The Department of Veterans Affairs reversed course on a new disability rating rule in February 2026, and it happened fast. Within days of the rule taking effect, more than 10,000 veterans and advocates had flooded the Federal Register with objections, major veterans organizations had gone public with opposition, and at least one lawsuit had been filed. VA Secretary Doug Collins announced on February 19 that the rule would not be enforced “at any time in the future.” For veterans navigating the disability claims process, this is an important development. Here is what happened, what it means, and what to watch

On February 10, 2026, Governor Gavin Newsom signed a law making California the latest state to ban unaccredited private companies from charging veterans for help with their VA disability claims. The law takes direct aim at a fast-growing industry of so-called “claims consultants” – companies that can charge $10,000 or more for assistance that accredited representatives are often required to provide for free or at a fraction of the cost. CalMatters, which covered the signing, reported on a Vietnam-era veteran who received a monthly benefit increase of $1,100 and was then billed $5,500 by the company that helped him, five