The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is set to formally withdraw a controversial disability ratings rule that triggered widespread criticism from veterans, advocacy groups, and lawmakers. The rescission, scheduled to take effect upon publication in the Federal Register, restores prior evaluation standards and halts a policy that would have required examiners to factor in the effects of medication when determining disability benefits.
The decision marks a rapid reversal after days of sustained public outcry. Veterans had warned that the change could penalize those who follow prescribed treatment plans, potentially affecting both compensation levels and personal health decisions.
Backlash over Medication-Based Disability Evaluations
The rule, originally published on February 17, directed VA evaluators to assess disabilities based on how veterans function while under medication, rather than on the baseline severity of their conditions. According to Newsweek, more than 18,500 veterans submitted comments opposing the measure, many describing it as harmful and disrespectful.
Critics argued that incorporating the positive effects of medication into disability ratings could lower compensation for veterans who adhere to treatment. Veterans’ groups including Disabled American Veterans, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the American Legion objected strongly, saying the rule was crafted without meaningful external input. According to Military Times, stakeholders warned that some veterans might feel pressured to stop taking prescribed medications before compensation exams to avoid reduced ratings, raising concerns about health risks.
In public statements, veterans echoed those fears. One commenter described the rule as “a slap in the face,” while others insisted it should be fully rescinded rather than paused. Lawmakers also intervened. A group of 20 Democratic and independent members of Congress wrote to VA Secretary Doug Collins urging a permanent withdrawal, arguing that leaving the rule in place forced veterans to “confront the unnecessary dilemma of continuing life-improving treatment for their conditions.”
Collins initially announced that the rule would not be enforced, though it technically remained on the books. That interim stance did little to calm concerns, particularly as at least one lawsuit sought to block its implementation.
Legal Context and Immediate Rescission
VA officials maintained that the regulation was intended to clarify existing policy and respond to a 2025 court decision in Ingram v. Collins. The court ruling held that the VA must discount the positive impact of medication when assigning disability ratings, prompting the department to argue that the judicial standard was “unquantifiable” and unwarranted.
The agency has appealed the Ingram decision, and the legal dispute remains pending before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. The rescission does not resolve that case. Instead, as noted in the forthcoming Federal Register notice and reported by Task & Purpose, the department stated that immediate withdrawal would “ensure continuity in adjudication and preserve the status quo.”
Officials acknowledged that leaving the interim rule in place during a prolonged rulemaking process could undermine confidence in the benefits system. The notice emphasizes that the VA remains committed to ensuring that claimants receive all benefits to which they are entitled under the law as expeditiously as possible.
Some lawmakers had raised concerns that enforcement of the rule could have produced an estimated $23 billion in savings, suggesting it functioned as a cost-cutting measure. The VA has not characterized it that way, framing the regulation instead as a procedural clarification in response to ongoing litigation.
