VA Changes Coming! Effective Date for Disability Benefits Rating Schedules Final Date April 2025

VA proposed changes to the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD) specifically pertaining to the respiratory, auditory, and mental disorders body systems. The changes would incorporate medical advancements for treating certain disabilities and modern medical knowledge to more accurately compensate Veterans.

VASRD is used to determine the appropriate level of compensation for each service-connected disability based on the severity of the condition as documented by supporting medical evidence. VA is in the process of updating all the body systems in the VASRD to reflect modern evaluative criteria based on advancements in medical terminology, diagnostics and treatment.

On Feb. 15, the Veterans Benefits Administration will publish proposed rules in the Federal Register regarding changes to the regulations for the two body systems: respiratory system; ear, nose and throat conditions, and auditory disorders; and mental disorders. Veterans and the public will have 60 days to comment on these proposed rules.

Since these are proposed changes, they will not affect evaluations of any Veteran currently receiving compensation for an impacted disability. Instead, this is an opportunity for Veterans and the public to comment on these proposed changes over the next 60 days. VA will consider the comments received and address them in a subsequent final rule which may make these changes effective.

Some of the proposed changes include modernizing the evaluation criteria for sleep apnea by evaluating it based on the symptoms’ responsiveness to treatment. If symptoms are fully treated by a CPAP machine or other treatment, a Veteran would be rated at 0% and not receive compensation; VA will award progressively higher percentage evaluations based upon how symptomatic the condition remains after treatment. This will bring the rating criteria for sleep apnea more closely in line with the stated purpose of the rating schedule, which is to provide evaluations based upon average impairment of earning capacity.

For respiratory conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the proposed rules would slightly lower the requirements for a 100% rating. For tinnitus, the proposed changes would recognize that symptom within the Veteran’s broader ailment and provide service-connected compensation for tinnitus through the disease to which it is attributed.

The proposed rules for mental health conditions would increase the minimum disability rating from 0% to 10%. The rule would get rid of a dated part of VASRD that prevents a Veteran from getting a 100% rating for a mental health condition if they are able to work.

VA will ensure Veterans get the compensation they need and deserve, especially when it comes to mental disorders. Under the proposed changes, VA plans to use new evaluation criteria to more accurately capture the different domains of impairment caused by mental disabilities and provide more adequate compensation for financial losses experienced by Veterans with service-connected mental disorders.

Rather than assigning an evaluation based on the number and type of symptoms present, these changes would evaluate mental disorders based on how impactful the disability is across five domains of impairment: Cognition, interpersonal interactions and relationships, task completion, life activities and navigating environments, and self-care.

Veterans, their caregivers and other partners can read the proposed rules for themselves on the Federal Register and are welcome to provide feedback.

87 FR 8474 – Schedule for Rating Disabilities: Ear, Nose, Throat, and Audiology Disabilities; Special Provisions Regarding Evaluation of Respiratory Conditions; Schedule for Rating Disabilities-Respiratory System – Content Details – 2022-02049.
87 FR 8498 – Schedule for Rating Disabilities: Mental Disorders – Content Details – 2022-02051.
Once again, there will be no change to any Veteran’s current rating based on these proposed changes. When the proposed changes are finalized, Veterans who currently receive compensation for a service-connected condition can apply for increased compensation. And even if a Veteran’s symptoms no longer warrant the current evaluation they have based on the finalized changes, no reductions shall be made unless an improvement in the Veteran’s disability is shown to have occurred based on the last schedule used to assign their evaluation.

[bethmurray]

I am a caregiver for a 86 year old veteran he has as at 70% they took away he is at 60 said his hearing improved clearly has not

[TomMarcotte]

Jason. I’m likely to get TDIU soon. I still have several secondary things I could get rated for. Should I continue with those? I’ve heard some people say don’t poke the bear, but I’ve also heard people say that the VA won’t cover certain things that aren’t service connected. Your thoughts?

