Experts tell House panel modern ratings need better data, transparency and veteran input

Witnesses at the House Veterans Affairs subcommittee hearing agreed that the VASRD modernization depends as much on data and research as it does on medical updates.

"VA has struggled to stay current with needed updates to the rating schedule," GAO's Elizabeth Curta said, arguing that while VA has made progress on medical updates, earnings-loss information remains out of date and that VA must demonstrate capacity and progress to be removed from GAO's high-risk list.

Philip Armour, a labor economist, said modern earnings-loss studies can be completed more quickly with current methods if researchers have access to linked data. "We can do the earnings loss studies," Armour said, adding that a major bottleneck is data access and the need for agreements to link VBA, VHA and Social Security data for robust analysis.

Veteran advocate Dr. Kai Hunter said VSOs can provide near-real-time information and reach veterans outside VHA. "Modernization should be done with us, not merely on our behalf," Hunter said, urging VA to include women's clinical data and quality-of-life measures to avoid biased or incomplete studies.

Committee members raised concerns about treatment-based rating proposals, warning that lowering ratings for veterans who receive treatment could discourage care and worsen outcomes. Witnesses recommended stronger data-sharing MOUs and more transparent methodologies so outside researchers and VSOs can validate results and speed the research that will support any statutory or regulatory changes.

The committee did not adopt new legislative language or formal directives during the hearing but members said they will continue oversight and press VA for clearer public methods and data access.