Research - Rehabilitation - Re-Employment

Sgt. Shaft 07/28/2003

Dear Sgt. Shaft:
As the wife of a military retiree, I am taking this opportunity to thank you for all you do to help expedite the confusing and often difficult situations that can arise regarding benefits due, military ID’s VA eligibility, etc.

I hope I never need to use your services, but it’s nice to know you’re there to help.

Mrs. Mary B.
Southern Maryland

Dear Mary,
Thanks for your kind words. In this age of technology, some bureaucrats refuse to use one of their senses (common sense).

The Sarge salutes President Bush for Responding to the needs of service members who were prisoners of war during Operation Iraqi Freedom. This proposed legislation would improve benefits for former POWs.

"What we're proposing is to eliminate the current requirement in federal law that a former POW must be detained for at least 30 days in order to qualify for full POW benefits," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony J. Principi.

For its disability compensation program, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) currently presumes that certain medical conditions in former POWs who were held at least 30 days are related to their captivity. Using this presumption, a veteran may obtain financial benefits without providing evidence directly linking a medical problem to captivity.

"That may have made sense years ago for some conditions linked to nutritional deficiencies, but even a few days enduring terror at the hands of enemy captors may lead to other conditions," Principi said.

The VA proposal also would improve dental care eligibility and exempt former POWs from current co-payments for medications for non-service connected conditions. Currently, some ex-POWs may be charged $7 for drugs that treat conditions unrelated to their service.

The current presumptions in law recognize that military medical records do not cover periods of captivity, which make it difficult for a veteran to provide evidence of the conditions endured. VA pays tax-free disability compensation ranging from $104 to $2,193 monthly, depending on the degree of disability, with additional sums for dependents.

In transmitting the draft bill to the speaker of the House and the president of the Senate, Principi said, "Studies have shown that the physical hardships and psychological stress endured by POWs have life-long effects on health and on social and vocational adjustment."

Because benefits have changed over the years, VA took steps earlier this year to ensure that all former POWs are aware of benefits to which they are entitled. VA's outreach included mailing benefits information to more than 10,000 former POWs currently receiving compensation as well, as another 4,700 known ex-POWs not on its rolls.

Although results are now being collected to measure the effect of the outreach campaign, early indications are that VA is receiving hundreds of claims from POWs for new benefits or for higher disability ratings.

Because 93 per cent of U.S. former POWs served in World War II, a group with an average age of 82, the overall number of surviving ex-POWs fell by nearly 2,800 last year. VA is taking special efforts to process the claims of older veterans quickly.

In addition, VA maintains a Web site with detailed information on its benefits for former prisoners of war at http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/Benefits/POW/.

Hats of to U.S. Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD) who recently introduced a bill to commemorate American veterans who have been disabled for life. The American Veterans Disabled for Life Commemorative Coin Act of 2003 will require the Department of Treasury to mint a commemorative coin in 2006 to honor veterans disabled while serving our country. If the legislation is passed, the revenues from the coin surcharge will go to the Disabled Veterans’ LIFE Memorial Foundation to help cover a portion of the costs of the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial in Washington, D.C.

“Everyday we watch the news and are reminded of the costs of war. For many who come back from war, the scars never heal. America’s 2.3 million living disabled veterans served their country honorably and in return, deserve a nation’s respect and admiration. This coin will not take away their pain, but will move us closer to recognizing their sacrifices in a monument overlooking the Capitol,” Johnson said.

Gene Murphy of Sioux Falls, South Dakota joined Senator Johnson on a recent conference call highlighting this important legislation to South Dakota media media. Murphy, a Purple Heart and Bronze Star with V Device recipient, was paralyzed by gunshot wounds in Vietnam. He now serves as Treasurer of the Disabled Veterans' LIFE Memorial Foundation and remains active in many South Dakota based veterans’ organizations.

The three-acre site for the Memorial is located on Washington Avenue at 2nd Street, SW, across from the U.S. Botanic Gardens, and in full view of the U.S. Capitol building. Federal legislation for the Memorial was signed into law by President Bill Clinton on October 24, 2000. The National Capital Planning Commission unanimously approved the Capitol Hill location on October 10, 2001.

The mission of the Disabled Veterans’ LIFE Memorial Foundation is to commemorate the selfless and sacrifice of America’s 2.3 million living disabled veterans, ensuring they will always be remembered and to provide all Americans with a place to express their appreciation for the men and women who came home from war bearing the scars of our great nation’s defense.

The U.S. Treasury only mints two commemorative coins each year. The legislation directs that the coin be minted in 2006 as it is the first available time slot for a new coin.

For more information on the organization, please go to their Website at https://www.disabledveteranslifememorial.org/index.html.

or to contact Senator Johnson’s Communications Director, e-mail Julianne_Fisher@johnson.senate.gov.

Send letters to Sgt. Shaft, c/o John Fales, P.O. Box 65900, Washington, D.C. 20035-5900; fax to 301-622-3330; call 202-462-4430 or email sgtshaft@bavf.org.

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