Approximately 54,000 veterans forced to medically retire due to combat or combat-related injuries prior to completing 20 years of service essentially pay a “wounded veteran tax,” losing a dollar of earned DoD retirement pay for every dollar received in VA disability pay. To remedy this unjust offset, MOAA has joined with fellow military and veteran advocacy groups in recent years to urge Congress to pass the Major Richard Star Act (S. 1032 | H.R. 2102). 

The bill would authorize concurrent receipt of DoD retired pay and VA disability pay for combat-injured veterans forced to medically retire. It enjoys widespread bipartisan and bicameral support in Congress, with 76 Senate and 298 House cosponsors as of Aug. 19. However, as in previous sessions of Congress, misconceptions about the legislation endure.  

As MOAA continues its work to secure passage of the bill – or its inclusion in the annual National Defense Authorization Act – as part of our Summer Advocacy in Action campaign, here’s a look at some of these false narratives: