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a) General. VA may reexamine a beneficiary, or require a period or 
periods of hospital observation, at any time to ensure that the 
beneficiary's disability rating is accurate. For example, VA may 
reexamine a beneficiary if evidence indicates that the disability for 
which VA is making payments may no longer exist or may have improved to 
such a degree that a reduced rating might be appropriate; or if 
reexamination is otherwise necessary to ensure that the disability is 
accurately evaluated. Paragraphs (c) and (d) of this section provide 
general guidelines for scheduling reexaminations, but do not limit VA's 
authority to schedule reexaminations or periods of hospital observation 
at any time in order to ensure that a disability is accurately rated.
    (b) Beneficiaries are required to report for scheduled 
reexaminations. A beneficiary must report for a VA-scheduled 
reexamination. If he or she does not report, VA will take the steps 
described in Sec.  5.103 of this part, ``Failure to report for VA 
examination or reexamination.''
    (c) Scheduling reexaminations in disability compensation cases. The 
following rules apply to disability compensation cases:
    (1) General rule. As a general rule, if periodic future 
reexaminations are warranted, VA may schedule such reexaminations to 
occur between two and five years after the date on which VA last 
examined the beneficiary, unless some other law or regulation specifies 
another time period.
    (2) When VA will not schedule periodic reexaminations. VA will not 
schedule periodic future reexaminations under the following 
circumstances:
    (i) The disability is static;
    (ii) Medical examinations or hospital reports show that the 
symptoms and findings of the disability have persisted without 
significant improvement for at least five years;
    (iii) The beneficiary has attained the age of 55, except in unusual 
circumstances;
    (iv) The disability in question is rated at a prescribed mandatory 
minimum level under the Schedule for Rating Disabilities in part 4 of 
this chapter; or

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    (v) The combined disability rating would not decrease even if a 
reexamination for the specific disability at issue would result in a 
decreased rating for that disability; however, if a reexamination 
potentially would reduce an award of special monthly compensation, 
reexamination may be warranted even if the combined disability rating 
would not be reduced.

Patrick