VICTORY! Military veterans triumph over Trump as his Veterans Affairs office caves and halts a new rule that would have diminished disability payments for service members.

When we fight back, we win...

Under Trump's leadership, the Department of Veterans Affairs implemented a new rule that would have based a veteran's "disability level" on how well they function on medication for their injury or illness, rather than on the mere existence of that injury or illness. In other words, veterans would receive fewer benefits if their medication works.

The example that CNN provided was a veteran with a "service-related knee injury." If that brave former soldier took medication that helped them function better on a day-to-day basis, they'd see a reduction in their benefits. In other words, they would be penalized for experiencing reduced suffering.

"If medication or other treatment lessens the functional impairment a disability causes and thereby improves a veteran's earning capacity, that is the proper disability level for which the veteran should be compensated," the rule stated.

Given the rules deranged, self-defeating logic, some veterans would have been forced to forgo medication, including medication for post-traumatic stress disorder, in order to avoid financial ruin.

"In the minds of some veterans, it's worth suffering the full effects of PTSD or another illness, rather than put your family at a financial disadvantage," said Army combat veteran Kristofer Goldsmith said.

Rebecca Bennett, a former Navy helicopter pilot running for Congress, called the rule "insane" and pointed out the absurdity: "If you are diagnosed with cancer and you are getting chemotherapy, you still have cancer."

Veterans groups quickly rallied against the rule from our supposedly pro-military president.

"VA's disability compensation system exists to compensate veterans for the average impairment in earning capacity resulting from service-connected conditions. It should not penalize veterans for seeking treatment," Veterans of Foreign Wars National Commander Carol Whitmore wrote in a letter to the VA.

The Trump administration is predictably attempting damage control—

"While VA does not agree with the way this rule has been characterized, the department always takes Veterans' concerns seriously. To alleviate these concerns, VA will continue to collect public comments regarding the rule, but it will not be enforced at any time in the future," VA Secretary Doug Collins wrote on X, throwing in the towel.

While the halting of this cruel rule is certainly a cause for celebration, it should never have been implemented in the first place. Our veterans have sacrificed their minds and bodies for our nation. The very least we can do is provide them with adequate medical assistance. This is yet another case of Republicans, who love to hug the flag, betraying our service men and women so that they can funnel even more money to the super rich through pointless tax cuts.

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