MI is any decrease in the medical severity of an individual’s impairment(s) that was
present at the time of the most recent favorable medical decision that the individual
was disabled or continued to be disabled, known as the comparison point decision (CPD).
A finding of MI must be based on improvements in the symptoms, signs, or laboratory
findings associated with the CPD impairment(s); see DI 28010.015. Although the decrease in severity may be of any quantity or degree to find MI has
occurred, disregard minor changes in signs, symptoms, or laboratory findings that
do not represent MI and could not result in a finding that disability has ended. For
additional information and examples of minor changes, see DI 28010.015B.
For scenarios where the medical improvement review standard does not apply, see DI 28005.001F.