![](media/image1.png){width="0.44027777777777777in"
height="0.3680555555555556in"} **Department of Veterans Affairs**

***Former Prisoners Of War (POWs)***

## Who are former prisoners of war?

Since World War I, more than 142,000 Americans, including 85 women, have
been captured and interned as POWs. Not included in this figure are
nearly 93,000 Americans who were lost or never recovered. Only one third
of America\'s former POWs since World War I are still living (about
36,500). More than 90% of living former POWs were captured and interned
during World War II. Over 21,000 former POWs are in receipt of
compensation for service-connected injuries, diseases, or illnesses.

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.

**What are the presumptive conditions for former POWs?**

Today, former POWs are generally entitled to a presumption of
service-connection for seven 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       | -   Cold Injury                   |
|     depressive neurosis          |                                   |
|                                  | -   Stroke and Complications      |
| -   Post-traumatic               |                                   |
|     osteoarthritis               | -   Heart Disease and             |
|                                  |     Complications                 |
+----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+

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

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

**How should a former POW apply for VA Compensation?**

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>.

**Are there medical benefits for POWs?**

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

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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.

##  {#section-3 .unnumbered}

## Are there benefits for survivors of former POWs? {#are-there-benefits-for-survivors-of-former-pows .unnumbered}

Yes. The major benefit 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]{.underline} 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]{.underline} 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.

**Are there related benefits for former POWs and their
dependents/survivors?**

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.

**Is special assistance available to former POWs?**

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>.

# For More Information Call Toll-Free 1-800-827-1000

# Or Visit Our Web Site At http://www.va.gov/ 

Compensation and Pension Service -- October 2004