The Department of Veterans Affairs will change its disability ratings criteria for mental health conditions, sleep apnea and tinnitus, part of a major overhaul of the review process to ensure that compensation matches veterans' medical conditions and needs, department officials say.
The VA plans to update its Schedule for Rating Disabilities
-- its guide for determining how it evaluates and provides benefits for
service-connected disabilities -- for mental health conditions, to include
their impact on veterans' lives, and abolish the "0%" disability
rating for any service-connected mental health diagnosis in favor of a 10%
minimum, according to a notice published Tuesday in the Federal Register.
For tinnitus, the department will get rid of its stand-alone
rating and consider the condition a symptom of whatever underlying disease is
its cause.
As for sleep apnea, ratings will be assessed based on the
effectiveness of treatment and the condition's impact on "earning
impairment," according to the notice.
Previously, most conditions were assessed on the number and
severity of symptoms, but VA officials said the consideration of lost wages or
productivity is needed to ensure that the department compensates veterans
appropriately.
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