Fact
Sheet: VA benefits for former POWs
Former American prisoners of war (POWs) are eligible for special
veterans benefits, including enrollment in Department of Veterans
Affairs (VA) medical care for treatment in VA hospitals and clinics
without co-payments as well as disability compensation for injuries
and
diseases that have been associated with internment. These benefits
are in addition to regular veterans benefits and services to which
they, as veterans, are entitled.
Records show that 142,246 Americans were captured and interned during
World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War,
the Gulf War, the Somalia and Kosovo conflicts, and
Operation Iraqi Freedom.
There were no service members reported missing in action
from the Bosnia deployment nor from recent Afghanistan
operations. Of the 125,214 Americans surviving captivity,
about 29,350 were estimated to be alive at the end of 2005.
American Prisoners Of War at End of 2005
Captured and Interned Died while POW Returned to U.S.
Military Control
Refused to Return Alive at end of 2005
GRAND TOTAL 142,246 17,009 125,214 21 29,350
WW I 4,120 147 3,973 -- --
WW II 130,201 14,072 116,129 -- 26,750
Korean 7,140 2,701 4,418 21 2,000
Vietnam 725 64 661 -- 579
Gulf War 47 25 21 -- 21
Somalia 1 -- 1 -- 1
Kosovo 3 -- 3 -- 3
Iraq 9 -- 8 -- 8
The estimate of the number alive from World War II and the
Korean War at the end of 2005 is based on mortality
estimates from VA's Office of the Actuary that are rounded
to the nearest 50. This report assumes all returned POWs of
the Gulf War, Somalia and Kosovo are still
alive, but the government has not individually tracked their
vital
status. Because of the advanced age of World War I
veterans, estimates
of those alive would be too unreliable to report.
Congress has defined a prisoner of war as a person who,
while serving on active duty, was forcibly detained by an
enemy government or a hostile force, during a period of war
or in situations comparable to war.
With nine out of ten former POWs having served in World War
II, the
estimated number of living POWs decreased from nearly 32,500
to 29,000
during 2005 due mainly to the estimated death rates for
World War II and
Korean POWs.
Compensation
As of August 2006, there were 16,884 former POWs receiving
compensation benefits from VA. Approximately 13,000 of them
are rated as 100 percent disabled.
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. These studies also indicate
increased
vulnerability to psychological stress. The laws on former
POW benefits
recognize that military medical records do not cover periods
of
captivity. For many diseases, unless there is evidence of
some other
cause, VA disability compensation can be paid on the basis
of a
presumption that a disease present today is associated with
the
veteran's captivity or internment.
For POWs detained for 30 days or more, such eligibility
covers any of
the following illnesses that are found at a compensable
level (at least
10 percent disabling): avitaminosis; beriberi; chronic
dysentery;
cirrhosis of the liver; helminthiasis; irritable bowel
syndrome and
malnutrition, including associated optic atrophy. Also
covered are:
pellagra and any other nutritional deficiency; peptic ulcer
disease; and
peripheral neuropathy, except where directly related to
infectious
causes. Several categories of diseases are presumptively
associated
with captivity without any 30-day limit: psychosis; any
anxiety state;
dysthymic disorders; cold injury; post-traumatic arthritis;
strokes; and
common heart diseases.
The rate of VA monthly compensation, according to degree of
disability,
ranges from $112 to $2,393 per month. Veterans rated as 30
percent or
more disabled qualify for additional benefits based upon the
number of
dependents. Dependents of those rated 100 percent disabled
may qualify
for educational assistance.
Spouses of veterans who die as a result of service-connected
disabilities are eligible for dependency and indemnity
compensation.
Spouses of former POWs who were rated 100 percent disabled
and who died of a condition unrelated to their service also
may be eligible,
depending on the date of death and how long the veteran held
the 100
percent disability rating. Those non-service-connected
deaths prior to
October 1999 are covered if the former POW had been 100
percent disabled for at least 10 years. More recent
non-service-connected deaths are covered under a law that
provides the benefit when the former POWs was 100 percent
disabled for a year or more.
Medical Care
Former POWs receive special priority for VA health-care
enrollment, even if their illness has not been formally
associated with their service.
Former POWs are exempt from making means test co-payments
for inpatient and outpatient medical care and medications,
but they have the same co-pay rules as other veterans for
extended care. They also are now eligible for dental care
without any length-of-interment requirement.
VA periodically has provided training for its medical staff
about former
POWs, and an online curriculum is maintained at
http://www1.va.gov/VHI/page.cfm?pg=9.
Outreach Campaign
In collaboration with its Advisory Committee on Former
Prisoners of War,
VA launched a campaign in 2003 to ensure that eligible
former POWs are
aware of their VA benefits.
Direct mail was used where addresses could be found for veterans who were
not currently on the rolls. Those already receiving VA benefits
were reminded of the possible availability of increased compensation
if a condition has worsened, and they also were alerted to the
improvement of benefits in recent years. In
addition, to seek former POWs for whom VA could not locate an
address
and to reach widows of veterans who may have died of a
service-connected condition, VA issued news releases and provided
interviews to alert the public to expanded policies. Brochures,
exhibits and VA Web sites were improved to provide more information
to former POWs and the public.
Later in 2004 and 2005, VA initiated another outreach campaign to
locate
former POWs who were experiencing two new presumptive conditions -
heart disease or stroke - to alert them to the change in law.
Additional Resources
POW coordinators are assigned to each VA regional office and medical
center and are available to provide more information. Former POWs
may contact VA regional offices with general benefits questions at
800-827-1000. Medical eligibility questions may be directed to
877-222-8387. Additional information for former POWs also is
available
from VA's Web site at
http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/Benefits/POW/.