The House Armed Services Committee advanced a bill that would boost disability payments for medically retired veterans.
The bill, known as the Major Richard Star Act, could help around 50,000 medically retired veterans get increased benefits.
It would ensure that veterans who medically retire before serving 20 years would have full access to both VA disability benefits and military retirement pay.
Currently if a veteran served less than 20 years and has a disability rating of less than 50%, they will have their retirement pay reduced depending on the amount of disability pay they get.
Many veterans organizations have long fought for a solution to this big injustice that has widely impacted the veteran community.
The advancement of this bill is an important step in the right direction, however there are still hurdles it needs to pass to be put into law.
While it has broad support from both sides of the political aisle, questions remain about how it will be paid for.
More via Military.com:
The Congressional Budget Office has estimated the legislation could cost an estimated $9.75 billion in what’s known as mandatory spending over the next decade.
Despite Wednesday’s breezy passage through the House Armed Services Committee, questions about how to pay for the bill remain, making its path to final passage unclear. Under House rules, increases to mandatory spending must be offset.
“Although I support this bill, I am disappointed the committee is being forced to act on it before a pay-for could be found. Moving a bill forward with mandatory spending that isn’t fully offset opens the bill up to a point of order against its consideration on the floor,” Rogers said. “Nevertheless, we will work with leadership and the VA committee to see if an offset can be found for this bill.”
Ultimately the advancement of the Major Richard Star Act is a promising step forward in the battle to get our nations veterans the full benefits they deserve. The hope is that lawmakers will find a way to come up with the money needed to get the bill signed into law.
My husband was medically retired from USMC in ‘68, he chose VA comp and later received CRSC also, he passed away in 2015 due to Agent Orange. I presently receive DIC but if this bill is passed would I receive anything. He did not have an annuity
I been filling for decades supposedly my case is in the higher court we will see what happens with my disability claims 🤔
My question is will I still be allowed to get CRSC if I currently get VA Disability and CRSC? 🤔
I did you receive CRSC.. All i have is a diaability at 50% I finished with 19 years 7 months,
I have been wondering, as a spouse who lived and worked for the Air Force in Thailand, could I receive compensation for a disease I have developed referred to as MGUS? I was living and working at Takli AFB.
I am hoping this finding is found. I was medically discharged after 14 years and receive CRSC. I am at 100% CRSC and 100% VA. However my CRSC was never increased past 50% pay due to this issue. I wonder if retro pay is going to fall into place ?
*funding is found
Actions matter. Words don’t. Do what is right for the disabled veterans now.
After all l/we have sacrificed, finding funding should not be a problem. Im medically retired after 19 years of service. I was initally put on TDRL but it was revoked a month later and given a medically separation. Then 15years later it was upgraded to medical retirement. My excitement quickly gave way to total disappointment after being told l would not receive VA & retirement pay.
I hope this bill passes. I was Medically Discharged from the Airforce because unfortunately I started having seizures. I still have uncontrolled seizures and I am on 3 medications. I have also had a number of seizures. The Disabled Veterans Association in Ohio will not give me more than 80% even though when I was discharged I was not allowed to drive or work anymore because of my uncontrolled seizures.
I agree with you wholeheartedly. I was medically discharged…unable to work and have a 70% rating but of able to work. Recently found out after years that I am the victim of poison water from Camp Lej. I never struggle so hard to live a descent lifestyle without all the stress. I calculated my income for the year and wasn’t surprised that I live at a level of poverty that no disabled veteran ought too….but we go into the hellish wars then once we return are treated as than deserving human beings who have family but no life. In my opinion no disabled veteran should be close to living dollar/cents from poverty….semper fi until the day I die. Do better by us than what you’re doing….it don’t take years to get it right.
It is not the DAV.
it has to do with your VA C&P evaluation and the VA’s rating system.
I hope and pray this bill is passes We veterans deserve it. We gave up our homes,our families, our communities to defend this country to keep her free from all enemies foreign and domestic And yet look
I do hope and pray this bill does pass. Unfortunately, my Army Vet husband passed away in 2021 before he could be rated. When the the military decided to have him come in to be evaluated, or however they do it, it was too late. He was in Hospice and unable to comprehend questions or speak. It broke my heart that he passed away with 0%. I was his advocate until the end.
Good luck to ALL Veterans 🙏💜
Sincerely
Army Wife
horoniable discard with medicail condistions