On February 15, the VA proposed updates to the rating schedule for respiratory, auditory, and mental disorders. The rating schedule provides percentage ratings for service-connected disabilities and is the primary guide for examiners. The proposed updates will enable the VA to “incorporate modern medical data and terminology to provide veterans with more accurate and consistent decisions.” Among the proposed updates are modernizing the rating criteria for sleep apnea and evaluating tinnitus as a symptom of the underlying disease instead of a stand-alone disability. Other proposed updates approach evaluation of mental health conditions more holistically. If finalized, veterans who currently receive compensation for these conditions will not have their ratings impacted, but these changes would allow veterans to apply for increased compensation for service-connected conditions.