Full Breakdown
Take Care of America’s Veterans Act: Proposed Rating Changes Spark Veteran Group Divide
8/13/2026, 8:17:58 AM
Core Proposal and Immediate Impact
Congress is advancing the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act, a 554-page package that would let combat-injured, medically retired veterans receive both disability compensation and full retirement pay. The bill also seeks to eliminate two automatic disability ratings: the 50 % rating for new sleep-apnea claims and the 10 % rating for new tinnitus claims, moving to severity-based ratings.
Tinnitus is the most frequently filed VA disability, affecting over 3 million veterans, while more than 700 000 veterans filed sleep-apnea claims in 2025. Veterans with a 100 % rating and no dependents currently receive almost $4 000 per month tax-free; the rating changes would alter monthly compensation for many new claimants.
Legislative Background
The bill consolidates 62 veteran-aid measures and has bipartisan sponsorship from Texas representatives U.S. Rep. Greg Casar (D-Austin) and former U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-San Antonio). Earlier attempts to cut the tinnitus and sleep-apnea ratings were stalled in 2022 after veteran pushback. A scheduled vote in mid-July was withdrawn following protests, and lawmakers indicated the package will likely return to the floor in September.
Key Stakeholders
- Pete Bernal – U.S. Army veteran, medically retired, suffers from tinnitus and sleep apnea.
- Monica Morris – Commander, VFW Post 76, San Antonio.
- Danny Muth – Commander, Texas American Legion.
- Mitch Fuller – National and state legislative chairman, Texas VFW.
- Garrett Stacey – U.S. Army veteran, active-duty spouse.
Official Statements & Responses
The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) warns the rating revisions could jeopardize monthly payments that many disabled veterans rely on for basic needs and mental-health stability. The Department of Veterans Affairs has not commented on the specific proposals.
Data & Statistics
- Tinnitus filings: > 3 million veterans.
- Sleep-apnea filings (2025): > 700 000 veterans.
- Current automatic rating: 10 % for tinnitus, 50 % for sleep apnea.
- Potential monthly increase for some veterans: about $1 000 under the combined-pay provision.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Financial insecurity, that’s a factor in veteran suicide, so this is about our physical and mental health,” — Mitch Fuller, Texas VFW.
- “Somewhere between $19 and $58 billion does not go to veterans now,” — Danny Muth, Texas American Legion.
- “That opens the door to continually dip into that to offset the spending costs elsewhere,” — Garrett Stacey.
What’s Next
Legislators plan to bring the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act back for consideration in September. Advocacy groups say they will push to remove the tinnitus and sleep-apnea rating changes before final passage. The outcome will determine whether newly retiring combat-injured veterans receive full retirement pay without compromising compensation for future claimants.
