articles - VETERANS MEDICAL CARE

VA MEDICAL CARE FOR COMBAT VETERANS

The VA has issued a new rule that recent combat veterans may be provided hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care for a two-year period beginning on the date of the veteran's discharge. This includes National Guard and Reserve members who were activated by a federal declaration, served the full period for which called up and were released under other than dishonorable conditions. The VA authorized such care "notwithstanding that there is insufficient medical evidence to conclude that their illness is attributable to their military service." Such veterans may be enrolled as "priority category 6", and will not be subject to co-payments. Treatment is excluded for congenital or developmental conditions, such as scoliosis; conditions which are known to have existed prior to military service; and conditions that first began after military combat service.

Although Congress has refused to authorize funding for concurrent receipt, it has again increased the “special compensation” payments for some disabled retirees and added others to the “special compensation” list. Retirees with VA disabilities of 70 percent or higher currently receive $100 to $300 monthly. This will increase by $25 a month beginning January 1, 2003 for retirees rated 80 percent or higher, and $25 a month effective October 1, 2004, for those rated at 70 percent. Special compensation of $50 a month beginning February 1, 2002 will be available to retirees who served at least 20 years on active duty and who were awarded VA disabilities of 60 percent within 4 years of retiring.