The Patriot Files Forums - Restore No Cost Health Care for Military Retirees Petition

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<TD>Bush Signing Clears 'Concurrent' Pay for Some
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<TD>BY BILL WAGNER THE SUNDAY TIMES </TD>
<TD align=right>12/15/2002</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
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<TD vAlign=top>The Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2003 has been signed by President Bush with a watered-down version of concurrent receipt but some veterans still will benefit.

Concurrent receipt means the disabled retired veteran can collect retirement pay and VA disability pay without the retirement pay being reduced in an amount equal to retirement pay.

The law in force before the president signed the Defense Authorization Act Dec. 2 has existed since the late 1800s and has constantly repeated efforts to change it.

While it does not eliminate the barrier to concurrent receipt, the Act does make some meaningful changes. It continues to allow reduction of retired pay in an amount equal to VA disability compensation, but creates a special compensation for combat-wounded retirees with a disability rating of 10 percent or higher who received the Purple Heart, or who suffered a 60 percent disability in combat-related incidents.

That is the result of a compromise reached between the White House and leaders of the Armed Service Committee. The compromise will allow the Department of Defense to make up the pay loss.

Amounts will match retired pay being forfeited under theconcurrent receipt law for disability compensation tied to warwounds. In other words, if a veteran is 60 percent disabled, but only 10 percent of the disability can be attributed to a combat injury for which the Purple Heart was received, the veteran will receive compensation for that 10 percent disability.

Retirees who believe they are eligible will have to apply for the new compensation. The Defense Department does not expect to have application forms available for months.

Although details have not been worked out yet, payments should start being made six months from Dec. 2, as decreed by Congress, or June 1.

Service organizations were not satisfied. "The concurrent receipt issue remains to be addressed," said Commander in Chief Ray Sisk of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. "We intend to continue the fight to achieve this end."

President Bush also signed the Veterans Benefit Bill, originally designed to provide disability compensation to veterans who suffer hearing loss associated with service in specific military specialties. A number of other veterans benefit bills were incorporated into the measure. Now, among other things, the bill will:

Continue VA health insurance coverage for eligible surviving spouses who remarry after attaining age 55.

Establish a presumption of service-connection for hearing lossassociated with certain military skills (to be determined by the VA in consultation with the National Academy of Sciences) and authorize compensation for service members who have a rated hearing loss in both ears.

Clarify the entitlement to special monthly compensation for female veterans who have service-connected mastectomies.

Increase the Medal of Honor stipend from $600 to $1000 per month, authorize an annual adjustment to the stipend, and authorize a lump-sumpayment of the stipend retroactive to the date of the act of valor.

Authorize economic protections for National Guard service members under the Soldiers and Sailors Civil Relief Act when called by a governor to state active duty in support of a federal national emergency.

Permit the construction of a privately funded memorial to the veterans of the Battle of the Bulge at Arlington National Cemetery.

Allow the VA to offer adjustable rate home loans to veterans.

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