fore, any veteran or veteran's dependent seeking to establish a claim for benefits, or seeking information on the subject, should visit or communicate with one of the VA agencies listed above; or, in certain cases as hereafter indicated, with other agencies. PERSONS ELIGIBLE. Some benefits are extended to any person (subject to certain qualifications) who has served in the Armed Forces, or to dependent survivors of such persons. In other cases, service during a specified period (ordinarily that covering a war or emergency) is necessary to establish eligibility. The principal war periods for which benefits are being granted today are those of the two World Wars and the Korean conflict. Usually the limiting dates specified by law for the purpose of qualifying for wartime benefits are as follows (all dates inclusive) World War I: World War II: Korean Conflict: 6 Apr 1917-11 Nov 1918 16 Sep 1940-25 Jul 1947 27 Jun 1950-31 Jan 1955 However, there are various exceptions to these dates. (For example, for certain purposes the limiting dates for World War II benefits are specified as 7 Dec. 1941-31 Dec. 1946.) Limiting dates for specific benefits are in general given below. Here again, anyone interested in establishing eligibility should seek expert advice at a VA office or elsewhere. NATURE OF BENEFITS. The following is an alphabetical list Automobiles or other conveyances. Burial benefits stration. Eligibility. Discharged under other than dishonorable conditions; serviceconnected loss, or permanent loss of use, of one or both hands or feet, or permanent impairment of vision of both eyes to a prescribed degree, resulting from World War II or Korean conflict service. Nature of Benefit. Payment by VA of an amount not to exceed $1,600 toward the purchase price of an automobile or other conveyance, including special appliances. Application Deadlines. 1. Those separated before October 20, 1951, had until October 20, 1956, to apply. 2. Those separated on or after October 20, 1951, must apply within 5 years after their separation. Deadline Exceptions. If the qualifying service-connected disability occurs after separation, application may be made 1. Within 3 years of the disability's occurrence; or 2. If determination of entitlement to compensation is delayed past 3 years, application may be made within 1 year following such determination. Where To Apply. Any VA office. BLIND, AID FOR. (For veterans of the Spanish-American War, World Wars I and II, the Korean Conflict period, or peacetime service.) Administered by. Veterans Admini stration. Eligibility. Veteran must be entitled to compensation for a service-connected disability and be blind in both eyes. However, the blindness itself need not be service connected. Nature of Benefit. 1. Approved electronic and mechanical aids to the blind, and their necessary repair and replacement. 2. Guide dogs, including the expense of training the veteran to use the dog, and the cost of the dog's medical attention. Where to Apply. Any VA Office. BURIAL FLAGS. (For veterans of the Spanish-American War, World Wars I or II, the Korean Conflict period, or certain peacetime service.) Administered by. Veterans Admini stration. Eligibility. The deceased veteran must have been discharged under conditions other than dishonorable, and must have been either a wartime or Korean-conflict-period veteran, or a veteran who served at least one enlistment during peacetime, unless discharged or released sooner for disability incurred in line of duty. Nature of Benefit. American flag to drape casket of veteran, after which it may be given to next of kin or close friend or associate of the deceased. Where To Apply. Any VA office or most local post offices. BURIAL IN NATIONAL CEMETERIES. (For veterans of the SpanishAmerican War, World Wars I or II, the Korean Conflict period, or peacetime service; and certain members of their families.) Administered by. Department of the Army and Department of the Interior, through superintendents of the various national cemeteries. Eligibility. Burial is available to any deceased veteran of wartime or peacetime service whose last period of service terminated honorably, by death or otherwise. Burial also is available to eligible veteran's wife, husband, widow, widower, minor children, and, under certain conditions, to unmarried adult children. Nature of Benefit. Grave site and actual interment, including opening and closing grave, provided without charge. Other Important Facts. If an eligible veteran's spouse dies before the veteran does, the spouse may be buried in a national cemetery, providing the veteran's written intention is to be buried at the spouse's side. United States citizens who, as such, served in time of war in the armed forces of governments allied with the United States, may be eligible for burial in a national cemetery in the same manner as veterans of the U. S. Armed Forces. Where To Apply. Although applications must go to the superintendent of the national cemetery in which burial is desired, any VA office will provide information, forms, and other assistance in filing burial request applications. HEADSTONE OR GRAVE MARKER. (For same veterans as preceding, but not for relatives.) Administered by. Department of the Army, through the Office of The Quartermaster General of the Army. Eligibility. Headstone or grave marker is available for any deceased veteran of wartime or peacetime service whose last period of service was terminated honorably by death or otherwise. The remains of the veteran must be interred in the grave. Nature of Benefit. Headstone or grave marker provided without charge. Other Important Facts. If interment is in a national cemetery, eligibility for a headstone or grave marker is automatically established. The benefit does not