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ARMED FORCES NEWS
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| The returning Congress is facing numerous veterans' organizations that are insisting on concurrent receipt of military retired pay and VA disability compensation. An official of the Military Officers Association of America says that last year's action on concurrent receipt left out thousands of deserving disabled retirees and omitted Guard and Reserve retirees, including those with severe combat wounds. Even more thousands of retirees whose disabilities were caused by performance of military duties other than in combat were also ignored. At issue, asserts MOAA: (1) Sen. Harry Reid's provision in the Senate defense bill for full concurrent receipt; (2) Rep. Mike Bilirakis' bill HR-303, with 354 cosponsors, for full concurrent receipt; and (3) mounting pressure for Republican lawmakers to join 202 other legislators by signing Rep. Jim Marshall's discharge petition to move that bill to the House floor for a vote. Update: What is Concurrent Receipt? Military retirees who have been awarded compensation by the Department of Veterans Affairs for disabilities must forfeit $1 of retired pay for every dollar of disability compensation they accept. Some equity is expected from the new Combat Related Special Compensation, but, according to a letter written by retired Army Lt. Gen. Billy M. Thomas to the President, CRSC covers less than five percent of disabled military retirees and then only if they apply and their application is approved by DoD. The remainder will still be required to pay what is being called the "disabled military retirees 100 percent tax." |
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