By William W. McLemore

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Intergovernmental and International Affairs

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Since World War I, more than 142,000 Americans, including 85 women, have been captured and interned as prisoners of war (POWs).  Sadly, only one third of America's former POWs since World War I are still living (about 36,500).   More than 90 percent of living former POWs were captured and interned during World War II, and over 21,000 former POWs are in receipt of compensation for service-connected injuries, diseases, or illnesses.  Yet, thousands more of America’s former POWs may be eligible for VA benefits but have not applied for them. Their advanced ages mean time is running out for them to apply for benefits for which they may be eligible.  They may not be aware that recent legislation may make them and their dependents eligible for VA compensation.

In 1981, Congress passed Public Law 97-37 entitled "Former Prisoners of War Benefit Act."  This law accomplished several things.  It established an Advisory Committee on Former Prisoners of War and mandated medical and dental care.  It also identified certain diagnoses as presumptive service-connected conditions for former POWs.  Subsequent public laws and policy decisions by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs have added additional diagnoses to the list of presumptive conditions.

Today, former POWs are generally entitled to a presumption of service-connection for five diseases, regardless of the length of captivity, if manifested to a degree of 10 percent or more after discharge or release from active military, naval or air service.  These diseases are:

• Psychosis
• Any of the Anxiety States
• Dysthymic disorder, or depressive neurosis
• Post-traumatic osteoarthritis
• Cold Injury

If a former POW was interned for 30 days or more, the following additional diseases are presumed to be service-connected:

• Avitaminosis
• Chronic Dysentery
• Helminthiasis
• Peptic Ulcer Disease
• Malnutrition, including associated Optic Atrophy
• Ischemic Heart Disease*
• Beriberi
• Cirrhosis of the Liver
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• Pellagra and any other nutritional deficiency
• Peripheral Neuropathy, except where directly related to infectious causes

* Ischemic Heart Disease (coronary artery disease), applies to former POWs who suffered from edema (swelling of the legs or feet) during captivity, also known as "wet" beriberi.

Former POWs can apply for Compensation for their service-connected injuries, diseases or illnesses by completing VA Form 21-526 (Veterans Application for Compensation or Pension), and submitting it to the VA regional office serving their.  They can also apply on the Internet at http://vabenefits.vba.va.gov/vonapp/main.asp.   In addition, the VA health care system affords priority treatment for former POWs.  Those who have a service-connected disability are eligible for VA health care. This includes hospital, nursing home, and outpatient treatment. 

Former POWs who do not have a service-connected disability are eligible for VA hospital and nursing home care – without regard to their ability to pay.   They are also eligible for outpatient care on a priority basis – second only to veterans with service-connected disabilities.  While former POWs are receiving treatment in an approved outpatient treatment program, they are eligible for needed medicines, glasses, hearing aids, or prostheses.  They are also eligible for all needed dental care.  There is no co-payment requirement for former POWs at VA pharmacies.

The major benefit for survivors of former POWs is Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) which is a monthly benefit payable to the surviving spouse (and the former POW’s children and parents in some cases) when the former POW:

• was a service member who died on active duty; or
• died from service-related disabilities; or
• died on or before September 30, 1999 and was continuously rated totally disabled for a service connected condition (including individual unemployability) for at least 10 years immediately preceding death; or
• died after September 30, 1999, and was continuously rated totally disabled for a service-connected condition (including individual unemployability) for at least 1 year immediately preceding death. 

DIC is terminated for a surviving spouse who remarries, but can be resumed if the remarriage ends in death, divorce or annulment.  Also, a surviving spouse who remarries on or after attaining age 57, and on or after December 16, 2003, can continue to receive DIC.  However, a surviving spouse who remarried before December 16, 2003, and on or after attaining age 57, must apply no later than December 15, 2004, to have DIC restored.  VA must deny applications received after that date.

The following are other significant VA benefits to which certain veterans may be entitled:  disability pension, medical care, education and training, home loan guaranty, and burial benefits.  Certain disabled veterans may be eligible for vocational rehabilitation and employment services, insurance, clothing allowance, special adapted housing assistance, and specially adapted automobile equipment.  Certain dependents/survivors may be entitled to health care, death pension, education and training, home loan guaranty, and burial in a national cemetery.  See other VA fact sheets on those benefits, or contact VA for more information.

Each VA Regional Office has a coordinator for former POWs.  Any former POW who needs special assistance should ask to speak to the Former POW Coordinator.  Additional former POW information is available at http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/Benefits/POW/index.htm. 

On April 9, 2004, National Former Prisoners of War Recognition Day (the date of the fall of Bataan), VA and the VA Former Prisoner of War Advisory Committee will launch a national effort to reach U.S. veterans who are former prisoners of war.  You and your organization can play a pivotal role in this effort by urging those you know to be former POWs to contact VA as soon as possible.

All of us at VA look forward to working with you on this endeavor.