Split four ways so nothing gets blurred: what took effect this year, earlier changes still governing claims, proposals that are not law yet, and the rumors that never became law. Each entry is reviewed against the cited primary sources; automated data feeds and legal-editorial content are validated separately and show their own timestamps.
Every VA disability compensation rate went up 2.8 percent, matching the Social Security COLA. A 10 percent rating with no dependents now pays $180.42 a month, and a 100 percent rating alone pays $3,938.58. TDIU, SMC, and DIC payments rose too. Nothing to file; the increase was automatic.
VA published an interim final rule on February 17, 2026 that told raters to evaluate a disability as it presents with medication or treatment in place. After veterans and stakeholders raised concerns, VA halted enforcement and then formally rescinded the rule effective February 27, 2026, restoring the prior text of 38 CFR 4.10. Current decisions cannot rely on the rescinded rule. If a February 2026 decision cited it against you, that can support a Higher-Level Review.
Under authority added by the PACT Act, VA added acute and chronic leukemias, multiple myeloma, myelodysplastic syndromes, myelofibrosis, and cancers of the urinary bladder, ureter, and related genitourinary organs to the toxic exposure presumptive list in 38 CFR 3.320, effective January 2025. The presumption continues to govern claims decided in 2026: if you served in a qualifying location and have one of these diagnoses, VA presumes it is service connected.
Selected VA rulemaking documents published in 2026, pulled automatically from the Federal Register under our benefits-related filter (38 CFR Parts 3 and 4 plus benefits subject matter). A proposed rule does not change current requirements. Each document is labeled with its exact Federal Register action and dates, because publication alone does not establish when a rule governs a claim.
Rating schedule sections VA has proposed rewriting. Until a final rule is published, today's criteria apply to every decision.
Proposed rule pending (RIN 2900-AQ72); tinnitus criteria may change if finalized. Current text last amended by the tinnitus rule at 68 FR 25822 (effective June 13, 2003).
Read the proposalProposed rule pending (RIN 2900-AQ72) covering nose, throat, and sleep apnea criteria; current criteria remain in force for every condition rated under 4.97. Respiratory criteria last substantively revised at 61 FR 46720, effective October 7, 1996 (nomenclature change 71 FR 28586, 2006, altered no criteria).
Read the proposalProposed rule pending (RIN 2900-AQ82); current occupational-and-social-impairment formula still applies.
Read the proposalNo December 31, 2026 statutory manifestation deadline. The printed text of 38 CFR 3.317(a)(1) still displays a December 31, 2026 date and a 10 percent threshold, but 38 U.S.C. 1117, as amended by the PACT Act in 2022, provides that a qualifying chronic disability may become manifest to any degree at any time. VA's pending October 2024 proposed rule (RIN 2900-AR75) would conform the regulatory text to the statute. Other service, chronicity, diagnostic, and evidentiary requirements under 3.317 still apply.
Read the proposalFull pipeline with comment deadlines on the VA rule changes tracker.
No disability-compensation rate cut took effect in 2026. The published 2026 compensation rates increased 2.8 percent. The proposed auditory, respiratory, and mental-health rating-schedule revisions have not been published as final rules, so the current rating criteria continue to apply. Under 38 CFR 3.951(a), a rating-schedule revision by itself cannot reduce a rating already in effect unless medical evidence establishes that the disability actually improved. Other reduction and rating-protection rules may also apply.
When a rule or rate that affects your benefits actually changes, we send one clear email explaining what it means. That is the whole newsletter.