Laws and lawsuits veterans should know

H.R. 1815

Signed July 30, 2025 (Public Law 119-31)

Created the VA Partial Claim Program to help veterans who fall behind on a VA home loan avoid foreclosure. VA launched it on June 15, 2026. Your mortgage servicer puts you on a three-month trial plan. If you finish it, VA pays the overdue amount to bring the loan current. You repay VA when you sell, refinance or pay off the loan.

What to do: Behind on a VA mortgage? Ask your servicer about the partial claim. If you get stuck, call VA at 877-827-3702, option 6.

Sources: Congress.gov, VA News, June 2026

S. 423

Signed Aug. 14, 2025 (Public Law 119-33)

Requires VA to brief Congress every quarter on its budget and any shortfalls. Limits some bonuses for senior VA staff. Keeps the Veterans Experience Office running through fiscal year 2028.

Sources: Congress.gov

S. 2392

Signed Nov. 25, 2025 (Public Law 119-42)

Raised VA disability pay, dependent pay, clothing allowance and survivor DIC by the same percentage as Social Security. The raise took effect Dec. 1, 2025.

Sources: Congress.gov

H.R. 1912

Signed Dec. 12, 2025 (Public Law 119-56)

If a VA-appointed fiduciary misuses your benefits, VA can no longer hold up repaying you while it decides whether VA was at fault. If the beneficiary dies first, the money goes to a surviving beneficiary.

Sources: Congress.gov

S. 1071

Became law Dec. 18, 2025 (Public Law 119-60)

Changes the Transition Assistance Program. It adds better access for spouses, more financial counseling, tracking of when service members start the program, and an online VA resource hub you can search by ZIP code. It also requires toxic exposures to be recorded in service records and makes those records easier for VA to get. That should mean fewer delays on disability claims.

Sources: House Veterans' Affairs Committee, Congress.gov

H.R. 224

Signed Jan. 20, 2026 (Public Law 119-70)

Your VA disability pay no longer counts as income when deciding whether you qualify for certain federally funded community housing programs as low or moderate income.

Sources: The White House, Congress.gov

H.R. 4446

Signed Jan. 20, 2026 (Public Law 119-72)

Sets the rules for when VA must redo a veteran's Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) plan.

What to do: In VR&E? Ask your counselor how this affects your plan.

Sources: The White House, Congress.gov

Housing package

Became law July 2026

When you shop for a mortgage, the VA loan options you qualify for must be shown next to conventional and FHA loans. It also adds cost comparison tools. VA loans need no down payment and no private mortgage insurance.

Sources: Sen. John Boozman, July 2026

H.R. 6500

Signed Sept. 2, 2026 (Public Law 119-103)

Keeps VA funded through Dec. 11, 2026, at about last year's level. It also extends several VA programs to that date. VA disability pay, pension and medical care already have advance funding for 2027. This law does not change that.

Sources: Congressional Research Service, Sept. 2026

H.R. 6047

Passed the House May 21, 2026, 235 to 179. In the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee since June 2, 2026.

Would add $833.33 a month for veterans who already get aid and attendance for service-connected disabilities or a traumatic brain injury. Would raise survivor DIC by an extra 1% at the next cost-of-living raise, then 0.5% at the one after. Would expand VA home loans to some Guard and Reserve members. Would also raise some VA loan fees.

Sources: Congress.gov

H.R. 1663

Passed the House Jan. 20, 2026. Sent to the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Jan. 26, 2026.

Would create a VA officer in charge of scam prevention, fraud tracking and response. The goal is clear, consistent scam warnings for veterans and families.

Sources: House Veterans' Affairs Committee, Congress.gov

H.R. 980

Passed the House Feb. 2, 2026

Would add VR&E counselors, create a direct support hotline and expand training options.

Sources: House Veterans' Affairs Committee

H.R. 1458

Passed the House Feb. 2, 2026

Would let the GI Bill cover more certificate and technical training programs, including hybrid ones, in fields like the trades, health care and technology.

