Downgraded CDL question - Texas

I don't have a definitive answer to your question. There seems to be so much grey area now after your CDL expires.

But if you can afford a hearing aid, I would just gamble and spend $85 bucks or so on a medical check up, and just confidently tell the person on duty at the DMV that you are here to renew your CDL. You might take your birth certificate if it's handy.

Nova is trucker friendly medical clinic and there are several in Texas.

 

Commercial Driver License (CDL) Medical Certification Requirement | Department of Public Safety

 

The regulations vary from state to state.
Example: Here in Indiana you have 1 year after your medical certification expires to reinstate your CDL to valid status by passing a physical.
No other action required.
If you wait more than one year, you have to start from the beginning, written tests, road tests, physical etc.
And now of course the new Federal regulation requiring completing an Entry level CDL training course complicates matters.

Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) | FMCSA

 

From the TX DPS page:
CDL Downgraded for Medical Certification
If your CDL or CLP has been downgraded due to an expired Medical Examiner's Certificate, you must visit your local driver license office to be upgraded. A CDL that was downgraded to a driver license (DL) solely for failure to provide a valid medical variance or medical examiners certificate, may be upgraded back to your previous CDL status (including restrictions and endorsements) without taking CDL knowledge and skills exams provided the following conditions are met:

• The record status must be Eligible (NOT suspended, revoked, disqualified, canceled)
• The DL has not been expired for more than two years
• The DL has not been renewed or re-issued (address change, name change, replacement) as a non-commercial driver license since the CDL was downgraded
• You must meet all CDL requirements and provide valid medical variance or medical examiners certificate (if applicable) or certify to an excepted status
• Applicable transaction fees will apply

So, the question is, have you renewed the license since it was downgraded? If you have, you will have to start over from square one.
And, as stated, you have to go to the DPS office, so the 2 year or more question can only be answered by them.