Walton County Veterans Services Announces VA Law Changes

A change is coming to VA services. Here’s what you need to know.

Walton County – 02/19/26 – How the VA Will Now Evaluate Disabilities When Medication Is Involved. Interim Final Rule – RIN 2900-AS49 (38 CFR §4.10)

This is an important change that every veteran should understand.

What Changed?

The VA has changed how disability ratings are evaluated when medication is involved.

Old Standard: Unless a diagnostic code specifically said otherwise, VA generally had to evaluate how severe your condition would be without medication.

So if your migraines were controlled by meds or your blood pressure was normal only because of medication, VA typically could not reduce your rating just because the medicine worked. This standard was reinforced by court rulings, including Ingram v. Collins (2025).

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New Standard (Effective February 2026)

VA will now rate disabilities based on how you function in real life while treated and medicated.

In plain terms: If medication improves your functioning, VA may rate you lower.

Disability is now defined more by “actual functioning” than untreated severity.

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Conditions Potentially Affected

This could impact many commonly rated conditions, including:

• PTSD

• Depression / Anxiety

• Migraines

• Hypertension

• Asthma

• GERD

• Diabetes

• Orthopedic conditions

• Sleep-related conditions

• Cardiovascular disease

(This is not a complete list.)

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Example

A veteran has:

• Severe migraines without medication (would qualify for 50%)

• Medication reduces frequency and allows regular functioning

Under the new rule:

VA may rate based on the improved, medicated condition.

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Who May Be at Higher Risk?

Veterans who:

• Have routine future exams

• Have non-static conditions

• Recently filed new claims

• Requested increases

• Are not Permanent & Total

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Lower Immediate Risk

Veterans who are:

• Permanent & Total (P&T)

• Static conditions

• Have protected long-standing ratings

However:

If a P&T veteran files a new claim, VA can reopen and review the entire file.

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Important Clarifications

This rule does NOT:

• Automatically reduce anyone

• Cancel 100% ratings

• Target only mental health conditions

• Remove compensation just because you take medication

• Automatically affect protected ratings, more commonly known as the 5-10-20- year rules.

A reduction still requires:

• An exam

• Medical evidence

• Due process notice

• Time to respond

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Public Comment Period

Because this is an interim final rule, veterans and advocates can submit feedback through regulations.gov during the 60-day comment period. This is set to end April 20, 2026.

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Bottom Line

This does not immediately reduce benefits, but it changes the standard VA will use at future exams.

Each Veteran’s Service-Connected Disabilities are unique and how this rule will affect you is also unique. We are here to support and advocate on your behalf. Just give us a call and we can go through this with you based on your own personal circumstances.

For more information, call Walton County Veterans Services at 850-892-8140