Push for Major Richard Star Act Gains Momentum Among Kentucky Lawmakers

Combat-injured veterans who were medically retired with fewer than 20 years of service (Chapter 61 retirees) would finally receive both their full military retirement pay and their VA disability compensation at the same time. Right now, these veterans lose a dollar of retirement pay for every dollar of disability pay they get — an offset that can cost them thousands of dollars a month. This bill eliminates that offset permanently, giving these veterans a significant and lasting income boost.

The veterans' benefits system would be permanently changed so that combat-related disability retirees are no longer forced to choose between retirement pay and disability compensation. This expands the concurrent receipt rules that already exist for veterans with 20+ years of service, extending the same treatment to those whose combat injuries cut their careers short before reaching that milestone.

Veterans receiving VA disability compensation for combat-related injuries would no longer see that compensation offset against their military retirement pay. This means their disability benefits effectively increase in real value, since they no longer come at the cost of reduced retirement income.

Veterans with physical disabilities from combat — amputations, traumatic brain injuries, spinal injuries, and similar wounds — are the primary beneficiaries. Many were forced out of military service before completing 20 years because their injuries made it impossible to continue. This bill ensures they aren't financially penalized for being wounded in service to their country.

Veterans medically retired due to combat-related PTSD and other mental health conditions that qualify as combat-related disabilities would benefit from concurrent receipt. Many of these veterans were forced to leave the military before 20 years of service because of psychological wounds sustained during deployments, and they currently face the same unfair benefit offset.