Sources: House Veterans' Affairs Committee

H.R. 1041

Passed the House May 21, 2026, 216 to 201. In the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee since June 2, 2026.

Would stop VA from reporting a veteran to the federal gun background check system only because a fiduciary manages their benefits. A court order or finding that the person is a danger would still allow reporting.

Sources: Congress.gov

H.R. 8469

Passed the House May 15, 2026, 400 to 15

Would fund VA for fiscal year 2027 at $474.4 billion. Until a full-year bill passes, VA runs on the short-term law listed above.

Sources: Congressional Research Service

H.R. 8800

Passed the House July 22, 2026. The Senate put it off until after the Nov. 3 election.

The House version would expand veteran access to a military adaptive sports program. It would create a VA task force on blast overpressure and add special operations members to pre-separation counseling.

Sources: NDAA tracker, Wounded Warrior Project

H.R. 2102

A petition to force a House vote reached 218 signatures on Sept. 15, 2026. The vote is expected after the House returns in November.

Would let veterans medically retired with combat-related disabilities get full military retired pay and full VA disability pay. Right now one is cut by the other. Advocates say about 54,000 veterans would qualify under the combat-only version.

Sources: Rep. Raul Ruiz, Sept. 2026, Military Times, Aug. 2026

H.R. 9237 / S. 4744

House floor action postponed July 16, 2026. The Senate version has been on the calendar since June 11, 2026.

A package of more than 60 bills. It includes a version of the Star Act, higher survivor DIC, a new monthly allowance for some disabled veterans and more caregiver support. It would also revise how VA rates sleep apnea and tinnitus.

What to do: If you are rated for sleep apnea or tinnitus, watch this bill.

Sources: Congress.gov, Congress.gov, House version

H.R. 8552 / S. 4487

A House subcommittee approved it June 30, 2026. It has not passed either chamber yet.

Would raise VA disability pay and survivor DIC on Dec. 1, 2026, by the same percentage as Social Security. Congress passes a bill like this every year.

Sources: Congress.gov, House bill, Congress.gov, Senate bill

U.S. Supreme Court (2024) and U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (2025)

If you earned both the Montgomery GI Bill and the Post-9/11 GI Bill, you may get up to 48 months of benefits in total. That is up to 12 more months than VA allowed before. Rudisill covered veterans with a break in service. Perkins extended it to veterans who served continuously. VA dropped its appeal in early 2026. VA says up to 1.2 million more veterans may qualify under Perkins.

What to do: You no longer have to ask. VA is reviewing files on its own. It is starting with students who have less than three months of benefits left. Check your eligibility on VA.gov.

Sources: VA News, VA.gov, Chicago Sun-Times, Mar. 2026

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, No. 25-2033

The VFW, IAVA, Virginia and James Rudisill say VA's written GI Bill rules still conflict with the Supreme Court ruling. They challenge rules on breaks in service, transfers to dependents and repayment for veterans who paid their own way.

Sources: Stars and Stripes, Mar. 2026, Virginia Attorney General

U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, No. 21-4168

VA's old computer system wrongly closed legacy appeals even when the veteran filed on time. The court approved a settlement on Aug. 19, 2026. VA will check 28,258 closed appeal files and reopen any that were filed on time. It has 18 months to do this. Up to 64,599 claimants will get a notice. The class covers appeals closed between Dec. 12, 1990, and Feb. 6, 2025.

What to do: You do not need to do anything. If you think VA wrongly closed your legacy appeal, you can ask VA to review it.

Sources: Court order, Aug. 2026, VA News

U.S. Supreme Court, No. 25-735

An incarcerated veteran is challenging the law that cuts disability pay for veterans jailed more than 60 days. The bigger question is whether regular federal courts can hear constitutional challenges to veterans benefit laws. The Court heard arguments Oct. 5, 2026.

Sources: SCOTUSblog, Oct. 2026

U.S. Supreme Court, March 5, 2025

The Court ruled 7 to 2 that when VA decides the evidence is evenly balanced, that call is mostly factual. Appeals courts will reverse it only for clear error. This makes the first VA decision on the benefit of the doubt harder to overturn.

