Understanding the February 2026 Rule Change: How Medication May Affect Your VA Disability Rating

February 17, 2026, the VA implemented an interim final rule that fundamentally changes how disability ratings are evaluated when veterans take medication. Previously, under the Jones v. Shinseki and McCarroll v. McDonald court decisions, the VA was required to consider what your disability would look like without the beneficial effects of medication when the diagnostic code didn’t specifically mention medication. Learn more, click here