Medical Officer

2900-AQ72 202410 The Regulatory Plan and the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions 2900 Department of Veterans Affairs VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities-Ear, Nose, Throat, and Audiology Disabilities; Special Provisions Regarding Evaluation of Respiratory Conditions; Schedule for Rating Disabilities-Respiratory System

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is amending its regulations by revising the sections that address the ear, nose, throat, audiology, and respiratory systems and adds a diagnostic code for constrictive bronchiolitis (or obliterative bronchiolitis) (CB) to the regulations that govern the respiratory system. The purpose of these changes is to update medical terminology, incorporate medical advances that have occurred since the last review, and provide well-defined criteria in accordance with actual clinical practice.

]]> Other Significant Previously Published in The Unified Agenda Final Rule Stage No No 38 CFR 4.85 38 CFR 4.87 38 CFR 4.96 38 CFR 4.97 38 U.S.C. 501(a) 38 U.S.C. 1155 Yes

The current version of the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD) has not undergone a complete revision since 1945 and currently reflects outdated, inaccurate, or obsolete medical, scientific, and/or economic information. Within in this rule, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will update medical terminology, incorporate medical advances, and provide disability compensation using more objective evaluation criteria consistent with current medical practice.

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In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 1155, The Secretary shall adopt and apply a schedule of ratings of reductions in earning capacity from specific injuries or combination of injuries, and shall from time to time readjust this schedule of ratings in accordance with experience.

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VA has considered two alternatives to the current update: 1.) Not updating the respiratory and Ear body systems. 2.) Not including VO2 Max and METs within the updated General Rating Formula for Respiratory Conditions. However, neither option is more appropriate than the current approach.

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Transfer benefit savings are estimated to be $17.0 million in 2024, $5.6 billion over five years, and $28.3 billion over 10 years.

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None identified.

]]> NPRM 02/15/2022 87 FR 8474 NPRM Comment Period End 04/18/2022 Supplemental NPRM 09/12/2024 89 FR 74162 Supplemental NPRM Comment Period End 10/15/2024 Final Action 08/00/2025 No No None No No www.regulations.gov No No Gary Reynolds Dr. Medical Officer 2900 Department of Veterans Affairs VA 202 461-9700 gary.reynolds3@va.gov 810 Vermont Avenue NW, Washington DC 20420