What to do: Build the strongest record you can at the start of your claim.

Sources: Cornell Law School, SCOTUSblog

U.S. District Court, Middle District of North Carolina, No. 1:23-cv-00756

On May 20, 2026, the court ruled that Veterans Guardian broke federal law. It found the company prepared and presented VA claims for a fee without VA accreditation. On Aug. 3, 2026, the court also found the company liable under North Carolina's unfair trade practices law. Damages are not decided yet.

What to do: The class covers veterans who paid Veterans Guardian on or after Aug. 23, 2019. The opt-out deadline passed May 4, 2026. Watch the official case site for updates.

Sources: Official class action site, Court record on GovInfo, West & Dunn, Aug. 2026

Federal court, now on hold in bankruptcy

Veterans filed class actions in April 2026. They say Trajector charged up to $20,000 for help with VA disability claims without VA accreditation. Trajector filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on July 23, 2026, which paused the lawsuits. The New York and Illinois attorneys general told the bankruptcy court in September that they intend to take legal action. Trajector denies the claims. No court has ruled.

Sources: Military.com, Sept. 2026, NPR, Sept. 2026

Maryland Circuit Court, No. C-15-CV-23-003578

A $750,000 settlement for veterans charged fees by Just4Veterans for VA disability claim help. Veterans who paid can get money back, up to what they paid. Unpaid bills are wiped out. The company also agreed to stop taking new VA clients. It denies wrongdoing.

What to do: The claim deadline was Oct. 5, 2026, and it has passed. Questions: 844-951-2349.

Sources: ClaimDepot

U.S. District Court, Western District of Missouri

Three veteran homebuyers sued in February 2026. They say the lender steered buyers to its own loans through paid agent referrals. They also say it presented itself as tied to VA. The proposed class covers buyers who used Veterans United since Jan. 1, 2020. Veterans United denies the claims. No court has ruled.

Sources: RISMedia, Feb. 2026

Ohio Court of Claims

Ohio law lets 100% disabled veterans get military specialty plates free. The BMV charged some of them anyway. The settlement got preliminary approval Aug. 19, 2026. Up to 23,376 veterans may get full refunds of registration taxes and fees.

What to do: If you paid for a military specialty plate in Ohio on or after Oct. 17, 2019, and were rated 100% at the time, file a claim by 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 2, 2026. Include your VA letter showing the rating and its date.

Sources: Cleveland.com, Sept. 2026, Cleveland.com, Aug. 2026

U.S. District Court, Eastern District of North Carolina

More than 400,000 claims have been filed over contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The first trial started Oct. 26, 2026. The court set Oct. 30, 2026, as a target for a global settlement framework. As of Sept. 18, 2026, settlement offers topped $1.1 billion and payouts topped $879 million.

What to do: No new claims are being accepted. If you already filed with the Navy, you do not need to file again. Filing with the Navy is free and you do not need a lawyer.

Sources: U.S. Justice Department, WFAE, Oct. 2026, Motley Rice

U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia

In a March 2026 settlement, the Army agreed to treat combat-zone burn pits as instruments of war. Soldiers medically retired for PACT Act burn pit conditions can get a combat-related review. A combat-related finding can make retirement pay tax-free.

What to do: Veterans from any branch who were denied a combat-related finding for a PACT Act condition can email lsw.classaction@nvlsp.org.

Sources: National Veterans Legal Services Program

U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Virginia

Challenges an Air Force screening step that kept some airmen out of the medical retirement process. The court certified a class on Jan. 16, 2026. It covers Air Force, Reserve and Air National Guard members sent to that screening since July 1, 2019.

Sources: National Veterans Legal Services Program

U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia

Filed April 24, 2026. It says the Defense Department wrongly denies Guard and Reserve members 180 days of free health and dental coverage (TAMP) after activation. The lawsuit says the denials turn on how their orders are coded.

Sources: National Veterans Legal Services Program