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Discrepancy in POW benefits...
Posted on 4/18/2009

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Veterans Benefits

Veterans: do you qualify for more than just a pension?

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    Attorney Jim Shields concentrates on legal issues affecting veterans. A recent article by Associated Press      says that the number of POWs claiming disability benefits exceeds the number of POWs. According to the Department of Defense there are 21 surviving POWs from the first Gulf War in 1991. But the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) is paying benefits to 286 service members that their records say were taken prisoner during that conflict.

    Because of the trauma suffered by prisoners of war, the government allows them additional benefits like free parking, tax breaks, and special medical treatment.

    The article also claims there is a discrepancy with the number of Vietnam POWs. According to Defense Department figures, there are 661 officially recognized prisoners of war who returned from Vietnam alive, and 100 have since died. But the VA says that 966 veterans are getting disability payments.

    The article says the problem is that the Defense Department determines POW status and the VA awards benefits, but the two branches of government don't work together to verify the lists.

Elder Law Offices of Shields and Boris
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