VA Adds Eye Doctors to Pay Scale for Better Veteran Care
Published Date: 10/24/2025
Notice
Summary
The VA is updating pay ranges for doctors, dentists, podiatrists, and now optometrists working in Veterans Health Administration. Starting December 28, 2025, optometrists will be included in the pay system to help attract and keep top talent for our veterans. This change mixes base pay, market pay, and performance pay to reward skills, location, and great work.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
VHA Clinical Tier Pay Ranges Raised
The VA updated Pay Table 1 and Pay Table 2 minimums and maximums effective December 28, 2025. Pay Table 1 tier ranges are now: Tier 1 $123,077–$315,000, Tier 2 $145,000–$335,000, Tier 3 $165,000–$350,000; Pay Table 2 tier ranges are now: Tier 1 $123,077–$400,000, Tier 2 $200,000–$400,000, Tier 3 $225,000–$400,000. The Tier 1 minimum was increased consistent with the January 12, 2025 General Adjustment (Pay Table 1 Tier 1 increased from $121,000 to $123,077; Pay Table 2 Tier 1 increased from $115,587 to $123,077).
Optometrists Added to VHA Pay
If you are an optometrist working for the Veterans Health Administration, you will be included in the VHA physician/dentist/podiatrist pay system starting December 28, 2025. Optometrists are authorized by Public Law 118-210 (signed January 2, 2025) to receive base pay, market pay, and performance pay and are subject to the same limitations and requirements as physicians, dentists, and podiatrists.
Cap on Total VHA Clinician Pay
Under 38 U.S.C. 7431(e)(4), the total amount of compensation paid to a VHA physician, podiatrist, optometrist, or dentist in any year cannot exceed the annual compensation of the President. For this limit, "total amount of compensation" includes base pay, market pay, performance pay, and fee-basis earnings, while recruitment, relocation, and retention incentives and certain performance awards are excluded from the calculation per the PACT Act.
Your PRIA Score
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this federal register document and every other regulation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
2025-21242 — Extending Deadline for Debtor To Request a Waiver
The VA is giving veterans more time—up to one year instead of 180 days—to ask for a waiver on debts related to benefits. This change, effective January 26, 2026, helps reduce stress by giving veterans extra breathing room to handle their debt issues. It doesn’t cost veterans extra money but makes the process friendlier and fairer.
2025-18827 — Extension of Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers Eligibility for Legacy Participants and Legacy Applicants
The VA is giving family caregivers of veterans more time to stay in their special support program by extending the deadline from 2025 to 2028. This means caregivers and veterans who joined the program earlier (the legacy group) can keep getting help for three more years. No changes to money or benefits, just extra time to enjoy the support they deserve!
2025-14687 — Reproductive Health Services
The VA is planning to stop covering abortions and abortion counseling again, reversing a 2022 change. This affects veterans and their families who use VA and CHAMPVA health benefits. The change aims to focus VA services on what they consider essential care, with no new costs or timing details shared yet.
2026-10305 — Agency Information Collection Activity Under OMB Review: Certification of Training Hours, Wages, and Progress
The Department of Veterans Affairs is updating a form that helps track veterans’ training hours, wages, and progress in their rehab programs. Veterans using these benefits will need to provide this info so their payments and support don’t get delayed. Comments on the changes are open until June 22, 2026, and the update aims to keep things smooth without adding extra hassle.
2026-10130 — Agency Information Collection Activity: Status of Loan Account-Foreclosure or Other Liquidation
The VA is keeping its form for tracking loans that go into foreclosure or get liquidated, making sure it stays easy to use and up to date. This affects people with VA-backed loans that are behind on payments, letting the VA handle repurchasing those loans after certain rules are met. Comments on this plan are open until June 22, 2026, and the paperwork won’t cost much time—just about 30 minutes per person.
2026-10084 — Expanding Access to State Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs
The VA is making it easier and clearer for certain VA health workers to check State Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMPs) to keep an eye on prescription drug use. This change helps prevent medicine misuse and protects those checking the data while they do their jobs. Comments on this new rule are open until July 20, 2026, and it aims to make prescribing safer for veterans.
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2025-19650 — Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Requirements for Patent Applications Containing Nucleotide Sequence and/or Amino Acid Sequence Disclosures
The USPTO is asking for feedback on how it collects info from patent applications that include DNA or protein sequences. This review aims to keep the process smooth and reduce paperwork for inventors and companies. If you’re involved in biotech patents, now’s the time to share your thoughts before November 24, 2025!
Next: 2025-19653 — New Postal Products
The Postal Service is rolling out new mail products that affect businesses and everyday mail users. These changes include fresh options and pricing updates designed to make sending mail easier and more affordable. Keep an eye out for when these new products launch, as they could save you time and money starting soon!