Effects of Virtual Server Configuration Change on Existing , New and Persisted Connections

That may be as good as F5 will provide. I can't point you to further documentation but here's my understanding on this. If a change does not have an affect on underlying layer 4 or below functions then it will only affect new connections, not existing or new connections related to a valid persistence record.

So, for instance, changing a redirect in an iRule will only affect new connections. Changing the VS from a L7 standard VS to a Performance VS will affect all.

Of course this rule doesn't apply to everything. If you remove (rather than change) a HTTP profile from a VS it will affect all connections as well so keep the removal of core features in mind too.