[Federal Register: March 1, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 40)]
[Notices]
[Page 9677-9678]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr01mr04-125]
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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
Adjustments for Service-Connected Benefits
AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: As required by the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living
Adjustment Act of 2003, Pub. L. 108-147, the Department of Veterans
Affairs (VA) is hereby giving notice of adjustments in certain benefit
rates. These adjustments affect the compensation and dependency and
indemnity compensation (DIC) programs.
DATES: These adjustments are effective December 1, 2003, the date
provided by Pub. L. 108-147.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Trowbridge, Consultant,
Compensation and Pension Service (212B), Veterans Benefits
Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue,
NW., Washington, DC 20420, (202) 273-7218.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 2 of Pub. L. 108-147 provides for an
increase in each of the rates in sections 1114, 1115(1), 1162, 1311,
1313, and 1314 of title 38, United States Code. VA is required to
increase these benefit rates by the same percentage as increases in the
benefit amounts payable under title II of the Social Security Act. In
computing increased rates in the cited title 38 sections, fractions of
a dollar are rounded down to the nearest dollar. The increased rates
are required to be published in the Federal Register.
The Social Security Administration has announced that there will be
a 2.1 percent cost-of-living increase in Social Security benefits.
Therefore, applying the same percentage, the following rates for VA
compensation and DIC programs will be effective December 1, 2003:
Disability Compensation (38 U.S.C. 1114)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monthly
Disability evaluation (percent) rate
------------------------------------------------------------------------
10........................................................... $106
20........................................................... 205
30........................................................... 316
40........................................................... 454
50........................................................... 646
60........................................................... 817
70........................................................... 1,029
80........................................................... 1,195
90........................................................... 1,344
100.......................................................... 2,239
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(38 U.S.C. 1114(k) through (s)) Monthly rate
------------------------------------------------------------------------
38 U.S.C. 1114(k)....................... $82; $2,785; $82; $3,907
38 U.S.C. 1114(l)....................... $2,785
38 U.S.C. 1114(m)....................... $3,073
38 U.S.C. 1114(n)....................... $3,496
38 U.S.C. 1114(o)....................... $3,907
38 U.S.C. 1114(p)....................... $3,907
38 U.S.C. 1114(r)....................... $1,677; $2,497
38 U.S.C. 1114(s)....................... $2,506
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Additional Compensation for Dependents (38 U.S.C. 1115(1)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
38 U.S.C. 1115(1) Monthly rate
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38 U.S.C. 1115(1)(A).................... $127
38 U.S.C. 1115(1)(B).................... $219; $65
38 U.S.C. 1115(1)(C).................... $86; $65
38 U.S.C. 1115(1)(D).................... $103
38 U.S.C. 1115(1)(E).................... $241
38 U.S.C. 1115(1)(F).................... $202
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Clothing Allowance (38 U.S.C. 1162)--$600 Per Year DIC to a Surviving
Spouse (38 U.S.C. 1311)
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Pay grade Monthly rate
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E-1..................................... $967
E-2..................................... 967
E-3..................................... 967
E-4..................................... 967
E-5..................................... 967
E-6..................................... 967
E-7..................................... 1,000
E-8..................................... 1,056
E-9\1\.................................. 1,102
W-1..................................... 1,022
W-2..................................... 1,063
W-3..................................... 1,094
[[Page 9678]]
W-4..................................... 1,157
O-1..................................... 1,022
O-2..................................... 1,056
O-3..................................... 1,130
O-4..................................... 1,195
O-5..................................... 1,316
O-6..................................... 1,483
O-7..................................... 1,602
O-8..................................... 1,758
O-9..................................... 1,881
O-10\2\................................. 2,063
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ If the veteran served as sergeant major of the Army, senior enlisted
advisor of the Navy, chief master sergeant of the Air Force, sergeant
major of the Marine Corps, or master chief petty officer of the Coast
Guard, the surviving spouse's monthly rate is $1,189.
\2\If the veteran served as Chairman or Vice Chairman of the Joint
Chiefs of Staff, Chief of Staff of the Army, Chief of Naval
Operations, Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Commandant of the Marine
Corps, or Commandant of the Coast Guard, the surviving spouse's
monthly rate is $2,213.
DIC to a Surviving Spouse (38 U.S.C. 1311(a) Through (d)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monthly
38 U.S.C. 1311(a) through (d) rate
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38 U.S.C. 1311(a)(1)......................................... $967
38 U.S.C. 1311(a)(2)......................................... 208
38 U.S.C. 1311(b)............................................ 241
38 U.S.C. 1311(c)............................................ 241
38 U.S.C. 1311(d)............................................ 115
------------------------------------------------------------------------
DIC to Children (38 U.S.C. 1313)
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38 U.S.C. 1313 Monthly rate
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38 U.S.C. 1313(a)(1).................... $410
38 U.S.C. 1313(a)(2).................... $590
38 U.S.C. 1313(a)(3).................... $767
38 U.S.C. 1313(a)(4).................... $767; $148
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Supplemental DIC to Children (38 U.S.C. 1314)
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Monthly
38 U.S.C. 1314 rate
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38 U.S.C. 1314(a)............................................ $241
38 U.S.C. 1314(b)............................................ 410
38 U.S.C. 1314(c)............................................ 205
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Dated: February 20, 2004.
Anthony J. Principi,
Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 04-4484 Filed 2-27-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P