VeteransVSO™ v3.1.0 Patent Pending
AI-Powered VA Claim Preparation • Patent Pending
Proposes increasing baseline Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) for surviving spouses from ~43% to 55% of a 100% disabled veteran rate, matching DoD and federal civil service survivor annuity standards.
To offset the multi-billion-dollar cost, proposals suggest altering future VASRD evaluation criteria for non-combat Sleep Apnea (Diagnostic Code 6847) and Tinnitus (Diagnostic Code 6260) for future new claimants.
Existing service-connected disability ratings are strictly protected by federal law. Under 38 U.S.C. § 1155 and 38 CFR § 3.951, schedule changes cannot reduce grandfathered disability compensation for current service-connected veterans.
| Bill & Primary Sponsor | Chamber Status | Key Expanded Benefits | Cosponsors & Supporters | Critical Lock-In Date & Warning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| H.R. 9237 / S. 4744 Take Care of America’s Veterans Act By: Rep. Mike Bost (R-IL) |
Pending Floor Debate (Omnibus) | Expands monthly stipends for catastrophically disabled combat veterans; DIC rate increase to 55%. | 20 Cosponsors (Rep. Bilirakis, Hudson, Kiggans, Bergman, Miller-Meeks) |
Estimated: Prior to Final Federal Register Rule (Target Q1 2027) File VA Form 21-0966 now to lock in current 50% Sleep Apnea & 10% Tinnitus rating criteria before offsets take effect. |
| H.R. 6047 Sharri Briley & Eric Edmundson Act By: Rep. Tom Barrett (R-MI) |
Passed House, In Senate | Increases DIC base rates for surviving spouses; adds special allowances for catastrophic combat injuries. | 14 Cosponsors (Rep. Bost, Ciscomani, Luttrell, Wittman, Hinson) |
Effective 180 Days Post-Senate Enactment Anticipated Effective Date: Oct 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026. Verify survivor eligibility records now. |
| H.R. 3123 Ernest Peltz Accrued Benefits Act By: Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) |
Passed House, In Senate Comm. | Ensures surviving spouses automatically receive retroactive accrued benefit payments without administrative delay. | Bipartisan: Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA), Susie Lee (D-NV), Chris Smith (R-NJ) |
Target: 90 Days Post-Enactment Ensure spouse is officially listed on VA Form 21-686c to avoid verification delays. |
| H.R. 10280 9-8-8 Implementation Act of 2026 By: Rep. Mike Levin (D-CA) |
In Committee Review | Expands crisis response teams and veteran peer specialists at local VA medical centers. | Bipartisan: Rep. Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Pappas (D-NH), Valadao (R-CA) |
Rollout: FY 2027 Immediate $0 emergency psychiatric care active today under COMPACT Act. |
Even if Congress or the VA amends Diagnostic Code 6847 (Sleep Apnea) or 6260 (Tinnitus), your existing 50% or 10% rating cannot be reduced simply because the schedule changed. 38 CFR § 3.951 preserves your rating level.
If you suffer from sleep apnea, tinnitus, or secondary conditions connected to military service but have not yet filed, submitting an Intent to File locks in your effective date under current, favorable criteria.
Use the VeteransVSO Congressional Directory to send a 1-click message to your 2 Senators and House Representative advocating for clean passage of DIC increases without benefit offsets.