The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) this week abruptly reversed course on a new rule requiring veterans’ disability ratings to be calculated by how well they function on medication and not on the underlying condition or injury itself, a stance that was quickly condemned.
“Effective immediately, VA is halting enforcement of the interim final rule, ‘Evaluative Rating: Impact of Medication,’” VA Secretary Doug Collins said in a statement posted to social media Thursday afternoon.
“VA issued the rule to clarify existing policy and protect Veterans’ benefits in the wake of an ongoing court action. But many interpreted the rule as something that could result in adverse consequences,” Collins said.
The federal rule, which went into effect Tuesday with no warning, drew swift outrage from major veterans groups that argued it could lower disability compensation for millions of veterans who suffer from physical ailments, such as bone or muscle injuries and hypertension or mental health issues.
Chief among the concerns was that the change could lead to veterans choosing not to take medication to be rated higher and receive larger compensation.