BEYOND THE RAISE: THE 2026 BENEFIT SHIFTS EVERY VETERAN MUST KNOW
Have you ever planned your budget around a small raise, only to be blindsided when the rules change? That’s exactly what many Veterans will face in 2026. Disability checks will increase with the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), but the real threat is that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is overhauling its disability rating schedule, which will directly affect sleep apnea, tinnitus, and mental health.
If you’re considering filing or appealing a claim, act now. As soon as the new rules hit, your condition’s rating and your compensation could be instantly impacted. Don’t wait.
What the 2026 Disability Pay Raise Really Means
Every year, the VA raises disability payments to match Social Security’s cost-of-living adjustment. For 2026, the increase is expected to be 2.8%, starting December 1, 2025, and is expected to show up beginning with January 2026 payments.
Veterans already receiving compensation don’t need to do anything, because this small increase won’t help if your claim is rated lower under the new rules. The main change in 2026 is how conditions are evaluated. It’s important to see what the VA is proposing for specific conditions.
The Quiet Headline: A Rating Schedule Overhaul
The VA is updating how it rates three types of conditions that affect millions of Veterans:
- Sleep apnea (respiratory system)
- Tinnitus and hearing loss (auditory system)
- Mental health (PTSD, depression, and anxiety)
Long-reviewed changes aim to update evaluations to new standards. However, some ratings may become harder to get unless you already have them.
Next, let’s review what’s changing for sleep apnea, tinnitus, and mental health.
Sleep Apnea: From Device-Based to Function-Based
Right now, if you use a CPAP machine for sleep apnea, the VA usually gives a 50% rating. This is one of the easiest and most common ratings to get.
The proposed changes would stop giving automatic ratings based on treatments like CPAP use. Instead, the focus will be on how well the treatment works and if there are any complications.
For many Veterans, just having a diagnosis may not be enough for the same rating. Instead of 50%, many might only get 10%. If you have sleep apnea and haven’t filed yet, there’s still time to file under the current system before the changes.
Tinnitus & Hearing Loss: The 10% Gateway May Narrow
Tinnitus, or ringing in the ears, is the most common disability claim with the VA. Right now, it gets a flat 10% rating, whether it’s in one ear or both.
With the proposed changes, tinnitus would become a symptom of another condition, like hearing loss. If hearing loss is already rated at 10% or more, tinnitus may not add any extra rating.
This change removes the “gateway” aspect of tinnitus claims that many Veterans have used to start getting VA compensation.
Mental Health: Updates That Could Benefit Veterans
Mental health is one area where changes could help if Veterans can clearly show their impairment in their records.
The VA is proposing to eliminate the 0% mental health rating. That means any diagnosed and service-connected mental health condition, including PTSD, depression, or anxiety, would start at a minimum of 10%.
Claims would be rated using a more specific, modern approach based on five functional areas, such as thinking skills, self-care, and completing tasks, rather than broad terms like “occupational and social impairment.”
For Veterans with serious daily challenges, even if they are still working, this could mean higher ratings.
Grandfathering: What Carries Forward, What Doesn’t
If you already have a disability rating under today’s rules, the VA will not lower it just because the rules change in the future. This is called grandfathering, and it protects your current rating unless there is clear medical proof that your condition has really improved.
If you haven’t filed a claim before the changes, your claim will be judged by the new rules. You can’t request to be rated under the old system.
That’s why it’s so important for Veterans with diagnosed but unrated conditions to act now.
What Veterans Should Do Now
Step 1: File your claim.
For sleep apnea and tinnitus, getting your claim in immediately is the only way to guarantee you’re judged under today’s more favorable rules before it’s too late.
Carefully review your documents. Make sure all medical records, sleep studies, treatment logs, and therapist notes are complete and accurate.
Use language in your paperwork that reflects VA standards. For mental health claims, include concrete details describing challenges in daily activities, such as self-care and thinking skills.
Step 2: Contact a VSO or accredited lawyer for free help with your claim or appeal.
Groups such as DAV, VFW, and the American Legion can offer guidance on the process.
Monitor VA.gov and the Federal Register regularly. This is where you will find updates on when the new rules start and the final details.
Mark your calendar to check these sources every month.
Act on Your Rating
The 2026 COLA increase is good news. But don’t let the raise distract you from the bigger story: your disability rating itself may be changing.
If you rely on VA benefits for sleep apnea, tinnitus, or mental health conditions, or have been meaning to file but haven’t, now is the time.
Take one hour this week to audit your file, request missing records, and make decisions before the new schedule becomes official. You earned these benefits. Protect them by acting now.
VA Disability Rating Changes (Proposed for 2026)
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BY NATALIE OLIVERIO
Veteran & Senior Contributor, Military News at VeteranLife
Navy Veteran
Natalie Oliverio is a Navy Veteran, journalist, and entrepreneur whose reporting brings clarity, compassion, and credibility to stories that matter most to military families. With more than 100 published articles, she has become a trusted voice on defense policy, family life, and issues shaping the...
Credentials
Expertise
Natalie Oliverio is a Navy Veteran, journalist, and entrepreneur whose reporting brings clarity, compassion, and credibility to stories that matter most to military families. With more than 100 published articles, she has become a trusted voice on defense policy, family life, and issues shaping the...
