VA pauses new disability rule 2 days after announcing it
The Department of Veterans Affairs has reversed course on a controversial new rule that could lower veterans disability ratings if medications or treatment reduce the daily effects of service-connected illness or injuries.
VA Secretary Doug Collins announced on Thursday that the agency is halting enforcement of the rule after introducing it with no public notice just two days before. His Thursday comments did not immediately make clear whether the rule would be formally rescinded, but Collins added that the rule will not be enforced at any time in the future.
Collins announcement came after ferocious pushback to the rule from a wide spectrum of veterans service organizations, including traditional groups like the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars along with newer organizations like Burn Pits 360 and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. Veterans and advocates all noted that the VA put the rule in place with no public input and warned that veterans might feel compelled under the rule to stop taking prescribed medications to avoid a lower rating.
https://taskandpurpose.com/news/veterans-affairs-rule-halted/