The Major Richard Star Act has been a priority of numerous national veterans advocacy groups for the last several years. The bill has widespread support, but funding issues have derailed legislative momentum. The legislation is estimated to cost up to $9 billion over the next decade, a number which advocates have disputed as too high. But they also argued recent work to find federal contract and program savings more than covers that anticipated expense, arguing that redirecting those funds to the benefits checks would ensure the money is put to good use.

As the World War II bomber Heaven Can Wait was hit by enemy fire off the Pacific island of New Guinea in March 1944, the co-pilot managed a final salute to flyers in an adjacent plane before crashing into the water. All 11 men aboard were killed. Their remains, deep below the vast sea, were designated as non-recoverable. Yet four crew members’ remains are beginning to return to their hometowns after a remarkable investigation by family members and a recovery mission involving elite Navy divers.

A non-compensable or 0% VA disability rating is awarded when the VA recognizes a veteran has a service-connected disability, but it doesn’t believe it’s severe enough for a rating and, therefore, compensation. The VA may give you a 0% disability rating for any condition that doesn’t impair your ability to work or function regularly in your daily life. However, even if you think your disability may be non-compensable, it may still be worth filing a claim for VA disability benefits. We explain why.

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