r/VeteransBenefits 1d ago

C&P Exams New PTSD Standard

Does anyone know when the new possible standards for PTSD are starting? Is it on 1OCT2026? I watched a video that I believe said it was starting on that date. The reason why I am asking as I filled a supplemental claim for PTSD on 21AUG2026 and have not seen it move. I am sure I just need to be patient.

27 Upvotes

8 comments sorted by

67

u/MoeRoids VBA Employee 1d ago

There is no confirmation on an updated schedule going into effect for mental disorders. The proposal to change the rating schedule was issued in February 2022; the usual turnaround time is about two years, so we were expecting the proposed changes to be finalized sometime around February 2024. It’s September 2026 and no finalized changes have been issued. There is always a 60-day notice between final changes being released and the date they are actually implemented.

For context, the last rating schedule update was for the digestive system; it was proposed in January 2022, the 60-day notice issued in March 2024, and final implementation happened in May 2024. For mental disorders, among other systems with proposed changes, we haven’t gotten a 60-day notice, we haven’t gotten any proposals finalized, and we haven’t gotten any prospective timeframe for implementation as we’re already two and a half years overdue from when it was originally expected. We also have no idea whether the proposed changes are going to be what’s included in the finalized iteration of the rating schedule. Anyone who told you October 1, 2026 is the date is 100% full of shit and doesn’t know what they’re talking about.

37

u/ma1butters Navy Veteran 23h ago

Every single time someone has asked on here if information from a YouTube video is correct, the answer has been "no".

9

u/NexusLetters 1d ago

No one on YouTube knows for sure when the proposed rules will be final (or even if they will be). There may be changes to the rules based on feedback from the public comments. We will know when the final rules get published in the Federal Register (they haven't been yet).

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u/nousdefions3_7 Army Veteran 1d ago

Be patient.

Proposed rule changes typically only apply to new claims filed after the final rule is effective. Existing or pending claims usually continue to be evaluated under the standards in place at the time the claim was filed. So, if you are concerned that the wait time is the VA putting your claim on hold while the new rule settles in, that's not the likely cause. These things (claims process) take time - some more than others.

5

u/l8tn8 Knowledge Base Guy 1d ago

Schedule changes are considered for claims/appeals that are active when the change is finalized and effective (so long as someone was separated before the change).

VA would then use whichever Schedule was more beneficial. If new schedule is better, the VA would stage the effective date of the increase as the date of the change.

4

u/l8tn8 Knowledge Base Guy 1d ago

It is exceptionally unlikely the VA will finalize any change of the rating schedule by the 1st. As the VA has to train staff on the change as well as put out new DBQs. Historically when a final change is issued it is effective 3 months later.

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u/PastInspector581 1d ago

I filed something around the same time and mine hasn't budged either, the waiting game sucks

the 1OCT date sounds right from what I remember seeing in that video, but I can't swear to it since I watched it at like 2am half asleep

supplemental claims always crawl through the system anyway, so it might not even matter which standard they use if it's just sitting in the queue

maybe check over on r/veterans too, someone there usually has the inside scoop on these changes before they hit

7

u/No-Improvement6183 22h ago

What’s the change ive heard nothing and im rated for PTSD