VA Disability Rating Changes in 2025

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The VA disability rating changes in 2025 mark one of the most significant shifts in decades. These updates will affect how thousands of veterans are evaluated and compensated.

📰 Official Federal Register Announcements

Note (June 2025): While updates to mental health, sleep apnea, and tinnitus ratings have been proposed and are under review, no changes are final yet. Filing under the current rating schedule ensures your existing rating is preserved.

87 FR 8498 – Mental Disorders
87 FR 8474 – Respiratory System
90 FR 27907 – Advisory Committee Review
Oct 1, 2024 – Toxic Exposure Regulations

🧠 Mental Health Rating System Overhaul

The VA is shifting to a domain-based system, rating veterans across five key areas of functioning:

🧠 Cognition
👥 Social Functioning
✅ Task Completion
🌎 Environmental Awareness
🚿 Self-Care

Each domain is rated 0–4. Rating thresholds include:

10%: Mild diagnosis
30%: Score of 1 in two domains
50%: Score of 2 in one domain
70%: Score of 2 in two domains or 3 in one
100%: Score of 4 in any domain or 3 in two

✅ Veterans may now qualify for 100% even if working.

🩺 Proposed New Presumptive Conditions (2025)

These conditions are proposed but not yet final.

Cancers:

Male breast cancer
Urethral cancer
Paraurethral gland cancer
Acute and chronic leukemias
Bladder cancer

Blood Disorders:

Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS)
Multiple myeloma
Myelodysplastic syndromes
Myelofibrosis

Cardiovascular:

Hypertension (Agent Orange exposure)

⚠️ Major Reductions Ahead: Sleep Apnea & Tinnitus

😴 Sleep Apnea

Veterans using CPAP may see their rating drop from 50% to 10%. The new rating system emphasizes functional limitation, not just device use.

⏰ File your claim now if you meet current criteria.

🔕 Tinnitus

Will no longer be rated as a standalone condition. It must be linked to a compensable diagnosis to qualify.

🥣 Digestive System Updates Already Implemented

Digestive system updates took effect May 19, 2024. These prioritize functional impairment over diagnosis name and preview what’s coming for other rating categories.