Veterans' Compensation Rate Amendments of 1997
PL 105-98 (H.R.2367), enacted 11/19/1997

PUBLIC LAW 105-98—NOV. 19, 1997 
111 STAT. 2155 
Public Law 105-98 
105th Congress 
An Act 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide a cost-of-living adjustment in 
the rates of disability compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities 
and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for siirvivors of such 
veterans. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives 
of 
the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; REFERENCES TO TITLE 38, UNITED STATES 
CODE. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—^This Act may be cited as the "Veterans' 
Compensation Rate Amendments of 1997". 
(b) REFERENCES.—Except as otherwise expressly provided, 
whenever in this Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in 
terms of an amendment to, or repeal of, a section or other provision, 
the reference shall be considered to be made to a section or other 
provision of title 38, United States Code. 
SEC. 2. DISABILITY COMPENSATION. 
(a) INCREASE IN RATES.—Section 1114 is amended— 
(1) by striking out "$87" in subsection (a) and inserting 
in lieu thereof "$95"; 
(2) by striking out "$166" in subsection (b) and inserting 
in lieu thereof "$182"; 
(3) by striking out "$253" in subsection (c) and inserting 
in lieu thereof "$279"; 
(4) by striking out "$361" in subsection (d) and inserting 
in lieu thereof "$399"; 
(5) by striking out "$515" in subsection (e) and inserting 
in lieu thereof "$569"; 
(6) by striking out "$648" in subsection (f) and inserting 
in lieu thereof "$717"; 
(7) by striking out "$819" in subsection (g) and inserting 
in lieu thereof "$905"; 
(8) by striking out "$948" in subsection (h) and inserting 
in lieu thereof "$1,049"; 
(9) by striking out "$1,067" in subsection (i) and inserting 
in lieu thereof "$1,181"; 
(10) by striking out "$1,774" in subsection (j) and inserting 
in lieu thereof "$1,964"; 
(11) in subsection (k)— 
(A) by striking out "$70" both places it appears and 
inserting in lieu thereof "$75"; and 
(B) by striking out "$2,207" and "$3,093" and inserting 
in lieu thereof "$2,443" and "$3,426", respectively; 
Nov. 19,1997 
[H.R. 2367] 
Veterans' 
Compensation 
Rate 
Amendments 
of 1997. 
38 u s e 101 note. 
I l l STAT. 2156 
PUBLIC LAW 105-98—NOV. 19, 1997 
(12) by striking out "$2,207" in subsection (1) and inserting 
in lieu thereof "$2,443"; 
(13) by striking out "$2,432" in subsection (m) and inserting 
in lieu thereof "$2,694"; 
(14) by striking out "$2,768" in subsection (n) and inserting 
in lieu thereof "$3,066"; 
(15) by striking out "$3,093" each place it appears in sub-
sections (o) and (p) and inserting in lieu thereof "$3,426"; 
(16) by striking out "$1,328" and "$1,978" in subsection 
(r) and inserting in heu thereof "$1,471" and "$2,190", respec-
tively; and 
(17) by striking out "$1,985" in subsection (s) and inserting 
in lieu thereof "$2,199". 
38 use 1114 
(b) SPECIAL RULE.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may 
note. 
authorize administratively, consistent with the increases authorized 
by this section, the rates of disability compensation payable to 
persons within the purview of section 10 of Public Law 85-857 
who are not in receipt of compensation payable pursuant to chapter 
11 of title 38, United States Code. 
SEC. 3. ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION FOR DEPENDENTS. 
Section 1115(1) is amended— 
(1) by striking out "$105" in clause (A) and inserting in 
lieu thereof "$114"; 
(2) by striking out "$178" and "$55" in clause (B) and 
inserting in lieu thereof "$195" and "$60", respectively; 
(3) by striking out "$72" and "$55" in clause (C) and insert-
ing in lieu thereof "$78" and "$60", respectively; 
(4) by striking out "$84" in clause (D) and inserting in 
lieu thereof "$92"; 
(5) by striking out "$195" in clause (E) and inserting in 
lieu thereof "$215"; and 
(6) by striking out "$164" in clause (F) and inserting in 
lieu thereof "$180". 
