Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2008
PL 110-324 (S.2617), enacted 09/24/2008

122 STAT. 3549 
PUBLIC LAW 110–324—SEPT. 24, 2008 
Public Law 110–324 
110th Congress 
An Act 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to codify increases in the rates of compensa-
tion for veterans with service-connected disabilities and the rates of dependency 
and indemnity compensation for the survivors of certain disabled veterans that 
were effective as of December 1, 2007, to provide for an increase in the rates 
of such compensation effective December 1, 2008, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Veterans’ Compensation Cost- 
of-Living Adjustment Act of 2008’’. 
SEC. 2. INCREASE IN RATES OF DISABILITY COMPENSATION AND 
DEPENDENCY AND INDEMNITY COMPENSATION. 
(a) RATE ADJUSTMENT.—Effective on December 1, 2008, the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall increase, in accordance with 
subsection (c), the dollar amounts in effect on November 30, 2008, 
for the payment of disability compensation and dependency and 
indemnity compensation under the provisions specified in subsection 
(b). 
(b) AMOUNTS TO BE INCREASED.—The dollar amounts to be 
increased pursuant to subsection (a) are the following: 
(1) WARTIME DISABILITY COMPENSATION.—Each of the dollar 
amounts under section 1114 of title 38, United States Code. 
(2) ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION FOR DEPENDENTS.—Each of 
the dollar amounts under section 1115(1) of such title. 
(3) CLOTHING ALLOWANCE.—The dollar amount under sec-
tion 1162 of such title. 
(4) DEPENDENCY AND INDEMNITY COMPENSATION TO SUR-
VIVING SPOUSE.—Each of the dollar amounts under subsections 
(a) through (d) of section 1311 of such title. 
(5) DEPENDENCY AND INDEMNITY COMPENSATION TO CHIL-
DREN.—Each of the dollar amounts under sections 1313(a) and 
1314 of such title. 
(c) DETERMINATION OF INCREASE.— 
(1) PERCENTAGE.—Except as provided in paragraph (2), 
each dollar amount described in subsection (b) shall be 
increased by the same percentage as the percentage by which 
benefit amounts payable under title II of the Social Security 
Act (42 U.S.C. 401 et seq.) are increased effective December 
1, 2008, as a result of a determination under section 215(i) 
of such Act (42 U.S.C. 415(i)). 
Effective date. 
38 USC 1114 
note. 
38 USC 101 
note. 
Veterans’ 
Compensation 
Cost-of-Living 
Adjustment Act 
of 2008. 
Sept. 24, 2008 
[S. 2617] 
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122 STAT. 3550 
PUBLIC LAW 110–324—SEPT. 24, 2008 
(2) ROUNDING.—Each dollar amount increased under para-
graph (1), if not a whole dollar amount, shall be rounded 
to the next lower whole dollar amount. 
(d) SPECIAL RULE.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may 
adjust administratively, consistent with the increases made under 
subsection (a), the rates of disability compensation payable to per-
sons under section 10 of Public Law 85–857 (72 Stat. 1263) who 
have not received compensation under chapter 11 of title 38, United 
States Code. 
(e) PUBLICATION OF ADJUSTED RATES.—The Secretary of Vet-
erans Affairs shall publish in the Federal Register the amounts 
specified in subsection (b), as increased under that subsection, 
not later than the date on which the matters specified in section 
215(i)(2)(D) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 415(i)(2)(D)) are 
required to be published by reason of a determination made under 
section 215(i) of such Act during fiscal year 2009. 
SEC. 3. CODIFICATION OF 2007 COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENT IN 
RATES OF DISABILITY COMPENSATION AND DEPENDENCY 
AND INDEMNITY COMPENSATION. 
(a) VETERANS’ DISABILITY COMPENSATION.—Section 1114 of title 
38, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘$115’’ and inserting 
‘‘$117’’; 
(2) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘$225’’ and inserting 
‘‘$230’’; 
(3) in subsection (c), by striking ‘‘$348’’ and inserting 
‘‘$356’’; 
(4) in subsection (d), by striking ‘‘$501’’ and inserting 
‘‘$512’’; 
(5) in subsection (e), by striking ‘‘$712’’ and inserting 
‘‘$728’’; 
(6) in subsection (f), by striking ‘‘$901’’ and inserting ‘‘$921’’; 
(7) in subsection (g), by striking ‘‘$1,135’’ and inserting 
‘‘$1,161’’; 
(8) in subsection (h), by striking ‘‘$1,319’’ and inserting 
‘‘$1,349’’; 
(9) in subsection (i), by striking ‘‘$1,483’’ and inserting 
‘‘$1,517’’; 
(10) in subsection (j), by striking ‘‘$2,471’’ and inserting 
‘‘$2,527’’; 
(11) in subsection (k)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘$89’’ both places it appears and 
inserting ‘‘$91’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘$3,075’’ and ‘‘$4,313’’ and inserting 
‘‘$3,145’’ and ‘‘$4,412’’, respectively; 
(12) in subsection (l), by striking ‘‘$3,075’’ and inserting 
‘‘$3,145’’; 
(13) in subsection (m), by striking ‘‘$3,392’’ and inserting 
‘‘$3,470’’; 
(14) in subsection (n), by striking ‘‘$3,860’’ and inserting 
‘‘$3,948’’; 
(15) in subsections (o) and (p), by striking ‘‘$4,313’’ each 
place it appears and inserting ‘‘$4,412’’; 
(16) in subsection (r), by striking ‘‘$1,851’’ and ‘‘$2,757’’ 
and inserting ‘‘$1,893’’ and ‘‘$2,820’’, respectively; and 
Federal Register, 
publication. 
