[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 104 (Tuesday, June 1, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29416-29417]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-13772]


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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 Programs Enhancement Act of 1998, 
Pub. L. 105-368, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is hereby 
giving notice of adjustments in certain benefit rates. These 
adjustments affect the compensation, dependency and indemnity 
compensation (DIC), and Medal of Honor pension programs.

DATES: These adjustments are effective December 1, 1998, the date 
provided by Pub. L. 105-368.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Paul Trowbridge, Consultant, Compensation and Pension Service (213B), 
Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans

[[Page 29417]]

Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420, (202) 273-7218.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 301 of Pub. L. 105-368 increases the 
rate of Medal of Honor pension under 38 U.S.C. 1562(a) to $600. Section 
1101 of Pub. L. 105-368 provides for an increase in each of the rates 
in sections 1114, 1115(1), 1162, 1311, 1313, and 1314 of the title 38, 
United States Code. VA is required to increase these benefit rates by 
the same percentage as increased 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 1.3 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, 1998:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               Monthly rate  (dollars
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Disability Compensation (38 U.S.C. 1114)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Disability Evaluation:
  10%....................................  96
  20%....................................  184
  30%....................................  282
  40%....................................  404
  50%....................................  576
  60%....................................  726
  70%....................................  916
  80%....................................  1,062
  90%....................................  1,196
  100%...................................  1,989
(38 U.S.C. 1114(k) through (s)):
  38 U.S.C. 1114(k)......................  75; 2,474; 75; 3,470
  38 U.S.C. 1114(l)......................  2,474
  38 U.S.C. 1114(m)......................  2,729
  38 U.S.C. 1114(n)......................  3,105
  38 U.S.C. 1114(o)......................  3,470
  38 U.S.C. 1114(p)......................  3,470
  38 U.S.C. 1114(r)......................  1,490; 2,218
  38 U.S.C. 1114(s)......................  2,227
------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Additional Compensation for Dependents (38 U.S.C. 1115(1))
------------------------------------------------------------------------
38 U.S.C. 1115(1):
  38 U.S.C. 1115(1)(A)...................  115
  38 U.S.C. 1115(1)(B)...................  197; 60
  38 U.S.C. 1115(1)(C)...................  79; 60
  38 U.S.C. 1115(1)(D)...................  93
  38 U.S.C. 1115(1)(E)...................  217
  38 U.S.C. 1115(1)(F)...................  182
------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Clothing Allowance (38 U.S.C. 1162)--$534 per year
------------------------------------------------------------------------
               DIC to a Surviving Spouse (38 U.S.C. 1311)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pay Grade:
  E-1....................................  861
  E-2....................................  861
  E-3....................................  861
  E-4....................................  861
  E-5....................................  861
  E-6....................................  861
  E-7....................................  890
  E-8....................................  940
  E-9 \1\................................  980
  W-1....................................  909
  W-2....................................  946
  W-3....................................  974
  W-4....................................  1,030
  O-1....................................  909
  O-2....................................  940
  O-3....................................  1,004
  O-4....................................  1,062
  O-5....................................  1,170
  O-6....................................  1,318
  O-7....................................  1,424
  O-8....................................  1,561
  O-9....................................  1,672
  O-10 \2\...............................  1,834
------------------------------------------------------------------------
        DIC to a Surviving Spouse (38 U.S.C. 1311(a) Through (d))
------------------------------------------------------------------------
38 U.S.C. 1311(a) through (d):
  38 U.S.C. 1311(a)(1)...................  861
  38 U.S.C. 1311(a)(2)...................  187
  38 U.S.C. 1311(b)......................  217
  38 U.S.C. 1311(c)......................  217
  38 U.S.C. 1311(d)......................  105
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    DIC to Children (38 U.S.C. 1313)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
38 U.S.C. 1313:
  38 U.S.C. 1313(a)(1)...................  365
  38 U.S.C. 1313(a)(2)...................  526
  38 U.S.C. 1313(a)(3)...................  683
  38 U.S.C. 1313(a)(4)...................  683; 133
------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Supplemental DIC to Children (38 U.S.C. 1314)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
38 U.S.C. 1314:
  38 U.S.C. 1314(a)......................  217
  38 U.S.C. 1314(b)......................  365
  38 U.S.C. 1314(c)......................  184
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\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 $1,057.
\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 $1,966.

    Dated: May 21, 1999.
Togo D. West, Jr.,
Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 99-13772 Filed 5-28-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-M