SEC. 4. CLOTHING ALLOWANCE FOR CERTAIN DISABLED VETERANS. 
Section 1162 is amended by striking out "$478" and inserting 
in lieu thereof "$528". 
SEC. 5. DEPENDENCY AND INDEMNITY COMPENSATION FOR SURVIV-
ING SPOUSES. 
(a) NEW LAW RATES.—Section 1311(a) is amended— 
(1) by striking out "$769" in paragraph (1) and inserting 
in heu thereof "$850"; and 
(2) by striking out "$169" in paragraph (2) and inserting 
in lieu thereof "$185". 
PUBLIC LAW 105-98—NOV. 19, 1997 
111 STAT. 2157 
(b) OLD LAW RATES.—The table in subsection (a)(3) is amended 
to read as follows: 
Monthly 
Monthly 
"Pay grade 
rate 
Pay grade 
rate 
E-1 
$850 
W-4 
$1,017 
E-2 
850 
0-1 
898 
E-3 
850 
0-2 
928 
E-4 
850 
0-3 
992 
E-5 
850 
0-4 
1,049 
E-6 
850 
0-5 
1,155 
E-7 
879 
0-6 
1,302 
E-8 
928 
0-7 
1,406 
E-9 
1968 
0-8 
1,541 
W-1 
898 
0-9 
1,651 
W-2 
934 
O-IO 
21^811 
W-3 
962 
"^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 402 of this title, the surviving spouse's rate shall be $1,044. 
"^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 402 of this title, the surviving spouse's 
rate shall be $1,941.". 
(c) 
ADDITIONAL 
DIG 
FOR CHILDREN.—Section 
1311(b) 
is 
amended by striking out "$100" and all that follows and inserting 
in lieu thereof "$215 for each such child.". 
(d) AID AND ATTENDANCE ALLOWANCE.—Section 1311(c) is 
amended by striking out "$195" and inserting in lieu thereof "$215". 
(e) HOUSEBOUND RATE.—Section 1311(d) is amended by striking 
out "$95" and inserting in Heu thereof "$104". 
SEC. 
6. 
DEPENDENCY 
AND INDEMNITY 
COMPENSATION FOR 
CHILDREN. 
(a) Die FOR ORPHAN CHILDREN.—Section 1313(a) is amended— 
(1) by striking out "$327" in paragraph (1) and inserting 
in lieu thereof "$361"; 
(2) by striking out "$471" in paragraph (2) and inserting 
in lieu thereof "$520"; 
(3) by striking out "$610" in paragraph (3) and inserting 
in heu thereof "$675"; and 
(4) by striking out "$610" and "$120" in paragraph (4) 
and inserting in lieu thereof "$675" and "$132", respectively. 
(b) SUPPLEMENTAL D I C FOR DISABLED ADULT 
CHILDREN.— 
Section 1314 is amended— 
(1) by striking out "$195" in subsection (a) and inserting 
in lieu thereof "$215"; 
(2) by striking out "$327" in subsection (b) and inserting 
in Heu thereof "$361"; and 
(3) by striking out "$166" in subsection (c) and inserting 
in lieu thereof "$182". 
I l l STAT. 2158 
PUBLIC LAW 105-98—NOV. 19, 1997 
SEC. 7. EFFECTIVE DATE. 
The amendments made by this Act shall take effect on 
December 1, 1997. 
Approved November 19, 1997. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 2367 (S. 987): 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 105-320 (Comm. on Veterans' Affairs). 
SENATE REPORTS: No. 105-120 accompanying S. 987 (Comm. on Veterans' Af-
fairs). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 143 (1997): 
Oct. 31, considered and passed House. 
Nov. 5, considered and passed Senate. 
WEEKLY COMPILATION OF PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS, Vol. 33 (1997):^ 
Nov. 19, Presidential statement.