[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 69 (Thursday, April 10, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 17723]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-8724]



[[Page 17723]]

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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


Adjustments in Rates for Disability Compensation and Dependency 
and Indemnity Compensation

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: As required by the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living 
Adjustment Act of 2002, Pub. L. 107-247, the Department of Veterans 
Affairs (VA) is hereby giving notice of adjustments in certain benefit 
rates. These adjustments affect the disability compensation and 
dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) programs.

DATES: These adjustments are effective December 1, 2002, the date 
provided by Pub. L. 107-247.

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. 107-247 provides for an 
increase in each of the rates in sections 1114, 1115(1), 1162, 1311, 
1313(a), and 1314 of title 38, United States Code. VA is required to 
increase these benefit rates by the same percentage as the percentage 
by which benefit amounts payable under title II of the Social Security 
Act are increased effective December 1, 2002. 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 a 1.4 percent 
cost-of-living increase in Social Security benefits effective December 
1, 2002. Therefore, applying the same percentage increase, the 
following rates for VA compensation and DIC programs will be effective 
December 1, 2002:

                 Disability Compensation (38 U.S.C. 1114)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Affected statute (evaluation)                Monthly rate
------------------------------------------------------------------------
38 U.S.C. 1114(a) (10%)...................  $104
38 U.S.C. 1114(b) (20%)...................  $201
38 U.S.C. 1114(c) (30%)...................  $310
38 U.S.C. 1114(d) (40%)...................  $445
38 U.S.C. 1114(e) (50%)...................  $633
38 U.S.C. 1114(f) (60%)...................  $801
38 U.S.C. 1114(g) (70%)...................  $1,008
38 U.S.C. 1114(h) (80%)...................  $1,171
38 U.S.C. 1114(i) (90%)...................  $1,317
38 U.S.C. 1114(j) (100%)..................  $2,193
38 U.S.C. 1114(k).........................  $81; $2,728; $81; $3,827
38 U.S.C. 1114(l).........................  $2,728
38 U.S.C. 1114(m).........................  $3,010
38 U.S.C. 1114(n).........................  $3,425
38 U.S.C. 1114(o).........................  $3,827
38 U.S.C. 1114(p).........................  $3,827
38 U.S.C. 1114(r).........................  $1,643; $2,446
38 U.S.C. 1114(s).........................  $2,455
------------------------------------------------------------------------


        Additional Compensation for Dependents (38 U.S.C. 1115(1))
------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Affected statute                       Monthly rate
------------------------------------------------------------------------
38 U.S.C. 1115(1)(A)......................  $125
38 U.S.C. 1115(1)(B)......................  $215; 64
38 U.S.C. 1115(1)(C)......................  $85; 64
38 U.S.C. 1115(1)(D)......................  $101
38 U.S.C. 1115(1)(E)......................  $237
38 U.S.C. 1115(1)(F)......................  $198
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Clothing Allowance (38 U.S.C. 1162)

    $588 per year 1.

                DIC to a Surviving Spouse (38 U.S.C. 1311)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               Monthly
                      Affected statute                           rate
------------------------------------------------------------------------
38 U.S.C. 1311(a)(1).......................................         $948
38 U.S.C. 1311(a)(2).......................................          204
38 U.S.C. 1311(b)..........................................          237
38 U.S.C. 1311(c)..........................................          237
38 U.S.C. 1311(d)..........................................          113
------------------------------------------------------------------------


             DIC to a Surviving Spouse (38 U.S.C. 1311(a)(3))
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               Monthly
                         Pay grade                               rate
------------------------------------------------------------------------
E-1........................................................         $948
E-2........................................................          948
E-3........................................................          948
E-4........................................................          948
E-5........................................................          948
E-6........................................................          948
E-7........................................................          980
E-8........................................................        1,035
E-9\1\.....................................................        1,080
W-1........................................................        1,001
W-2........................................................        1,042
W-3........................................................        1,072
W-4........................................................        1,134
O-1........................................................        1,001
O-2........................................................        1,035
O-3........................................................        1,107
O-4........................................................        1,171
O-5........................................................        1,289
O-6........................................................        1,453
O-7........................................................        1,570
O-8........................................................        1,722
O-9........................................................        1,843
O-10\2\....................................................       2,021
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\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 $1,165.
\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 $2,168.


                   DIC to Children (38 U.S.C. 1313(a))
------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Affected statute                       Monthly rate
------------------------------------------------------------------------
38 U.S.C. 1313(a)(1)......................  $402
38 U.S.C. 1313(a)(2)......................  $578
38 U.S.C. 1313(a)(3)......................  $752
38 U.S.C. 1313(a)(4)......................  $752; $145
------------------------------------------------------------------------


              Supplemental DIC to Children (38 U.S.C. 1314)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               Monthly
                      Affected statute                           rate
------------------------------------------------------------------------
38 U.S.C. 1314(a)..........................................         $237
38 U.S.C. 1314(b)..........................................          402
38 U.S.C. 1314(c)..........................................          201
------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Dated: April 2, 2003.
Anthony J. Principi,
Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 03-8724 Filed 4-9-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P