluation of current disabilities under current guidelines. (Note Tinnitus has been or will soon be evaluated differently than in the past. There are details online.)
But mostly what you’re thinking about is the 10 yr rule and 55 yrs old rule. Those conditions preclude “routine re-examination for re-evaluation) and a new scheduled C/P exam. They do NOT preclude re-visiting your entire file if a new claim is filed.
I’ll try and clarify that 10/55 rule with some research and contacts.
The “periodic re-examinations” went out the window years ago, I think. I’ve never been subject to those in the past 15 years. Like I said, none of my ratings will ever get better. Whether through physical therapy or even surgery. I’m not worried about downgrades.
I am retired, and don’t know how disability claims work for those Vets who were in a few a years, and discharged with medical claims.
I have a friend who was a Vietnam-era sailor that completely screwed up his back forever getting tossed off a gun-deck on a detstroyer backwards in high seas. He was medicaled-out and denied disability then. Through encouragement of friends, and with DAV support, he finally filed for disability a few years ago and got some. Maybe 20%, no back-dating.
Another friend was a Marine cop in VN and just got 100% last year after being 70% or so for decades. His breathing is not so well after burn pits and agent orange, decades later. Full time oxygen.
In my experience, the VA under republican presidents is much more streamlined than under democrats. It’s a difference between months and years for adjudication. (same thing with ATF, but that’s another story).
I love Trump!