WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Richard Burr introduced legislation Thursday to change the ratings disability system for veterans. The measure could affect the more than 700,000 veterans in North Carolina, as well as the soldiers and Marines returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Burr, the top Republican on the Senate veteran affairs committee, said he wants to improve the system which hasn't been changed substantially in half a century.

"Now's the time for us to tackle this," said Burr, North Carolina's junior senator. "We understand today's soldiers have totally different expectations."

Veterans service organizations, though, have held off on endorsing his bill. And Democratic leaders on the veteran affairs committees in Congress say they want to learn more about what's needed before making changes to the system.

Similar legislation was introduced Thursday by U.S. Rep. Steve Buyer of Indiana, the top Republican on the House veteran affairs committee.

Veterans now must undergo disability ratings through the Department of Defense and the Department of Veteran Affairs — a process that the lawmakers said often results in disparate ratings and confusion for veterans. (more…)