[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 40 (Monday, March 1, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9677-9678]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-4484]


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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
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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
------------------------------------------------------------------------


  Clothing Allowance (38 U.S.C. 1162)--$600 Per Year DIC to a Surviving
                         Spouse (38 U.S.C. 1311)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Pay grade                          Monthly rate
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
             38 U.S.C. 1313                        Monthly rate
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                Monthly
                        38 U.S.C. 1314                            rate
------------------------------------------------------------------------
38 U.S.C. 1314(a)............................................       $241
38 U.S.C. 1314(b)............................................        410
38 U.S.C. 1314(c)............................................        205
------------------------------------------------------------------------


    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