The Richard Star Act: Could It Finally Provide Injured Veterans With Retirement Benefits?

One might assume that if a military service member suffers an injury that forces them to retire early, the US military and the VA would “have their back.” You would expect that injured soldier to receive full retirement pay in addition to normal disability compensation. However, this is not the case. As many retired veterans have discovered the hard way, this represents a surprising loophole in normal VA benefits in Washington and the United States. If you find yourself in this situation, you’re probably hoping the Richard Star Act passes. Is this the year?

What Is the Richard Star Act?

The Major Richard Star Act is named after Army Reserve Major Richard Star. This individual was a combat veteran who succumbed to cancer in 2021. Doctors eventually determined that his cancer was probably caused by his exposure to burn pits in Iraq and Afghanistan during his active-duty tours. Despite giving 29 years of his life to the Army Reserve and National Guard, he was forced to retire from the military before accumulating 20 years of “active” service.

This disqualified Major Star from full military retirement pay while he received VA disability benefits for chemotherapy and other treatments. Many lawmakers believe that this situation (which has been experienced by many other veterans) is unfair. Despite the fact that these individuals make sacrifices that force them to retire from the military early, they also have to give up their retirement pay. Some have compared this to a “tax” for getting wounded in the line of duty.

The Richard Star Act would fix this issue by removing the 20-year threshold. Although the fix is simple, it is incredibly costly to the United States government. According to a Stars and Stripes report published in April of 2026, this change would cost almost $10 billion to implement over the next 10 years.

Will the Richard Star Act Pass This Time?

This high cost has caused the bill to stall in the past. However, veterans and advocates are hoping that 2026 will be the year that it finally passes. Some lawmakers have pointed out that while $10 billion might seem like a lot of money over a ten-year period, it is actually an insignificant amount when you consider the $1.5 trillion budget allotted to the Pentagon each year.

Another positive is the fact that the bill has bipartisan support. With new major conflicts on the horizon, the US military has never been more cognizant of the importance of front-line troops ready to put their bodies on the line. Unfortunately, it is also more cognizant than ever about the cost of waging war.

Can a Washington VA Disability Benefits Lawyer Help Me?

As of this writing, it’s still not clear whether the Richard Star Act will pass. Until Congress makes its decision, veterans who are struggling to access VA disability benefits and retirement pay may wish to pursue legal assistance. VA disability lawyers in Washington are here to assist veterans. Gustad Law Group, PLLC serves veterans in Seattle, Spokane, and Tacoma.

Source: 

stripes.com/veterans/2026-04-15/richard-star-act-blumenthal-bilirakis-try-again-21387389.html