*UPDATE: As of Feb. 19, VA Secretary Collins has halted the implementation of this new rule. Please see DAV’s most recent statement about the decision:  https://bit.ly/4ruFdoS.

DAV is extremely disappointed and alarmed by VA’s decision to issue an Interim Final Rule today that could potentially reduce disability compensation for millions of disabled veterans. The new regulation would allow VA to reduce disability compensation ratings for veterans who take medications to control their conditions or reduce their symptoms. The rule—which disregards clear decisions from the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, Jones v. Shinseki, 26 Vet. App. 56 (2012) & Ingram v. Collins, 38 Vet. App. 130 (2025)—was developed and issued in a closed and unnecessarily expedited process that effectively shut out veterans from providing any meaningful input. It is unclear if and how VA is implementing this dramatic change and how it will impact the more than 6 million veterans currently receiving disability compensation, most of whom are taking at least one medication.