VA Proposes Changing Disability Rating Schedules for Tinnitus, Sleep Apnea, and Mental Health Issues
February 02, 2022
VA recently sent an email to many veterans notifying them of possible changes to the disability rating schedules for mental health, audiology, and respiratory disabilities. Our office has received many questions from clients about these changes and what it means for their ratings, let’s take a look.
Proposed Changes to Disability Rating Schedules
VA is proposing to update the disability rating schedules applicable to tinnitus and hearing loss, obstructive sleep apnea, and psychiatric conditions.
In the proposed update, VA would have the option to offer a “zero percent evaluation” for asymptomatic sleep apnea. This means the department can formally acknowledge a veteran’s condition without giving any compensation if the condition is easily controlled with treatment. Veterans would receive ratings of 10% or more for sleep apnea “only when treatment is either ineffective or the veteran is unable to use the prescribed treatment due to comorbid conditions.”
Similarly, veterans diagnosed with tinnitus would face a higher requirement to receive higher levels of VA disability benefits.
In contrast, veterans dealing with mental health issues would face a lower bar for increased disability ratings under the proposed change. Conditions such as anxiety, depression, or PTSD would be evaluated based on how they affect a veteran’s ability to perform everyday functions, with even mild impairment available for compensation.
How This Affects You
Right now, these are merely proposed changes, nothing has taken effect yet. VA is required to offer the public, interest groups, and others the chance to comment on the changes, so nothing will change for the next 60 days.
If the changes become permanent after the comment period, they will only affect new claims for VA disability benefits. Any veterans with a current rating for tinnitus, sleep apnea, or psychiatric condition will keep their rating. So, veterans do not need to worry about losing their current ratings with these proposed changes.
We hope this information brings peace of mind that your current ratings are not at risk. We want to assure clients that our office will keep abreast of these changes. If you are interested in filing a new claim for service-connected VA disability benefits, please contact Legal Help For Veterans, PLLC by phone at (800) 693-4800 or online with our free claim evaluation form.
Medical Issues / Disability, Mental Health, PTSD, Veterans Law