February 24, 2026
Press Release
Today Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01), a member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, joined Senate and House colleagues in demanding Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Doug Collins immediately rescind the Trump administration’s new interim final rule that would change how veteran disability ratings are evaluated. This rule would lower disability ratings and compensation awards for disabled veterans who rely on medications to manage their health conditions by not taking into account the true severity of their disabilities.
“We write to request the immediate rescission of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) interim final rule entitled ‘Evaluative Rating: Impact of Medication' (RIN: 2900-AS49),” wrote lawmakers in a letter to VA Secretary Collins. “Though halting enforcement of the rule was a necessary acknowledgment of the widespread concern about its implications, the change made by the interim final rule is current law and remains in the Code of Federal Regulations. Without a complete and permanent rescission, veterans across the country will have to confront the unnecessary dilemma of continuing life-improving treatment for their conditions even though it could lead to a reduction in the benefits they have earned and desperately need.”
While VA Secretary Collins temporarily halted implementation of the rule last week following backlash from veterans and Veterans Service Organizations, he has not outright rescinded the rule—leaving veterans’ benefits at risk of being lowered. More than 18,000 public comments have been submitted opposing the rule, which was issued without advance notice to or consultation with veterans or Congress. Congressman Pappas and his colleagues stressed the harm the rule could cause by forcing veterans to make an “impossible choice” of following their prescribed treatment plan or risk losing their benefits.
The lawmakers continued raising alarm over this rule and the Administration’s secret process of publishing it: “This rule is a short-sighted and ill-timed reaction to the Ingram v. Collins decision. The appeal of that case is still ongoing, and VA’s attempt to circumvent the judicial process by publishing this rule is troubling…We agree with the court’s precedential holding in Ingram and believe VA must discount the beneficial impact of medication when rating disability compensation claims. Veterans and Veteran Service Organizations have also made it clear that veterans should not be penalized for complying with treatment. Veteran Service Organizations have made their voices heard in the wake of this rule, but have repeatedly not been included in the conversations leading up to VA policy changes. This is a troubling trend, as it signals a desire to cut veteran voices out of the system designed to provide for them.”
The lawmakers demanded urgent answers, including a description of the steps VA has taken to suspend implementation of the rule; a timeline for the rule’s rescission or replacement; action VA is planning regarding its appeal of the Ingram v. Collins decision; and information regarding what conditions and diagnoses are meant to be targeted by this rule and the estimated number of veterans who will be impacted. They also formally requested VA and the National Archives and Records Administration preserve all stored communication regarding matters related to the development and issuance of this rule ...
https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases/pappas-demands-trump-administration-immediately-rescind-new-rule-that-would-slash-disability-ratings-for-thousands-of-veterans
= new reply since forum marked as read