apply to a veteran's survivors if interred in a private cemetery. Where To Apply. Although applications must go to The Quartermaster General of the Army, any VA office will provide information, forms, and other assistance in filing headstone or grave marker applications. MEMORIAL PLOTS IN NATIONAL CEMETERIES. (For same veterans as preceding.) Administered by. Department of the Army, through the Office of The Quartermaster General of the Army, and Department of the Interior, through the National Park Service. Eligibility. Members of the Armed Forces who are missing in action, or who died or were killed while serving in the Armed Forces (without having been removed from the rolls of the service concerned), and whose remains have not been identified, or were buried at sea, or were determined to be unrecoverable. Nature of Benefit. Suitable available plots in national cemeteries may be set aside to honor the memory of members of the Armed Forces described above. The erection of appropriate markers for such individuals or groups is permitted, if paid for with other than Government funds. Where To Apply. Although applications must go to The Quartermaster General of the Army for national cemeteries administered by the Department of the Army and to the Director, National Park Service, for national cemeteries administered by the Department of the Interior, any VA office will provide information and other assistance in filing memorial plot applications. REIMBURSEMENT OF BURIAL EXPENSES. (For veterans of the SpanishAmerican War, World Wars I or II, the Korean Conflict period, or certain peacetime service.) Administered by. Veterans Adminis tration. Eligibility. The deceased veteran must have been discharged under conditions other than dishonorable, and have been either a wartime or Korean-conflict veteran; or a peacetime veteran in receipt of service-connected compensation at time of death or discharged or retired for disability incurred in line of duty. Who May Claim Reimbursement. Undertaker, if unpaid, otherwise person who bore veteran's burial expenses. Nature of Benefit. Payment, not to exceed $250, toward veteran's burial expenses. Deadline. Claim must be filed within 2 years after veteran's permanent burial or cremation. Other Important Facts. Additional cost of transportation of the remains may be allowed if the veteran died while 1. Hospitalized or domiciled in a VA hospital or domiciliary; or 2. Hospitalized or domiciled at VA's expense; or 3. In transit, at VA's expense, to or from a hospital, domiciliary, or VA regional office. Where To Apply. Any VA office. COMPENSATION FOR SERVICECONNECTED DISABILITIES. (For veterans of the Spanish-American War, World Wars I or II, the Korean Conflict period, or peacetime service.) Administered by. Veterans Admini stration. Eligibility. Veterans who are disabled by injury or disease incurred in or aggravated by active service in line of duty during wartime or peacetime service and discharged or separated under other than dishonorable conditions. Nature of Benefit for Wartime Disabilities. Veterans found eligible for wartime disability compensation are entitled to monthly payments ranging from $19 to $225, depending on the degree of disability, with specific rates to $450. The monthly rates are Service-connected disability (a) 10 percent (b) 20 percent (c) 30 percent (d) 40 percent (e) 50 percent (f) 60 percent (g) 70 percent (h) 80 percent (1) 90 percent (1) Total disability Wartime rate a $19 36 55 73 100 120 140 160 179 225 (k) Anatomical loss, or loss of use, of a creative organ, or 1 foot, or 1 hand, or both buttocks, or blindness of 1 eye, having only light perception, rates (a) to (1) increased monthly by 47 Anatomical loss, or loss of use, of a creative organ, or 1 foot, or 1 hand, or both buttocks, or blindness of 1 eye, having only light perception, in addition to requirement for any rates in (1) to (n), rate increased monthly for each loss, or loss of use of, by b 47 (1) Anatomical loss, or loss of use, of both hands, or both feet, or 1 hand and 1 foot, or blind both eyes with 5/200 visual acuity or less, or is permanently bedridden or so helpless as to be in need of regular aid and attendance, monthly compensation.. 309 (m) Anatomical loss, or loss of use, of 2 extremities at a level, or with complications, preventing natural elbow or knee action with prosthesis a Compensation for disabilities incurred under nonhazardous conditions during peacetime are 80 percent of the wartime rate. b But in no event to exceed $450 in combination with other applicable ratings. 401 in place, or suffered blindness in both eyes, rendering him so helpless as to be in need of regular aid and attendance, monthly compensation.. 359 (n) Anatomical loss of 2 extremeties so near shoulder or hip as to prevent use of prosthetic appliance or suffered anatomical loss of both eyes, monthly compensation (0) Suffered disability under conditions which would entitle him to 2 or more rates in (1) to (n), no condition being considered twice, or suffered total deafness in combination with total blindness with 5/200 visual activity or less, monthly compensation 450 (p) In event disabled person's serviceincurred disabilities exceed requirements for any of rates prescribed, Administrator, in his discretion, may allow next higher rate, or intermediate rate, but in no event in excess of 450 (q) Minimum rate for arrested tuberculosis ....... 