[carlosverges]

I'll have to go map the floors, at the Veteran's clinic.

[mrsadm]

I want to thank you for all the info you provide.
But I do have a question. I always hear about tinnitus, sleep ap, ect... but the one thing I never hear about is the cancers. How come you never hear anything about people developing cancer after they get out of the military from carcinogen exposures? I never hear people talk about this. How to prove the carcinogen exposures ect.... My husband past away from chronic lymphocytic leukemia and pancreatic cancer. He was in the Air Force from 1970 to 1981, tactical aircraft maintenance. He was exposed to so many carcinogens. So why does no one ever talk about these?

[American_Mike]

Let's take this change to its logical conclusion.
If symptoms are fully treated by a hearing aid, a Veteran would be rated at 0% and not receive compensation for hearing loss.
If symptoms are fully treated by medication or therapy a Veteran would be rated at 0% and not receive compensation for mental health.
If symptoms are fully treated by a prosthetic leg or a wheelchair a Veteran would be rated at 0% and not receive compensation for loss of a leg.

This is where we are headed with compensation...

[paulnightwolf]

Also do one on the VA vesting medical program that’s when you move to another state or something and they wanna send you in for a mini exam that’s two or three hours long but they don’t tell you is that that doctor can open up all your claims by saying oh his condition isn’t that bad It’s an end run around your protections. You don’t have to attend, but they won’t tell you when you’re seeing your new provider, that’s when they’ll bring it on you. You’ll get there and go to the vesting doctors which are hired contractors and they’ll ask you if you have any outside doctors etc. etc. but then they’re doing an exam on you and that’s where they get you then after two hours they send you to your primary care doctor to refill your prescription prescriptions at that place since you movedthen boom they got you. Happened to my friend. He thought it was all cool. They friendly and nope, they were just contractors except for his PC

[billydunn]

If we have a pending migraine claim related to tinnitus, how will the tinnitus update be implemented? Do you know?

[SinnerschurchYT]

If you have been rated already can the government go back and reduce your monthly allowance?

[jeremyg.]

Can you do a video on VASP and why it's so hard to get approved. I have NFCU as a lender and they won't send it out to VASP. I also called VA and they said it's up to the lender and that's it's next to impossible to get approved. I'm about to lose my house in in foreclosure status please help ...

[JC-jwdp]

Question; I had to apply to a higher appeal, I have been waiting for 2 years for an answer and still waiting. My question is when they do answer and I get approval for my disability claim will they back pay me for my waiting time. Thanks.

[caseycooper]

How would the April date impact a BDD claim. If you start the the BDD claim before April and are within 6 months are you safe?

[bryangarcia]

What if you discover you have Multiple Versions of VA Medical Records, different versions, not stuff that has been left out, but Altered, Please anything will help Thank You.

[mr.brodriguez]

Am at 80% been trying to get to 100 and been denied, i hsve dleep apnea, with machine. Tenitus and loss of hearing in one ear, and been in surgery for cancer and was at camp lejuene for 5 yrs and still denied any increase not able to work am giving up any suggestions.

[mikesmith-tn]

Welcome back I knew something had happened

[kennethcook]

Correct me if I’m wrong if I have tinnitus and I’m being compensated by the Va. I won’t be getting that rating anymore ? I really don’t understand what you’re saying, pardon me but it’s as clear as mud

[makana]

Is there a Grandfather clause for Veterans 55 and older?

[raym]

Hello. Not to sound greedy. Should I go for 100 or stay at TDIU?

[jonbusko]

My approved retirement is 31JUL2025 but will file this Feb, could I still claim sleep apnea and tinnitus?

[kennethcook]

I’ve got another question I’m scheduled for a sleep apnea test but I’m moving before the scheduled time so I’m working with the new place for testing.it’s before th April deadline so will that be grandfathered in also

[BruceGordon]

BODY SYSTEMS? Why didn't you finish?