[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 36 (Thursday, February 24, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 9135]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-3497]


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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 2004, Public Law 108-363, 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, 2004, the date 
provided by Public Law 108-363.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pamela C. Liverman, Consultant, 
Compensation and Pension Service (212A), Veterans Benefit 
Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, 
NW., Washington, DC 20420, (757) 858-6148, ext. 107.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 2 of Public Law 108-363 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 2.7 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, 2004:

                Disability Compensation (38 U.S.C. 1114)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Disability  evaluation                    Monthly rate
------------------------------------------------------------------------
10%............................................                     $108
20.............................................                      210
30.............................................                      324
40.............................................                      466
50.............................................                      663
60.............................................                      839
70.............................................                    1,056
80.............................................                    1,227
90.............................................                    1,380
100............................................                    2,299
------------------------------------------------
                     (38 U.S.C. 1114(k) through (s))
------------------------------------------------------------------------
38 U.S.C. 1114(k)..............................  $84; $2,860; $84; 4,012
38 U.S.C. 1114(l)..............................                    2,860
38 U.S.C. 1114(m)..............................                    3,155
38 U.S.C. 1114(n)..............................                    3,590
38 U.S.C. 1114(o)..............................                    4,012
38 U.S.C. 1114(p)..............................                    4,012
38 U.S.C. 1114(r)..............................             1,722; 2,564
38 U.S.C. 1114(s)..............................                    2,573
------------------------------------------------
       Additional Compensation for Dependents (38 U.S.C. 1115(1))
------------------------------------------------------------------------
38 U.S.C. 1115(1)(A)...........................                      130
38 U.S.C. 1115(1)(B)...........................                 224; $66
38 U.S.C. 1115(1)(C)...........................                  88; $66
38 U.S.C. 1115(1)(D)...........................                      105
38 U.S.C. 1115(1)(E)...........................                      247
38 U.S.C. 1115(1)(F)...........................                      207
------------------------------------------------
                   Clothing Allowance (38 U.S.C. 1162)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              $616 per year
------------------------------------------------------------------------


               DIC to a Surviving Spouse (38 U.S.C. 1311)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                        Pay grade                          Monthly rate
------------------------------------------------------------------------
E-1.....................................................            $993
E-2.....................................................             993
E-3.....................................................             993
E-4.....................................................             993
E-5.....................................................             993
E-6.....................................................             993
E-7.....................................................           1,027
E-8.....................................................           1,084
E-9\1\..................................................           1,131
W-1.....................................................           1,049
W-2.....................................................           1,091
W-3.....................................................           1,123
W-4.....................................................           1,188
O-1.....................................................           1,049
O-2.....................................................           1,084
O-3.....................................................           1,160
O-4.....................................................           1,227
O-5.....................................................           1,351
O-6.....................................................           1,523
O-7.....................................................           1,645
O-8.....................................................           1,805
O-9.....................................................           1,931
O-10\2\.................................................          2,118
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\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 $1,221.
\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 $2,272.


        DIC to a Surviving Spouse (38 U.S.C. 1311(a) Through (d))
------------------------------------------------------------------------
             38 U.S.C. 1311(a)  through (d)                Monthly rate
------------------------------------------------------------------------
38 U.S.C. 1311(a)(1)....................................            $993
38 U.S.C. 1311(a)(2)....................................             213
38 U.S.C. 1311(b).......................................             247
38 U.S.C. 1311(c).......................................             247
38 U.S.C. 1311(d).......................................             118
------------------------------------------------------------------------


                    DIC to Children (38 U.S.C. 1313)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                     38 U.S.C. 1313                        Monthly rate
------------------------------------------------------------------------
38 U.S.C. 1313(a)(1)....................................            $421
38 U.S.C. 1313(a)(2)....................................             605
38 U.S.C. 1313(a)(3)....................................              87
38 U.S.C. 1313(a)(4)....................................       787; $151
------------------------------------------------------------------------


              Supplemental DIC to Children (38 U.S.C. 1314)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                     38 U.S.C. 1314                        Monthly rate
------------------------------------------------------------------------
38 U.S.C. 1314(a).......................................            $247
38 U.S.C. 1314(b).......................................             421
38 U.S.C. 1314(c).......................................             210
------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Dated: February 15, 2005.
Gordon H. Mansfield,
Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 05-3497 Filed 2-23-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P