Deadline. 
38 USC 1114 
note. 
38 USC 1114 
note. 
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122 STAT. 3551 
PUBLIC LAW 110–324—SEPT. 24, 2008 
(17) in subsection (s), by striking ‘‘$2,766’’ and inserting 
‘‘$2,829’’. 
(b) ADDITIONAL
COMPENSATION
FOR
DEPENDENTS.—Section 
1115(1) of such title is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘$139’’ and inserting 
‘‘$142’’; 
(2) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘$240’’ and ‘‘$70’’ and 
inserting ‘‘$245’’ and ‘‘$71’’, respectively; 
(3) in subparagraph (C), by striking ‘‘$94’’ and ‘‘$70’’ and 
inserting ‘‘$96’’ and ‘‘$71’’, respectively; 
(4) in subparagraph (D), by striking ‘‘$112’’ and inserting 
‘‘$114’’; 
(5) in subparagraph (E), by striking ‘‘$265’’ and inserting 
‘‘$271’’; and 
(6) in subparagraph (F), by striking ‘‘$222’’ and inserting 
‘‘$227’’. 
(c) CLOTHING ALLOWANCE FOR CERTAIN DISABLED VETERANS.— 
Section 1162 of such title is amended by striking ‘‘$662’’ and 
inserting ‘‘$677’’. 
(d) DEPENDENCY AND INDEMNITY COMPENSATION FOR SURVIVING 
SPOUSES.— 
(1) NEW
LAW
DIC.—Section 1311(a) of such title is 
amended— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘$1,067’’ and inserting 
‘‘$1,091’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘$228’’ and inserting 
‘‘$233’’. 
(2) OLD
LAW
DIC.—The table in paragraph (3) of such 
section is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘Pay grade 
Monthly rate 
Pay grade 
Monthly 
rate 
E–1 .......................
$1,091 W–4 ......................
$1,305 
E–2 .......................
$1,091 O–1 .......................
$1,153 
E–3 .......................
$1,091 O–2 .......................
$1,191 
E–4 .......................
$1,091 O–3 .......................
$1,274 
E–5 .......................
$1,091 O–4 .......................
$1,349 
E–6 .......................
$1,091 O–5 .......................
$1,485 
E–7 .......................
$1,129 O–6 .......................
$1,674 
E–8 .......................
$1,191 O–7 .......................
$1,808 
E–9 .......................
$1,2421 O–8 .......................
$1,985 
W–1 .......................
$1,153 O–9 .......................
$2,123 
W–2 .......................
$1,198 O–10 .....................
$2,3282 
W–3 .......................
$1,234 
1 If the veteran served as sergeant major of the Army, senior enlisted advisor of 
the Navy, chief master sergeant of the Air Force, sergeant major of the Marine 
Corps, or master chief petty officer of the Coast Guard, at the applicable time des-
ignated by section 1302 of this title, the surviving spouse’s rate shall be $1,342. 
2 If the veteran served as Chairman or Vice-Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of 
Staff, Chief of Staff of the Army, Chief of Naval Operations, Chief of Staff of the 
Air Force, Commandant of the Marine Corps, or Commandant of the Coast Guard, 
at the applicable time designated by section 1302 of this title, the surviving 
spouse’s rate shall be $2,499.’’ 
(3) ADDITIONAL DIC FOR CHILDREN OR DISABILITY.—Section 
1311 of such title is amended— 
38 USC 1115. 
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122 STAT. 3552 
PUBLIC LAW 110–324—SEPT. 24, 2008 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 2617 (H.R. 5826): 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 110–643 accompanying H.R. 5826 (Comm. on Veterans’ Af-
fairs). 
SENATE REPORTS: No. 110–430 (Comm. on Veterans’ Affairs). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 154 (2008): 
July 30, considered and passed Senate. 
Sept. 9, 10, considered and passed House. 
(A) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘$265’’ and inserting 
‘‘$271’’; 
(B) in subsection (c), by striking ‘‘$265’’ and inserting 
‘‘$271’’; and 
(C) in subsection (d), by striking ‘‘$126’’ and inserting 
‘‘$128’’. 
(e) DEPENDENCY
AND INDEMNITY COMPENSATION
FOR CHIL-
DREN.— 
(1) DIC WHEN NO SURVIVING SPOUSE.—Section 1313(a) of 
such title is amended— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘$452’’ and inserting 
‘‘$462’’; 
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘$649’’ and inserting 
‘‘$663’’; 
(C) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘$846’’ and inserting 
‘‘$865’’; and 
(D) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘$846’’ and ‘‘$162’’ 
and inserting ‘‘$865’’ and ‘‘$165’’, respectively. 
(2) SUPPLEMENTAL
DIC
FOR
CERTAIN
CHILDREN.—Section 
1314 of such title is amended— 
(A) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘$265’’ and inserting 
‘‘$271’’; 
(B) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘$452’’ and inserting 
‘‘$462’’; and 
(C) in subsection (c), by striking ‘‘$225’’ and inserting 
‘‘$230’’. 
(f) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by this section 
shall take effect on December 1, 2007. 
Approved September 24, 2008. 
38 USC 1114 
note. 
38 USC 1313. 
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