67 Chronic Disease Presumption. Generally, a wartime- or Korean-conflictperiod veteran who develops a chronic disease to a degree of 10 percent or more disability within 1 year of release or separation from service may be presumed to be service-connected for disability compensation. In the case of active tuberculosis, the law provides a 3-year presumptive period; and, in the case of multiple sclerosis, a 2-year period. Nature of Benefit for Peacetime Disabilities. Veterans and 6-month enlistees found eligible for peacetime disability compensation are entitled to monthly a If the disability was incurred under non-extrahazardous conditions during peace-time, additional compensation for dependents is 80 percent of the wartime rate. payments at 80 percent of the foregoing wartime rates. The peacetime rates range from $15 to $180, depending on the degree of disability, plus statutory awards for amputions, blindness, etc., up to a maximum of $360. Where the disability resulted from extrahazardous peacetime service, such as simulated warfare, the veteran or 6month enlistee may be entitled to the foregoing wartime rates. Peacetime veterans and 6-month enlistees rated 50 percent or more disabled may be entitled to additional compensation for a wife, minor children, or dependent parents. Social Security Benefits. Benefits received from Social Security for total and permanent disability will not be reduced by the amount of any serviceconnected disability compensation received from VA. Where To Apply. Any VA office. COMPENSATION FOR SERVICECONNECTED DEATHS BEFORE 1 JANUARY 1957. (For survivors of deceased veterans of the Spanish-American War, World Wars I or II, the Korean Conflict period, or peacetime service.) Coverage. Death compensation payments are authorized for widows, unmarried children under 18 (or until 21 if attending a VA-approved school), helpless children, and dependent parents of servicemen or veterans who died before January 1, 1957, from a serviceconnected cause not the result of willful misconduct. If service-connected death occurred after service, the veteran's discharge must have been under conditions other than dishonorable. As explained in the following section on DIC payments, widows, children, and parents eligible for death compensation under this section may elect to receive DIC payments instead. Special Coverage. Although death compensation generally is limited to deaths occurring before January 1, 1957, survivors of those who die of a serviceconnected cause on or after May 1, 1957, while an inservice (so-called section 622) waiver of premiums on GI life insurance is in effect, may receive only death compensation under this section. As explained in the following section on DIC payments, they are not entitled to the generally higher DIC payments authorized for service-connected deaths on or after January 1, 1957. Definition of Widow The (a) Residence With Veteran. widow must have lived continuously with the veteran from the time of marriage until the veteran's death, except where there was a separation due to the misconduct of, or procured by, the veteran without fault on the wife's part. (b) Widow's Remarriage. The widow's remarriage following the death of the veteran makes her permanently ineligible for compensation based on the death of that veteran unless the purported remarriage is void. However, this bar may not apply to certain widows of veterans of the SpanishAmerican War whose remarriage terminated before January 1, 1958. (c) Date of Marriage to Veteran. Except as noted below, the widow must have been married to the veteran 1. Before the expiration of 10 years after the termination of the period of service in which the injury or disease causing the death of the veteran was incurred or aggravated; or 2. For 5 or more years; or 3. For any period of time if a child was born of the marriage. The foregoing requirements are applicable to all eligible widows on or after January 1, 1958. Laws in effect before that date generally provide specific marriage dates which vary according to the period of the veteran's service. A widow who cannot meet 1 of the 3 alternative requirements listed above may yet qualify by having married the veteran prior to the applicable specific date under the former law. In the relatively few cases that may be involved, the widows concerned should inquire at the VA as to their eligibility. (d) Special Exception. A limited number of widows of Spanish-American War Veterans, who did not meet either the marriage date or its alternatives listed above, were admitted to the death compensation rolls under certain laws in effect before January 1, 1958. Any such widow who is on the compensation rolls as of December 31, 1957, will not be affected by the marriage date requirements set forth above. (e) Purported Marriages. If she meets the other qualifications, a woman who married a veteran without knowing that a legal impediment to the marriage existed may be eligible for compensation, provided 1. The marriage would have been valid had the impediment not existed; and 2. The couple resided together for five or more years immediately before the veteran's death; and 3. No claim for VA gratuitous death benefits had been filed by a legal widow of the veteran who is found to be entitled to the benefits. Dual VA and Social Security Payments. Receipt of death compensation payments from VA will not prevent an eligible widow or children from receiving any death benefits payable by Social Security. Helpless Children. Children who become permanently incapable of selfsupport because of a mental or physical defect before reaching age 18 may receive death compensation as long as the condition exists or until they marry. Definition of Dependent Parents. Parents are held to be dependent for death compensation if their income is insufficient to provide reasonable maintenance for themselves and for members of their family under legal age. Proof of dependency must be submitted to VA upon application for death compensation under this section. Nature of Benefit. Monthly payments to eligible survivors are as follows: Wartime Peacetime Rate Rate |