First, going forward, my articles will be under the non-profit Maine Veterans in Need (MVN) since information I provide is not sanctioned by any veteran service organization and is more inline with the MVN mission. 

There is a lot happening in Washington right now that could affect veterans, and some of it is getting lost in the political debate. MVN believes veterans should understand what is being proposed, particularly when veterans’ organizations themselves do not always agree. 

One of the largest proposals is the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act, H.R. 9237 in the House and S. 4744 in the Senate. It combines more than 60 separate veterans’ bills into one comprehensive package. Among other things, it includes the Major Richard Star Act, improvements to VA health care and community care, caregiver provisions and benefits for surviving spouses. 

The controversy involves how some of these provisions would be paid for. Section 108 would change the way VA disability ratings are determined in the future for tinnitus and obstructive sleep apnea. 

Under the proposed changes, tinnitus generally would no longer receive a separate disability rating for new claims. Sleep apnea ratings would take into greater consideration how effectively treatment controls the condition. Veterans who already have ratings for these conditions would be protected from having those ratings reduced under this provision. 

This has created an unusual division among veterans’ organizations. MOAA and the American Legion support the omnibus legislation, arguing that if the VA’s proposed rating changes are going to take effect, the savings should remain within the veterans’ community and help pay for other important veterans’ programs. 

Other organizations, including the VFW and DAV, oppose the legislation in its current form. They argue that future veterans should not have their disability compensation reduced to pay for other veterans’ benefits. 

Another important development involves the Major Richard Star Act, which would allow certain medically retired veterans with combat-related disabilities to receive both their military retirement pay and VA disability compensation without the current offset. 

On Sept. 16, the House discharge petition seeking to bring the Star Act to the floor reached the required 218 signatures, meaning the House has reached an important procedural step toward consideration of the legislation as a standalone bill. 

There are other veterans’ bills moving through Congress as well, including the Love Lives On Act, which would allow certain surviving spouses who remarry before age 55 to retain VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation and certain military survivor benefits. That legislation is also included in the omnibus package. 

For veterans, the important point is that these proposals are still being considered. Some could expand benefits or services, while others would change how certain future benefits are calculated. 

Maine Veterans in Need is not taking a position on these proposals. Our goal is simply to help veterans understand what Congress and the VA are considering. Veterans have earned the right to understand these issues and to make their own decisions about them.