Throughout our nation\u2019s history we have witnessed countless examples of how quickly our troops will respond whenever and wherever they are needed. The willingness of American forces to go in harms way is never in question. Our troops stand up for us. That\u2019s their job. In return, they deserve politicians who will stand up for them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The problem:<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019re retired from the military and you also have a service-connected disability from the Department of Veterans Affairs, you may have a financial problem. I\u2019m referring to the issue known as \u201cconcurrent receipt.\u201d Here\u2019s how it works. If you are retired from the military you receive a pension based upon years of service. If you also have a service-connected disability you are entitled to receive a disability benefit from the VA. The \u201cpercentage\u201d of your VA disability rating is where things get ugly. If your disability rating by the VA is 50 percent to 100 percent, you are entitled to your military pension and your VA disability benefit, i.e. concurrent receipt. Not only are you retired like other healthy military retirees, but you also suffered a service-connected injury for which you receive tax-exempt compensation from the VA. However, if your VA disability rating is determined to be below 50 percent, the monthly disability payment that you receive from the VA is automatically subtracted from your monthly military retirement check. You may want to read that again. It would be difficult to find a more unfair law that arbitrarily penalizes some veterans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I think about important issues affecting veterans like concurrent receipt when I hear someone\u2019s well intentioned, \u201cThank you for your service.\u201d It is a very gracious comment for today\u2019s veterans to hear. But I, like most military retirees, do not expect or need anyone\u2019s thanks. We liked it! We stayed for a career. We were paid to do a difficult job involving multiple deployments and warfare and separation from family. And if we are injured or suffer a disability as a result of that service, we expect to be treated fairly and equitably.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Military Officers Association of America has correctly pointed out that military retired pay was earned by service alone. Anyone who is unfortunate enough to also have a service-connected disability should have that compensation added to, not subtracted from, their earned retirement pay. MOAA\u2019s good efforts on Capitol Hill have yet to sway Congress, even though it\u2019s safe to assume that in the history of our country there has never been legislation that allows for a congressman\u2019s pension to be reduced due to his or her receiving a disability payment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The solution:<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n
There have been bipartisan efforts by some members of Congress to correct this injustice and to make concurrent receipt the law. H.R. 333 was introduced in the House in January 2019 and currently has 33 bipartisan co-sponsors. It was referred to the House Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs where it has remained since Feb. 1, 2019. In the Senate, S.208, the aptly named \u201cRetired Pay Restoration Act,\u201d was introduced in January 2019 with 28 senators from both political parties as co-sponsors. It has been referred to the Armed Services Committee without further progress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Putting this veterans\u2019 issue in perspective:<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n