Providing a Minimum Evaluation for Bradycardia
Published Date: 1/30/2026
Proposed Rule
Summary
The VA is updating how it rates bradycardia, a slow heart rate condition, by giving a minimum 10% disability rating once a pacemaker is implanted. This change affects veterans with bradyarrhythmia and aligns their evaluations with those who have pacemakers under a different code. Comments on this proposal are open until March 31, 2026, and this update helps ensure fairer benefits without extra costs.
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Guaranteed 10% VA Rating After Pacemaker
If you are a veteran with bradyarrhythmia who has a pacemaker implanted or re‑implanted, VA proposes to assign a minimum 10% disability evaluation after implantation. VA would continue to assign a temporary 100% evaluation for one month following hospital discharge for implantation or re‑implantation, and thereafter the minimum evaluation would be 10%.
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Key Dates
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