02/23/2026
VA’s new interim rule on “Evaluative Rating: Impact of Medication” has been postponed following last week’s backlash and confusion. That’s good news for now, but it doesn’t change one key fact: your own words about your symptoms and how they affect your life remain critical to your VA claim.
A C&P exam and your medical records will never capture everything. The examiner only sees you for a short visit, and the notes often miss how often symptoms occur, how long they last, and how they affect your work, school, family life, and daily routine. That’s where a strong personal statement comes in.
When you’re filing an initial claim, increase, or appeal. Your statement should be clearly laid out:
✅What symptoms do you have?
✅How often do they happen, and how long do they last?
✅How severe are they when they hit?
✅How do they impact your ability to work, keep up with chores, drive, sleep, and be present for your family?
It’s just as important to explain what life looks like, even when you’re taking medication. If you use over-the-counter meds or prescriptions and still have bad days, flare-ups, side effects, or limits on what you can do, spell that out. Don’t just list the medication. Describe what you can and cannot do on your “best” medicated days and how often you’re still knocked down by symptoms.
Rules can change, be postponed, or return in a different form. The one constant is that VA must review the evidence you submit. A clear, detailed personal statement puts your real, day-to-day disability on record instead of leaving it to guesswork.
If you are not sure how to write this kind of statement for your claim or an increase, reach out, and we can walk you through what to include to be effective (or helpful) evidence.
