obligation and responsibility. PL 97-37, passed more than two years ago, repeated this mandate. Except for the erratic support of the National Academy of Sciences Longitudinal Study of Mortality and Morbidity in POWS, the VA has neglected this responsibility. Thirty percent of the 116,000 WWII POWs who were repatriated have already died as have 20% of the 4,418 Korean Conflict POWS. The Committee's unanimous conclusion is that sufficient research evidence and medical consensus now exist. The VA need no longer delay in accepting what has been obvious to informed individuals and organizations around the world. In fact, in view of its 40-year history of inaction, it is inappropriate and improper for it to continue to do so now. Yet its response to the central finding of the Committee-that the extremes of mental stress and physical deprivation are critical causal factors for later illnesses of former POWS-reveals a continuing reluctance to accept the facts and to take action to meet the tragically overdue needs of former POWS. I urge Congress to accept the Committee's central findings and to direct the VA to act in a responsive manner in accordance with its mission to care for those who have borne the battle as POWs most surely have done. Charles A. Stenger, PhD Legislative & Veterans Affairs American Ex-Prisoners of War 7425 Democracy Blvd., #211 Bethesda, MD 20817 CAS:js Thank you for the privilege of appearing before this distinguished Subcommittee to present the views of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. My name is Donald H. Schwab, and it is my privilege to serve the more than 1.97 million men and women of the Veterans of Foreign Wars as their National Legis lative Director. The purpose of the Veterans Administration's compensation program, the keystone of all veterans' benefits, is to remunerate in part veterans suffering from impaired earning capacity due to their service-connected disabilities. Throughout the history of this program, changes have been made to enhance benefits as dictated by the test of time. Presently, there are some 2.2 million veterans in receipt of compensation for their service-connected disabilities; of this number, VFW MEMORIAL BUILDING ● 200 MARYLAND AVENUE, N.E. ● WASHINGTON, D. C. 20002 - 5799 ● AREA CODE 202-543-2239 1 Page 2 16,000 are veterans of World War I, more than a million are World War II veterans, 227,000 are veterans of the Korean Conflict, 590,000 are Vietnam veterans and 325,000 are former members of the Regular Establishment. Mr. Chairman, the purpose of the Dependency and Indemnity Compensation Program (DIC) is to provide partial compensation for the loss of financial support to the survivors of veterans who expire due to their service-connected disabilities or who were in receipt of total (100 percent) ratings for service-connected disabilities for at least 10 years at the time of death, provided the 100 percent rating had been continuous or continuously since separation from active duty and for at least five years. In addition, unless death was due to service-connected causes, the surviving spouse must have been married to the veteran at least two years. DIC is terminated upon remarriage, but may be restored upon termination of the remarriage. As with compensation, DIC is payable to eligible beneficiaries regardless of any other income. receipt of DIC. There are presently more than 360,000 survivors in Mr. Chairman, the legislative posture of the VFW for each ensuing year is established by resolutions passed by the voting delegates to our most recent National Convention. In view of the numerous improvements made in both the compensation and DIC programs over the years, relatively few resolutions addressing these benefits were passed by the voting delegates to our 84th National Convention held in New Orleans, Louisiana last August. Resolution No. 609, entitled "Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP)," seeks the elimination of both the DIC and social security offsets under the Armed Forces Survivor Plan. These, of course, are matters under the purview of the Armed Services Committee. Resolution No. 626, entitled "Ten Year Protection Period for Service Connected Disability Evaluations," obviously supports amending 38 USC 110 to Page 3 reduce from 20 years to 10 years the time a disability rating must be held to be protected. The Veterans Administration opposes our position and their comments regarding our resolution follow: "The length of time during which an evaluation has been in effect is not, in and of itself, the proper determinative factor as to whether reexamination and reevaluation is warranted. A reevaluation should be considered whenever there is reasonable basis for believing a condition may have been improved. "We believe the current requirement that a rating be continuously in force for a period of 20 years in order to be preserved significantly reduces the inequitable possibility of payments being made to certain veterans rated higher than would be supportable by current evaluations." Two bills introduced by you, Mr. Chairman, by request, H.R. 463 and H.R. 1871, would fulfill our resolution in whole or in part. Resolution No. 628, entitled "Increase Disability Compensation For Disabled Veterans," is a moot issue since a 3.5 percent cost-of-living increase became effective April 1, 1984. In addition, legislation is now pending in both Houses of Congress to grant an appropriate cost-of-living increase in the fiscal year 1985. Resolution No. 664, entitled "Opposition To Proposals Offsetting Payments Of Federal Benefits," was passed to counter a 1983 proposal by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to eliminate the current provision of law which provides payment at the 100 percent rate to veterans between 60 and 70 percent disabled and who are judged to be "unemployable" even though they also receive social security, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or federal retirement benefits. Neither this Subcommittee nor the full Committee have given consideration to this OMB proposal. Resolution No. 670, entitled "Clothing Allowance For Veterans with ServiceConnected Skin Conditions," is self-explanatory. The opposition of the Veterans Page 4 Administration is herein quoted: "Therapeutic tar ointments and tar gels used in the treatment of skin diseases are probably those most often incriminated in the staining of clothing. However, we have been informed that the use of these compounds only slightly stains clothing and that standard laundry procedures used routinely in the cleaning of clothes will generally remove such stains. Accordingly, we see no need to recommend inclusion of veterans with service-connected skin conditions in the group of those entitled to the clothing allowance." Mr. Chairman, some tar-based medications may launder out, while others can never be eradicated. The same holds true for garments which must be dry-cleaned. Even supposing the VA rationale is correct, the necessary increased laundering and cleaning substantially reduces the lifetime of garments. We believe our position is tenable and support passage of H.R. 465 to grant the clothing allowance to veterans with service-connected skin disorders. Mr. Chairman, our current VFW Resolution No. 674 calls for amending 38 USC 3012 by increasing from 60 days to 120 days any reduction in compensation payable to veterans suffering from a service-connected disability. The rationale therefore is that a considerable dollar income loss causes a severe hardship in many cases and the additional time to readjust spending to a lower income level would be beneficial to the veteran. Therefore, request consideration be given this proposal. In conclusion, Mr. Chairman, permit me to express the appreciation of the VFW for the continued concern of this Subcommittee and the full Committee for the welfare of our nation's veterans, their dependents and survivors. Cited resolutions are appended to my testimony, and I thank you. |