fits to the very seriously disabled veteran. However, there is still much that can be done. PVA would like to take this opportunity to point out to you some improvements in the disability compensation system which we hope the Committee will study. One of the effects of the disability compensation system in Section 314 of Title 38 is to place an arbitary limit on the number of disabling conditions a veteran may have counted in the calculation of his benefits. For example, under the existing system, a man who has lost the use of both legs and both eyes will receive only 17 dollars more in benefits each month than a man who has lost only the use of his legs. A quadriplegic with the loss of use of both arms and both legs is compensated at the same rate as a paraplegic with the loss of use of both legs. A triple amputee may receive as little as 17 dollars a month for the loss of the third limb. I think the problem is clear. Section 314 of Title 38 U.S. Code has become weighted against the multiple disability and against the most seriously injured veterans. The result is that the more disabled the veteran, the less compensation he proportionately receives. PVA believes these inequities can and should be corrected. First by a removal of the restriction on the number of K or statutory awards to be granted a veteran for anatomical -5 loss or loss of use of limbs or organs. Concomitantly the dollar restrictions in subsections (o) and (p) of Section 314 should be removed. There is another alternative which we hope the Committee will consider; that is a substantial increase in aid and attendance. This would immediately benefit this nation's 8,303 service connected totally and permanently disabled veterans receiving aid and attendance. Last year PVA conducted a survey of the actual cost of providing professional, qualified aid and attendance. In brief, we found that the average cost of only the minimally necessary services was just under $1,500.00 monthly. The amount currently paid for aid and attendance under Section 314 (r) is $489.00 a month. The difference of over $1,000.00 must be taken out of the veteran's compensation, leaving less for food, housing, clothing and other necessities. As a long-range adjustment to these inequities, we strongly recommend that the Committee consider a graduated aid and attendance system. Those most seriously disabled and most in need of constant aid should receive higher payments. I am talking here of quadriplegics, triple and even quadruple amputees. These veterans need almost 24 hour attention if they are to live out of the hospital and not be a burden on their families. These veterans truly need $1,500.00 a month in aid and attendance. Veterans with -6 lesser disabilities, low level paraplegics, for example, need less aid and attendance, and could be paid at a lower rate. Eligibility for aid and attendance is a medical determination, but PVA believes a graduated system written in law is desirable and feasible. We will gladly work with this Committee and the staff to develop these and other proposals and alternatives. Mr. Chairman, in summary, PVA endorses an 8% cost-of-living increase in disability compensation. We sincerely appreciate the proposed increase in the mortgage life insurance and the extension of the automobile grant. We have made several suggestions for restructuring the aid and attendance system which we hope you will consider. On behalf of PVA I would like to thank the members of this Committee, and the staff for their concern for seriously disabled veterans and their work on this bill. The purpose of this letter is to express the support of the Blinded Veterans Association for the passage of legislation increasing the disability compensation for disabled veterans and to increase the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for their survivors. When I appeared before the full Committee on Veterans Affairs on March 24, 1976, I expressed the BVA's support of legislation to increase the amount of disability compensation. Since that date S. 3596 has been introduced which would provide an 8% increase in benefits. I wish to express support for passage of that Bill. It is my understanding that the appropriations for the funding of this much needed increase have been provided in appropriate legislation. I will be unable to appear personally before your subcommittee for the hearings scheduled on Friday, July 23, 1976, however, I am enclosing & statement which I request be entered into the record at those hearings. JRM:C Sincerely R. Monsal JERRY R. MONROE CHARTERED BY THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES STATEMENT OF JERRY R. MONROE, NATIONAL PRESIDENT, BLINDED Friday, July 23, 1976 Mr. Chairman and Members of the Subcommittee: I am grateful for this opportunity to express the views of the Blinded Veterans Association on the hearings being held on S. 3576. A top priority item in the BVA legislative program is an increase in disability compensation reflecting the rise in the cost of living since the last such increase. That last increase was provided in Public Law 94-71 effective August 1, 1975. Your subcommittee was active in passing this legislation through to enactment, and we are most grateful for your support. Unfortunately, the rate of inflation which had slowed in recent months is once again on the increase as reported only this week by the government. Once again, it will be making inroads into the purchasing power of those who live on fixed incomes, as does a large proportion of our membership and many other disabled veterans. The rising Consumer Price Index, earlier this year, triggered a 5.4 percent increase, effective March 1, 1976, in the compensation of retired military and civilian personnel of the Federal Government whose previous automatic cost of living increases had the same effective date of August 1, 1975 as R.A. 94-71. We believe that the circumstances facing disabled veterans do not differ materially from those applicable to retired federal personnel, social security beneficiaries, and many other groups whose compensation is tied to the cost of living. For this reason, the BVA strongly urges the enactment at this session by the Congress of legislation which will assure that the purchasing power of disability compensation is fully maintained through appropriate adjustments reflecting cost of living increases since last August. Anything else would be unfair and unequitable to this most deserving group. We therefore strongly urge passage of S. 3596, which provides an 8 percent increase in compensation and which was introduced on your behalf, Mr. Chairman, by Chairman Hartke of the full committee. The BVA also supports Section 204 of this Bill which |