US EditionVA to Consider Medical Management of Symptoms in Determining Disability Ratings
The VA's new rule, effective immediately, may reduce compensation for millions by basing disability ratings on veterans' function with medication, following a 2025 court ruling.
- On Feb. 17, the Department of Veterans Affairs published an interim final rule titled `Evaluative Rating: Impact of Medication` in the Federal Register, effective immediately, covering new claims and reevaluations based on veterans’ function while on medication.
- Because of court interpretations of Jones v. Shinseki and Ingram v. Collins, the VA said the rule formalizes longstanding policy, citing an `erroneous interpretation` as the legal driver.
- Since Tuesday the regulation has drawn more than 650 comments and a public comment period is open through April 20, while the VA invoked good cause under 5 U.S.C. 808 to bypass normal review.
- As the rule takes effect immediately, advocates from Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Unite for Veterans Coalition warn it could reduce disability compensation for millions and push veterans to stop medication, while the VA disability program pays roughly $150 billion annually.
- The rule applies across all body systems, including cardiovascular, digestive, musculoskeletal and mental health, but runs counter to at least two prior judicial rulings, risking higher costs and delays; public comments will become part of the administrative record and could be cited in court.
29 Articles
29 Articles
The Berkshire Eagle
Paralyzed Veterans of America Issues Statement in Response to Department of Veterans Affairs' Interim Rule Impacting Veterans' Disability Ratings
WASHINGTON, Feb. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Paralyzed Veterans of America Chief Executive Officer Carl Blake released the following statement in response to the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) recent interim final rule impacting veterans' disability ratings.
New VA rule could lower veterans’ disability rating if medication improves their symptoms
Veterans will have their disability compensation evaluated based on whether their prescribed medication or treatment improves their illness or injury, according to a new federal rule. The Department of Veterans Affairs will now take into account whether medications improve veterans’ quality of life when determining disability ratings. If so, their rating “will be based on that lowered disability level,” according to the new rule published in the…
A new VA disability rule may lower millions of veteran disability ratings
On Feb. 17, the Department of Veterans Affairs published an interim final rule that changes one deceptively simple question at the heart of disability exams. The VA’s answer will drastically lower disability compensation for millions of veterans, many of whom spent the last 20 years fighting two wars and an untold number of low-level conflicts.Effective immediately, the VA will rate veterans based on how they function with medication and treatme…
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