VA Benefits Cut Warning Issued by Largest Veterans Group—'Serious Problem'
Summary
The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), a large U.S. veterans group, warned Congress that a new bill aiming to improve some veteran benefits could cut disability payments for certain conditions like tinnitus and sleep apnea. These changes could reduce payments by about $57 billion over 10 years and affect up to 1.5 million veterans.Key Facts
- The bill is called the Take Care of America's Veterans Act and includes the Major Richard Star Act.
- The Major Richard Star Act would help about 54,000 combat-injured veterans receive full retirement pay plus disability compensation.
- To pay for this, the bill proposes reducing disability ratings for tinnitus and sleep apnea in future claims.
- Tinnitus would no longer get a separate disability rating but be included under hearing loss.
- Sleep apnea ratings would depend on how well the condition is managed, not automatically give 50%.
- The VFW says these changes could cut about $57 billion from payments over 10 years, affecting many veterans financially.
- Current laws require some veterans to give up part of their retirement pay when receiving disability benefits; the Star Act would remove this.
- The VFW is urging supporters to contact lawmakers for changes to protect existing disability payments.
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