U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-ID), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) have determined to file the Major Richard Star Act as an amendment to the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), a must-pass defense bill. BVA is one of dozens of military service, veterans, and survivor organizations backing the legislation.

At present, only veterans with disability ratings above 50 percent and more than 20 years of service are eligible to receive the full amount of their Department of Defense (DOD) retirement and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability payments. This scenario leaves behind more than 50,000 combat-injured military retirees. If enacted as an amendment or standalone legislation, the Star Act would provide medical retirees who experienced a combat-related disability with their full VA and DOD retirement payments.

The bipartisan legislation is named in honor of Major Richard A. Star, a decorated war veteran who was forced to medically retire due to his combat-related injuries and who lost his battle with cancer on February 13, 2021. Read the related press advisory released by the minority delegation of the Senate VA Committee.